After weeks of selection speculation and mounting concern over injuries to star players, the time for talking is done as the Blues and Maroons square off in the 2024 Ampol State of Origin series opener.
With a new coach in Michael Maguire, new captain in Jake Trbojevic and five new caps, the Blues embark on a quest for redemption after consecutive series losses.
The Maroons have just the one debutant in J'maine Hopgood, a new five-eighth in Tom Dearden and no fears about playing at Accor Stadium having won the series opener in Sydney in 2022 to kick-start Billy Slater's reign as coach.
After failing to claim a victory in their first 11 trips to the home of the Sydney Olympics between 1999 and 2007, the Maroons have well and truly put that hoodoo to bed and will enter Game One as favourites on the back of their recent dominance.
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The injury to Cameron Munster sees Dearden step up for his second Origin game, having made his debut in Game Three, 2022 when the Storm superstar was ruled out with COVID.
The Blues, meanwhile, turn to a fourth different halves combination in as many games as Nicho Hynes and Jarome Luai team up after Nathan Cleary and Luai played Game One last year, Mitch Moses and Luai featured in Game Two and Moses and Cody Walker helped NSW save face in Game Three.
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Latest Team News
New South Wales: James Tedesco will make his 23rd appearance for the Blues after being a late call up to replace Dylan Edwards, who was ruled out with a quad injury. The injury to Edwards sees Tedesco, who was initially overlooked for the series opener, return to the No.1 jumper. Nicho Hynes will make his first Origin start at halfback after overcoming a calf complaint. Matt Burton is the replacement player.
Queensland: Maroons hooker Harry Grant is good to go after shaking off illness earlier in camp and will come off the bench, with Ben Hunt starting at dummy-half. Selwyn Cobbo has spent time at centre and wing as he prepares for a super-sub role off the bench for Billy Slater's side. J'maine Hopgood will make his Origin debut via the interchange. Felise Kaufusi is the replacement player.
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Stat Attack
- The Blues have won four of the past five games played at Accor Stadium.
- Maroons centre Valentine Holmes has scored 13 tries in his 16 State of Origin games. Greg Inglis is the record holder for most Origin tries with 18.
- The Maroons have won the past three series openers played in Sydney - 2022, 2016 and 2015.
- Since Origin became a three-game series in 1982 the state that won the first game has gone on to claim the series 31 times.
- The Blues have five players on debut – their most since Game One, 2019.
- Queensland's Cameron Smith holds the record for most Origin games with 42, followed by fellow Maroon Johnathan Thurston on 37.
- The Maroons have won Game One in four of the past five series.
- Maroons centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored five tries in four Origin games.
- In 31 Origin matches played at Accor Stadium, the Blues hold a 20-10 advantage with one draw.
- NSW's Ryan Girdler and Maroon Lote Tuqiri hold the record for most tries in an Origin series with five, both achieving the feat in the 2000 series.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.