The 2017 State of Origin series comes down to the decider on Wednesday night at Suncorp Stadium. Who are we backing to take out the prize? See our NRL State of Origin Game 3 Preview and Betting Tips below.
Queensland vs New South Wales (Wednesday 8pm AEST)
The Blues have been remarkably able to select the same side for all three matches, a first for more than two decades. However, there is an injury cloud hanging over the heads of Boyd Cordner and Tyson Frizell. Cordner took to the field to train for the first time on Saturday and all signs are pointing towards the captain taking his place on the left edge on Wednesday night. While those two players will be a loss for the Blues, fortunately for them they have a lot of depth in the backrow and Wade Graham and Jake Trbojevic would slot well into the starting spots.
The Maroons aren’t short of injuries and of course the biggest talking point will be the loss of Johnathan Thurston for the Queenslanders. He slotted the conversion to give his side the match winning points in the 18-16 come from behind victory in game 2. It was more of an implosion from the Blues than great play form Queensland ultimately they proved too strong and composed in the moments that mattered once again. The side has also lost Darius Boyd from left centre with Michael Morgan coming into the starting side to replace him. Cameron Munster takes Thurston’s place at five-eighth with Queensland taking the field on Wednesday night with an all Melbourne spine as Munster partners Cooper Cronk in the halves and Cameron Smith and Billy Slater will play at hooker and fullback respectively. The side will be ready for an ambush, similar to what they received in the opening game at home soil, but they will be much more comfortable playing the decider in front of their home fans as opposed to on the road.
The Blues will need to right their wrongs from the opening game. They trailed early in the match but found a quick equaliser through Jarryd Hayne before they carved Queensland up the middle in quick succession to take a 16-6 lead at half-time and a lot of people though the series was over. However, they went away from their game plan in the second half and they became nervous towards the end of the match as it was hanging in the balance. They need to return to playing up the middle with their forwards and building momentum. We are almost certain that will be their gameplan on Wednesday night and it will be a successful one for them if they follow it. Andrew Fifita was tamed in game 2 but they will have him running different options and lines while Wade Graham needs to be utilised as an attacking weapon from the forward pack. We predicted a New South Wales series win 2-1 and we are backing them to be victorious on Wednesday night.
TIP: NSW at the margin (1-12) - $2.75 at Sportsbet
Jarryd Hayne was the first try scorer for NSW in game 2 and he crossed for a try in the opening game of the series. He is the leading try scorer for NSW in their history and we are predicting him to be first over the white line on Wednesday night. The Blues will need to make an impact early and with Hayne coming off one of his worst performances in the origin arena, he will want to make amends. He is a big game player and he loves performing on the biggest stage. The Blues also haven’t looked threatening down their right edge so we think it is a great value choice to back Hayne as first try scorer.
TIP: Hayne first try scorer - $14.00 at Sportsbet
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