Origin 2 2024 - Wednesday 26th June 2024

[Graham]

So the second Origin game is to be played in Melbourne on 26th June.

The two squads have now been named.

Here they are:

Queensland Squad

Edited June 27 by Graham

[Graham]

New South Wales Squad:

[Spotty Herbert]

Blues still only have 2 "real" props in their 17, so the Maroons forwards will steamroller them again.

Jurbo, Murray and Yeo are all too similar and will get in each others way.

Not convinced Moses and Luai will be any better than Nicho and Luai.

Queensland to win again, by 12 to 16.

[bobbruce]

Walsh to get targeted again leading to a good old fashioned all in brawl. 

[DavidM]

13 hours ago, bobbruce said:

Walsh to get targeted again leading to a good old fashioned all in brawl. 

I’ll definitely be watching then ( not for the Walsh being targeted bit ) 

[StandOffHalf]

Lots of exciting players, but, looking at both sides, I'm bound to wonder whether they are both short of a prop or two.

Edited June 23 by StandOffHalf

[Graham]

Quote

The Blues find themselves down 1-0 for the third year in a row, but they have a terrific record at the MCG, with the new-look side confident they can flip the script after they were humbled at home.

They only have to look back to 1994 for inspiration when NSW lost the series opener at home thanks to Mark Coyne’s miracle try before they bounced back with a big win at the MCG and then thrashed Queensland in Brisbane to clinch the series.

“That’s the beauty of Origin. If you lose that game one, there’s still a chance to bring it back,” Luai said.

“I just think it’s do or die for us now.

 

[George Watt]

Crowd at the MCG expected to be around 90,000.

Support Queensland but think NSW will level the series up so providing a blockbuster decider at Suncorp next month.

[Graham]

 

11:05am Darrington, England

[Graham]

Line ups announced one hour before kick off:

[Graham]

Fox NRL site has the probability of a win in Blues favour.

[Graham]

Quote

Queensand can wrap up a third straight series at the MCG on Wednesday night but Maroons legend Cooper Cronk admits he’s the “least confident he’s been” in any game of Billy Slater’s tenure.

That’s because a new-look NSW Blues will be absolutely desperate to square the series after going down 38-10 in a controversial series opener.

“Desperation forces you to the contest earlier than your opposition.” Cronk said on the Matty Johns Podcast.

“.... And then once you’ve got a lot of people thinking that way, that’s why it ends up being that desperation that plays a key part.

The Blues have made five changes to their Game One team and Cronk has identified fullback Dylan Edwards as the danger man for Queensland tonight.

“I feel like he has just been building for this moment. This kid’s been waiting for this opportunity for a long time,” Cronk said.

“... I just feel like he’s gonna make up for lost time.”

 

Edited June 26 by Graham

[Graham]

WatchNRL which normally has FoxSports coverage again has Channel 9 coverage for Origin.

[Graham]

[Farmduck]

22 minutes ago, Graham said:

WatchNRL which normally has FoxSports coverage again has Channel 9 coverage for Origin.

Ch 9 has exclusive rights to SOO + GF. Those are the 4 times a year I watch Ch 9

[Graham]

17 minutes ago, Farmduck said:

Ch 9 has exclusive rights to SOO + GF. Those are the 4 times a year I watch Ch 9

You’ll be keeping up to the moment in this one FD

[Graham]

Teams entering the field of play. Excitement mounts!

[Graham]

Big crowd, big atmosphere in Melbourne. Big cheer for the Maroons

[Graham]

National anthem over.

Full house.

Game 2

The game has kicked off!

[Irish Saint]

Good morning all. And off me go.

[Graham]

Morning I St

[Irish Saint]

Great take from Taulagi.

[Graham]

Reportedly light rain. Can’t see it on the coverage

[Graham]

Blues giving it a good go early on.

[Graham]

First real break by Qld but came to nowt.