Michael Maguire’s Blues will be looking to vanquish the demons of sides’ past when they journey to the Suncorp Cauldron on Wednesday night for a Game III decider.
It’s been 19 years since the Blues last tasted victory in an Origin decider north of the border when an Anthony Minichiello and Andrew Johns-led masterclass saw them run away 22-point victors in front of 52,436 people.
The squad may look a little different this time around but the 2024 Blues will look to draw inspiration from their predecessors and steal the Shield from Queensland in their own backyard.
The series up until this point has been far from regulation; a 7th-minute Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i send-off handed Queensland a dominant Game I win in Sydney before a revamped Blues outfit stormed towards the most dominant half-time score in the state’s history en route to a 38-18 win in Melbourne.
It’s no secret that Suncorp has proven an unhappy hunting ground for the New South Welshman; they’ve won just seven of their 27 games at the venue over the years and are just 2-11 in deciders played in Queensland since 1982.
The loss of Latrell Mitchell to a foot injury was a blow for the Blues but centre depth has proven one of the state’s strengths over the past few years with Bradman Best set to shake-off an injury concern of his own to deputise at left centre.
Mitch Barnett was also handed a deserved debut jumper at the expense of Manly behemoth Haumole Olakau’atu having enjoyed the best stretch of his career across the ditch with the Warriors.
Barnett will have an important role to play particularly given the short stints that skipper Jake Trbojevic has been relied on to punch out in the middle.
NSW’s middle ascendancy and control of possession was the basis for the Game II dominance and, while replicating that will be impossible, should serve as the blueprint for Game II.
As for the Maroons, injuries to Murray Taulagi and Xavier Coates see Selwyn Cobbo and Dane Gagai earn recalls in the centres with Valentine Holmes pushing out to the wing as Billy Slater deploys an arguably more potent back five.
Kurt Capewell also sees himself promoted into the starting side at the expense of Dragons tearaway Jaydn Su’A with Kalyn Ponga injected onto the interchange despite playing just one game in almost three months.
Queensland enter the clash as narrow favourites but punters appear uncharacteristically bullish about the Blues’ chances after their domination in at the MCG.
