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 six 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.
The injury to Cameron Munster sees Dearden step up for his second Origin game, having made his debut in Game 3, 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.
Team News
New South Wales: Halfback Nicho Hynes was expected to hit the ground running this week after a scan of his calf on Sunday came back positive. We're really confident with where he's at, that he'll be able to train from day one," Blues coach Michael Maguire said on Monday. Maguire has named six debutants and a new skipper for the series opener, with Jake Trbojevic taking the reins in his 17th State of Origin match. Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards, Dragons winger Zac Lomax, Roosters centre Joseph Suaali’i, Sharks lock Cameron McInnes and Roosters forward Spencer Leniu all make their debut. Panthers second-rower Liam Martin (hamstring) also underwent scans on Sunday before the squad was announced. Cowboys hooker Reece Robson will wear the No.9 jersey after being part of the team that won Game Three last year.
Queensland: Eels forward J'maine Hopgood is the lone debutant in the Maroons' 20-strong squad. Jaydn Su'A has won a recall to the side for his first Origin game since 2021 after he was named to start in the back row alongside Jeremiah Nanai. Dolphins flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will once again shift into the centres with Reece Walsh at fullback, while in the halves Tom Dearden has won the right to partner skipper Daly Cherry-Evans in the absence of the injured Cameron Munster. Veteran back-rower Felise Kaufusi returns as 18th Man after missing last year's series win.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Blues is number 1 Dylan EdwardsFullback for Maroons is number 1 Reece Walsh
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Winger for Blues is number 2 Brian To'oWinger for Maroons is number 2 Xavier Coates
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Centre for Blues is number 3 Stephen CrichtonCentre for Maroons is number 3 Valentine Holmes
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Centre for Blues is number 4 Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'iCentre for Maroons is number 4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
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Winger for Blues is number 5 Zac LomaxWinger for Maroons is number 5 Murray Taulagi
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Five-Eighth for Blues is number 6 Jarome LuaiFive-Eighth for Maroons is number 6 Tom Dearden
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Halfback for Blues is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Maroons is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
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Prop for Blues is number 8 Jake TrbojevicProp for Maroons is number 8 Reuben Cotter
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Hooker for Blues is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Maroons is number 9 Ben Hunt
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Prop for Blues is number 10 Payne HaasProp for Maroons is number 10 Lindsay Collins
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2nd Row for Blues is number 11 Liam Martin2nd Row for Maroons is number 11 Jaydn Su'A
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2nd Row for Blues is number 12 Angus Crichton2nd Row for Maroons is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai
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Lock for Blues is number 13 Cameron McInnesLock for Maroons is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
Interchange
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Interchange for Blues is number 14 Isaah YeoInterchange for Maroons is number 14 Harry Grant
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Interchange for Blues is number 15 Haumole Olakau'atuInterchange for Maroons is number 15 Moeaki Fotuaika
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Interchange for Blues is number 16 Spencer LeniuInterchange for Maroons is number 16 J'maine Hopgood
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Interchange for Blues is number 17 Hudson YoungInterchange for Maroons is number 17 Selwyn Cobbo
Reserves
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Replacement for Blues is number 18 Matt BurtonReplacement for Maroons is number 18 Felise Kaufusi
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Reserve for Blues is number 19 Luke KearyReserve for Maroons is number 19 Brendan Piakura
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Reserve for Blues is number 20 Mitchell BarnettReserve for Maroons is number 20 Ezra Mam
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- 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.
- 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 six of the past nine Origin series.
- 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 .
