State of Origin 2019 Game 1: Queensland Maroons v New South Wales Blues – live!

Updates from the series opener at Suncorp StadiumAny thoughts? Email or tweet @mike_hytner 10.55am BST Twenty minutes to go. A final chance to have a read of Larissa O’Connor’s match preview. To think that only 34 points separate the two teams over 37 Origin series shows just how close this contest has been over time and gives reason to why this epic state battle eclipses any national representative match in popularity and number of TV eyeballs. The stage is set at Suncorp Stadium, league’s most intimidating and stirring amphitheatre, and it may be that the location might just prove the difference. Related: State of Origin 2019: same intense rivalry, different protagonists | Larissa O'Connor 10.48am BST Some music. And it’s Briggs! Decent showing from the hiphop star. Meanwhile, stats:1 - Only one of the last seven #StateOfOrigin series has seen either team host the opening game and go on to win the series (Queensland in 2017). Hare.#Origin 10.45am BST AFP raids on the ABC. Is nothing sacred anymore? There are fears tonight’s game will be missed by ABC staff stuck in a room looking at computer files with the feds. Disturbing on many levels.AFP: the reason that the four smaller files will be created is so that the ABC and AFP can start going through file number 1 while the others are being created. This could take hours. Origin not looking good. 10.33am BST Cody Walker is one of those making his Origin debut tonight, although his story is perhaps more inspirational than most. Asked why he didn’t make his NRL debut until the ripe old age of 26, he says: “I didn’t have everything it takes to be an NRL footballer. Didn’t like to turn up to training. Didn’t like diet. I didn’t want to be a footballer away from footy. It wasn’t until my missus got pregnant, it just sort of clicked mind into gear that I really needed to do something. I sort of grew up in that split-second and I had to. I had no other choice. I had to build my reputation up to be, you know, a good trainer. One that had a good work ethic, one that made changes within his diet. All of those sort of things. It took me a little while to get there. But I didn’t want to give up so early because if I’m teaching my kids to chase their dream, how can I tell them to chase their dream if I didn’t do everything possible to chase mine.” 10.30am BST The national anthem. It’s been one of the biggest talking points since last week’s announcement by Cody Walker that he will remain silent during tonight’s pre-match rendition of Advance Australia Fair. Walker will be joined by Josh Addo-Carr, Latrell Mitchell and Will Chambers in their boycott and while the issue has split the rugby league community (judging by social media reaction over the past week), there’s has been nothing but support from within the respective Origin camps. “Respect” has been the buzz word from players and coaches alike; we’ll soon find out if that respect has filtered through to the Suncorp crowd.Here’s Jack Latimore if anyone still needs things explaining: Related: Why we should all support Cody Walker's quiet refusal to sing the Australian anthem | Jack Latimore 10.23am BST One of the players who’s getting Maroon juices flowing is Kalyn Ponga, who starts for Queensland – and fills Billy Slater’s shoes, not that he wants to do that.“I want to make my own, that is how I’m going to go about it. I’m excited to see and feel just how enormous that crowd is going to be. I played last year and it was obviously a bit more blue jerseys, but hopefully we will have more Maroons this year. I don’t want to let anyone down. The boys are out there, the family, coaches, just anyone that’s had any bit of me being here, I want to do them proud and give it my all.”Congratulations to the Queensland Under 18 side! #QLDER #UnitedinMaroon pic.twitter.com/wOECRe676t 10.17am BST Evans above. Apologies for that, but Daly Cherry-Evans’ ascension to the captaincy of Queensland has been nothing short of miraculous. Here is the man who will lead out the Maroons tonight:“It’s a special occasion for me and the family, so I’m looking forward to it. I daresay they’d be pretty proud.” When asked about what’s important tonight, he says: “Not necessarily the captaincy, it’s the number on my back, No 7. That direction from me is going to be important for the side tonight. Everyone’s going to get a little bit nervous at some stage but when we’re out there, we have got to trust that we’ve prepared well and this is what we’re here for. We’re here to put on a performance and we have trained really well an put ourselves in a position to do that.” Related: Daly Cherry-Evans gets one hell of an unlikely State of Origin promotion | Larissa O'Connor 10.13am BST Sex, lies and video. It’s been a rather strange buildup to tonight’s opener. Indeed, a buildup “like no other”, the TV has just said. I’ve got to be careful what I say here, but one of the more bizarre moments (in a pretty competitive field) came with the leaked sex tape allegedly featuring a NSW player, who wasn’t the player at all. The mind boggles how NSW officials came to the conclusion it wasn’t, given the alleged star of the video reportedly didn’t show his face. Anyway, it certainly did come at a curious time. Very odd. And we haven’t even started about the motivational gurus. 10.09am BST The teams. A reminder that Queensland have named three debutants, NSW five. Queensland: Kalyn Ponga, Corey Oates, Will Chambers, Michael Morgan, Dane Gagai, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jai Arrow, Ben Hunt, Josh Papalii, Felise Kaufusi, Matt Gillett, Josh McGuire. Interchange: Moses Mbye, Dylan Napa, Joe Ofahengaue, David Fifita. 9.51am BST Here we go then. Game 1 of the 2019 Origin series, a game like no other. Early ascendency, territorial superiority and bragging rights are all up for grabs at Suncorp tonight as the Blues begin their quest to retain the shield for the first time since 2005. In that time, the Maroons have managed to defend their crown nine times, a stat that highlights a seriously maroon-tinged dominance over recent history. But is that all changing? Last year’s series win by the Blues, coupled with the staggered loss of Queensland’s experienced spine – Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston or Cooper Cronk – has New South Wales awash with hope. Continue readingread full article

Source: TheGuardian

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