The State of Origin series moves to Melbourne on Wednesday night, with Queensland looking to seal another series and NSW fighting to stay alive in Game Two at the MCG.
Billy Slater’s Maroons lead the best-of-three series 1-0 after a 38-10 victory in Game One but there is plenty of intrigue about how the Blues will respond after playing most of the opener with 12 men.
Joseph Suaalii’s early send-off for a high shot on Reece Walsh certainly hindered NSW and they have made some big changes, with Latrell Mitchell, Mitchell Moses and Dylan Edwards among the stars coming in for the do-or-die clash.
Here’s everything you need to know.
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ORIGIN II LIVE: Madge fires another jab at Billy and Maroons ahead of Game II
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DCE’s off the ball moment under fire! | 00:28
2024 ORIGIN DATES AND VENUES
Game I — Wednesday, June 5
Accord Stadium, Sydney (Queensland won 38-10)
Game II — Wednesday, June 26
MCG, Melbourne
Game III — Wednesday, July 17
Suncorp Stadium, Queensland
WHAT TIME IS KICK OFF?
All three games are scheduled to kick-off at 8.05pm AEST.
But, as is so often the case, don’t expect the actual football to get underway until closer to 8.10pm due to the pre-match ceremony.
READ MORE
‘NO-ONE BACKED US’: Unlikely Blues hero relives iconic, drought-breaking Origin moment
HOOPS: Origin barbs fly, hostilities rising as Billy and Madge set to face off in awkward meeting
‘DO OR DIE’: Luai says Moses the man to save NSW and make Origin history
FORECAST
It could be a wet and wild day in Melbourne, with showers and even possible hail forecast in the morning — although conditions are expected to clear up by the evening. Unsurprisingly it’ll be a cool day and night, with temperatures expected to reach a high of 14 degrees Celsius and a low of 8.
ODDS (TAB)
NSW $1.85
QLD $1.95
WHAT WILL THE CROWD BE?
Ticket sales suggest a crowd of more than 90,000 could be on hand at the iconic Melbourne ground. The current record for attendance at a State of Origin game is 91,513, set at the MCG for game two of the 2015 series.
TEAMS FOR ORIGIN II (to be confirmed one hour before kick-off)
NSW Team
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Brian To’o
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Stephen Crichton
5. Zac Lomax
6. Jarome Luai
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Jake Trbojevic (c)
9. Reece Robson
10. Payne Haas
11. Liam Martin
12. Angus Crichton
13. Cameron Murray
14. Connor Watson
15. Isaah Yeo
16. Haumole Olakau’atu
17. Spencer Leniu
18. Mitch Barnett
19. Cameron McInnes
20. Luke Keary
Coach: Michael Maguire
QLD Team
1. Reece Walsh
2. Xavier Coates
3. Valentine Holmes
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5. Murray Taulagi
6. Tom Dearden
7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
8. Reuben Cotter
9. Ben Hunt
10. Lindsay Collins
11. Jayden Su’A
12. Jeremiah Nani
13. Patrick Carrigan
14. Harry Grant
15. Moeaki Fotuaika
16. Felise Kaufusi
17. Kurt Capewell
18. Dane Gagai
19. Heilum Luki
20. Trent Loiero
Coach: Billy Slater
Martin: “It just sucks losing…” | 01:41
MATCH OFFICIALS FOR GAME II
Referee — Ashley Klein
Review Official — Grant Atkins
Touch Judges — Chris Sutton and Dave Munro
PREVIOUS SERIES WINNERS
2023 — Queensland
2022 — Queensland
2021 — New South Wales
2020 — Queensland
2019 — New South Wales
2018 — New South Wales
2017 — Queensland
2016 — Queensland
2015 — Queensland
2014 — New South Wales
2013 — Queensland
2012 — Queensland
2011 — Queensland
2010 — Queensland
2009 — Queensland
2008 — Queensland
2007 — Queensland
2006 — Queensland
WALLY LEWIS MEDAL WINNERS
2023 — Reuben Cotter
2022 — Patrick Carrigan
2021 — Tom Trbojevic
2020 — Cameron Munster
2019 — James Tedesco
2018 — Billy Slater
2017 — Dane Gagai
2016 — Cameron Smith
2015 — Corey Parker
2014 — Paul Gallen
2013 — Cameron Smith
2012 — Nate Myles
2011 — Cameron Smith
2010 — Billy Slater
2009 — Greg Inglis
2008 — Johnathan Thurston
2007 — Cameron Smith
2006 — Darren Lockyer
2005 — Anthony Minichiello
2004 — Craig Fitzgibbon