Accor Stadium will play host to Wednesday's Round 3 NRL game between New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons. The game kicks off at 8:05 pm with Queensland Maroons heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the New South Wales Blues vs. Queensland Maroons game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Wednesday July 12, 2023 at 8:05 pm

Where: Accor Stadium

Bet: Bet On This Match HERE

New South Wales Blues vs Queensland Maroons Odds

New South Wales Blues vs Queensland Maroons Preview

The State of Origin series has already been decided with a match to spare, but the ferocity of the competition between emphatic winners Queensland and embattled New South Wales ensures Wednesday’s upcoming ‘dead-rubber’ entails no shortage of interest or fire.

This is only the 19th of 42 Origin series that hasn’t featured a game three decider.

Perhaps even more remarkably, just seven 3-0 clean sweeps have been completed – meaning on 12 occasions the state which lost the opening two games salvaged pride with a victory in the last clash.

Amazingly, only one of the past 22 series finished in a whitewash: Queensland’s 2010 triumph amid its record-breaking eight-year reign.

Current coach Billy Slater was man-of-the-match as the Maroons won Game 3 in Sydney that year – and his charges are in prime position to repeat the feat.

Game 1 is destined for Origin folklore, Queensland coming from behind with two late tries despite having a man in the sin-bin to win an Adelaide thriller 26-18.

Heading into a do-or-die game two assignment in Brisbane without linchpin Nathan Cleary and first-choice hooker Api Koroisau, NSW crashed to a series-sealing 32-6 loss.

In a repeat of the series opener, the Blues squandered stacks of scoring opportunities courtesy of clunky and one-dimensional attack.

Tom Trbojevic’s game-ending injury just three minutes in – with bench hooker Damien Cook controversially used to slot in out wide – stymied NSW, but Brad Fittler’s problems run far deeper.

The Maroons’ ability to pile on tries with limited good ball has been outstanding.

Valentine Holmes bagged a double in game two, fellow centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has three tries for the series, Selwyn Cobbo notched a brace in game one and replacement Xavier Coates crossed at Suncorp Stadium.

Cameron Munster came up clutch in Adelaide, Daly Cherry-Evans played arguably his finest hand at Origin level in Brisbane and rookie fullback Reece Walsh was among the top two or three players across the two matches.

But it was wholehearted forwards Reuben Cotter and Lindsay Collins who collected the man-of-the-match awards, outperforming their big-name counterparts in sky blue with myriad match-turning plays based on pure effort.

Under-fire Fittler and his selectors have named a confusing game three line-up caught between looking towards the future and trying to rescue a win from the 2023 wreckage.

The 33-year-old Cody Walker is recalled at the expense of Jarome Luai to partner Mitch Moses in the halves.

Jake Trojbevic returns from injury, teaming up in the front-row with Reagan Campbell-Gillard, who has come in for dumped clubmate Junior Paulo while Payne Haas is out injured.

Clint Gutherson comes onto a small bench with another recalled player, Jacob Saifiti.

Centre Bradman Best was a contentious debut selection, while second-rower Keaon Koloamatagi’s maiden call-up was more universally well-received.

For Queensland, the suspended Walsh is replaced by AJ Brimson, who played three games in 2020-21, and Corey Horsburgh has earned a popular debut call-up for the injured Tom Flegler.

The Blues have a 20-10 record at Accor Stadium, winning three of the last four encounters in their backyard.

But the Maroons pulled off a major upset there in the most recent clash, a 16-10 result in the 2022 series opener with Munster at his talismanic best.

Only one of the last 10 matches at the venue were decided by more than six points. Eleven of the last 13 produced totals of 34 points or less.

Queensland look a touch weaker without Walsh, but it’s highly debatable whether the wide-ranging changes NSW has made makes the side any stronger than the line-ups that bumbled their way through the opening two matches.

Their only proven Origin match-winner, skipper James Tedesco, is horribly out of sorts – though Cook could provide the game-breaking spark the Blues have been missing if he gets a decent chance at dummy-half this time.

Even as a $1.65 favourite, the Maroons are the value option on the road – their performances so far in the series offer no hint of a team that will let any complacency creep in or take their foot off the pedal.

A 3-0 result seems to mean more to them than preventing it does to the beleaguered Blues.

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