Origin Game One: Experts' Tips

Steve Renouf
One of the first Maroons picked throughout the '90s
"Queensland by 10 points. I see the team that NSW has picked and I just don't think they have the edge. There's players there that I'm a massive fan of, like Josh Reynolds and Paul Gallen as well, but I just think the Queensland guys, their key players are peaking at the right time. They've had a slow start by their own standard at club level, but the week before they picked the team Cam Smith, Billy Slater and the like hit their straps and they're looking good the old Maroons."

Andrew Voss
Skysport NZ, Foxsports & NRL.com
"Queensland by six points. I believe NSW have picked a very good side and if they were to play Queensland 10 times, they would possibly win three or four. However I don't believe time is up yet on this Maroons line-up that includes some of the superstars of their era in the key positions. Yet another halves combination for NSW goes on show. Maybe they will need another Origin camp leading into Game Two before they have the Blues playing to their potential. The usual suspects to fire for the home side, but I doubt the margin will be too big."

Erin Molan
Channel Nine & NRL.com

"I think NSW will win by four points. The past few years have been incredibly close – there is not a HUGE difference in talent between these two teams. The Blues halves combination is young, hungry and exciting – they know how to play together and I have faith. I also can’t look past Jarryd Hayne's ability to find the line and create a miracle. When push comes to shove, NSW and Queensland both have 13 players on the field – with two arms and two legs (and one head depending on which team you play for!) so anything can happen!"

Greg Alexander
Former Blues utility & Fox Sports commentator

"NSW by four points. Jarryd Hayne's in the best form he's been in since 2009. Finally he's at fullback and Daniel Tupou will score at least one try from a cross-field kick, and Hayne's involvement and Tupou's ability in the air should be enough to get us a win. Toops is only young and he's come across as nervous in front of the media this week, but on the field it'll be a different story and he'll be one of NSW's best come Wednesday night."

"Queensland by eight points. Home ground advantage and the fact the team has been together for so long should be too much, even though I think NSW will really put it to them. They've just got that class and the combination of Smith, Slater, Thurston and Cronk will get them home like they have so many times before. If the likes of Greg Bird, Andrew Fifita and Boyd Cordner were available and NSW was at full strength it'd be closer, but Queensland would still get up."

"Queensland by 10 points. The Blues have a self-declared 'grub' Josh Reynolds partnering Origin rookie Trent Hodkinson in the halves. On the other of the field the Maroons have NRL clean-skin and all round good guy Cooper Cronk alongside arguably the best player in the world Johnathan Thurston. A side anchored around Cam Smith rarely puts a foot wrong. It’s the 100th edition of State of Origin and there is no way the Queensland men will let 50,000 screaming maniacs down at the Cauldron."