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State of Origin game one LIVE: All the latest updates and scores as NSW take on Queensland

3 months ago 13

By Shayne Bugden For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 09:08 BST, 5 June 2024 | Updated: 09:57 BST, 5 June 2024

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 Follow Daily Mail Australia's live blog for all the updates and scores from the first game of this year's State of Origin series

And now the pre-match motivational speech you've all been waiting for

No, not Phil Gould - Anthony Field of the Wiggles, all of whom are Blue in this clip. They're not even trying to be unbiased here.

Who wants to see Ray Warren commentate his 100th Origin?

Let's be honest - it's not the same without Rabs behind the microphone. Not even close. Today's commentators - whether you watch Nine or Fox - just don't stack up.

And now the man himself has come clean on whether he'll ever do footy fans a favour and call a NSW vs Queensland clash for the first time since 2021...

NSW Premier Chris Minns makes a cheeky bet with Queensland's Steven Miles

It's become a bit of an Origin tradition for the premiers to up the stakes on game day - and this year, instead of the loser having to fly the other state's flag from a landmark, Chris Minns is after something a bit more personal and embarrassing from his opposite number.

Fletch asks the Blues the tough questions... and gives Angus Crichton the finger

Bryan Fletcher has got hold of a few NSW stars to drill down into the tactics the team will be using tonight... not.

What happens if Maguire's bench strategy backfires?

Unlike the Maroons, who have Selwyn Cobbo to cover any injuries in the back line, the Blues have gone with nothing but muscle on the bench - but if disaster strikes, Raiders back-rower Hudson Young has confirmed he'll be the man to plug the hole by shifting to the centres.

 Hudson Young warms upduring a New South Wales Blues State of Origin training session at Blue Mountains Grammar School on June 01, 2024 in Katoomba, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

What's the weather doing?

NSW have named a bench full of forwards and all indications point to them adopting Michael Maguire's favoured power game tonight - so they'll be doing rain dances in the sheds, hoping for a slippery surface that will turn the game into more of a slog and help take the edge off Queensland's pace advantage in the backs.

The forecast is currently predicting a 90 per cent chance of rain - but as I write, there's none falling within cooee of Accor Stadium.

Carl Webb inspires the Maroons after his tragic death aged 42

After helping the Maroons kickstart an era of dominance when he last starred for them almost 20 years ago, Webb is still having a big influence on the way Queensland play - as revealed by Reuben Cotter, who has his work cut out for him against a big NSW pack tonight.

A blast from the past with Jarome Luai and Nicho Hynes

The Blues are running with an untested halves combination in the absence of the injured Nathan Cleary - but as you can see, Hynes and Luai aren't exactly strangers on the footy field, having played together in their younger days.

G'day and welcome - Origin is back!

Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of all the action as the Blues try to avenge last year's 2-1 series defeat to the Cane Toads and Michael Maguire makes his Origin coaching debut against Maroons maestro Billy Slater.

From team news to the latest scores, controversies and social media reaction, we'll have you covered as the Cockroaches find themselves in the unusual position of being underdogs.

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