SYDNEY: New South Wales will gamble with one of their most inexperienced line-ups in a bid to upset mighty Queensland in the State of Origin rugby league series opener in Sydney on Wednesday.
Just eight players remain from the 17-man Blues squad that was decimated by the Maroons 52-6 in last year's series-deciding game in Brisbane, which stands as the biggest winning margin in 35 years of Origin encounters.
There is plenty on the line for coach Laurie Daley and his revamped NSW squad against a side that has won nine of the last 10 series.
Daley will go into this week's first match with three starting debutants in fullback Matt Moylan, winger Josh Mansour and scrum-half Adam Reynolds, with a fourth newcomer, utility back Dylan Walker, on the interchange bench.
The Blues will pitch three-capped Origin stand-off James Maloney and Reynolds against Queensland's crack halves combination of Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk.
"I suppose we can only find out on the night. I know we'll get better as the series goes on," Daley said.
"But that's one of the risks you take when you blood a lot of new guys. You've got to come together quickly and you've got to make sure that you prepare as best as you possibly can."
Queensland have some of the greatest stars in the contemporary Australian game with record Origin try-scorer Greg Inglis, skipper Cameron Smith, Thurston and Cronk.
Match-winning Thurston has the most consecutive Origin appearances with 33 and has totted up the most career points with 200, while Smith will become the most-capped player in Origin history with his 37th game for the Maroons, moving past Darren Lockyer.
Queensland are coached for the first time by Kevin Walters following Mal Meninga's move to the Test job after 10 years and a 20-10 Origin winning record.
In that context NSW have a massive task ahead to go one-up in the three-match series. But they have won 15 of the 23 Origin encounters at Sydney's Olympic Stadium, a venue where they won their last series against the Maroons in 2014.
Brisbane Broncos winger Corey Oates and North Queensland Cowboys centre Justin O'Neill will make their Queensland debuts.
"It's been a team that's been hard to get into over the years because of our success, but given the injuries to Billy (Slater) and Will Chambers, plus the retirement of Justin Hodges, the door has opened up," Walters said.
"I'm very happy with the squad. The guys that have come in have really earned their positions in the side."
Teams (1-17)
NSW - Matt Moylan; Blake Ferguson, Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Josh Mansour; James Maloney, Adam Reynolds; Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen (capt); Boyd Cordner, Josh Jackson; Greg Bird.
Interchange: Dylan Walker, James Tamou, David Klemmer, Andrew Fifita.
Queensland - Darius Boyd; Corey Oates, Greg Inglis, Justin O'Neill, Dane Gagai; Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk; Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (capt), Nate Myles; Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday; Corey Parker.
Interchange: Michael Morgan, Josh McGuire, Aidan Guerra, Josh Papalii.
Referees: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins.
Comments
Comments are closed.