State of Origin Preview: Can Blues pull off Suncorp upset to keep series alive?

The scene of the 2023 State of Origin series shifts to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium for Game II with Brad Fittler’s Blues in need of an upset win to set up a decider and keep their series alive.

The Suncorp cauldron has proven an unhappy hunting ground for NSW over the years with the side having won just seven of their 26 clashes at the venue and just one of their past six.

Queensland will be without three of the men who helped lead them to a 26-18 Game I victory at the Adelaide Oval; Selwyn Cobbo (hip), Tom Gilbert (shoulder), and Jai Arrow (ankle) have all been hit with the injury bug.

Xavier Coates replaces Cobbo on the wing whilst Jeremiah Nanai has been named to start in place of Gilbert on the edge and Moeaki Fotuaika comes onto the interchange.

Lindsay Collins has been named to start in the front row with Reuben Cotter on the pine, although, the pair made a late switch prior to kick-off in Adelaide.

The Blues, meanwhile, were forced into a number of changes of their own.

News that Nathan Cleary (hamstring) would miss the remainder of the series sent the selectors into a tailspin with Mitchell Moses winning the race to don the vacant seven jersey.

Apisai Koroisau (jaw) was also ruled out with Fittler deciding to hand Reece Robson a debut jumper and recall Damien Cook in a bid to mirror Queensland’s successful duel-hooking strategy.

Reigning Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes drops out of the 17 alongside fellow Game I debutant Tevita Pangai Jr. with Stefano Utoikamanu named to make his debut off the interchange.

Latrell Mitchell was initially named in the centres but was forced to withdraw having been unable to recover from the calf issue that ruled him out of Game I paving the way for Stephen Crichton to retain his spot in the team.

Liam Martin (head knock) and Cameron Murray (groin) are both expected to play despite picking up injuries at clubland.

It is also being reported that Fittler has opted to switch Brian To’o onto the right wing and Josh Addo-Carr onto the left after the two played on opposite sides in Game I.

To’o is set to play outside Tom Trbojevic with Addo-Carr outside of Crichton.

NSW dominated possession and field position in Game I but lacked the necessary polish to create genuine point-scoring opportunities.

Of their three tries, one came off a cross-field kick and another off a Queensland knock-on.

Trailing by two with seven minutes remaining, the Maroons took the game by the scruff of the neck and pulled off another unlikely victory with their backs against the wall.

In a contest that is likely to come down to owning moments at key stages, NSW will have to muster a newfound spark and composure – a difficult but not impossible task for their overhauled spine.

Queensland enter the match as favourites with bookmakers forecasting Billy Slater’s men to wrap the series up on their home turf.

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