State of Origin betting preview, tips and TV channel

Game One
Sky Sports Arena 11.10am Wednesday

The toughest competition in club rugby league begins on Wednesday morning with New South Wales in an unfamiliar position as holders of the State of Origin shield and favourites for a series win over rivals Queensland.

The Blues are just 4-7 with bet365 to record back-to-back series victories for the first time since 2005 and they look in great shape to do so. Last year’s success ended a period of dominance in which Queensland won 11 of the previous 12 series.

NSW coach Brad Fittler put his faith in youth last year and it paid off when his young guns secured a 2-1 series triumph. Betway go 11-8 about a repeat scoreline and 10-3 for a clean sweep in New South Wales’s favour.

Queensland have been forced to blood new talent with legendary figures Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston all having left the scene.

Kalyn Ponga looks an exciting choice at full-back while Cameron Munster continues to look the part at half-back. Daly Cherry-Evans has been handed the captain’s armband but he leads a side lacking Origin experience and the Blues could make them pay.

Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr and James Tedesco bring great pace to the side, while Cody Walker has been one of the standout performers in the NRL this season. Skipper Boyd Cordner fronts up in a formidable New South Wales pack and with a more settled side, backing the Blues to win the series and game one looks the way to go.

Both teams will have home advantage just once this year with game two being played in Perth before the final match on Blues territory in Sydney.

Recommendations
NSW to win series
5pts 4-7 bet365
NSW -2 in game one
2pts 6-5 bet365, Betfred

Teams

Queensland: Kalyn Ponga, Corey Oates, Will Chambers, Michael Morgan, Dane Gagai, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jai Arrow, Ben Hunt, Josh Papalii, Felise Kaufusi, Matt Gillett, Josh McGuire.Interchange: Moses Mbye, Dylan Napa, Joe Ofahengaue, David Fifita

New South Wales: James Tedesco, Nick Cotric, Latrell Mitchell, Josh Morris, Josh Addo-Carr, Cody Walker, Nathan Cleary, David Klemmer, Damien Cook, Paul Vaughan, Boyd Cordner, Tyson Frizell, Jake Trbojevic Interchange: Jack Wighton, Payne Haas, Cameron Murray, Angus Crichton

Schedule
Game one - Wednesday: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Game two - June 23: Optus Stadium, Perth
Game three - July 10: ANZ Stadium, Sydney

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