Suncorp Stadium will play host to Wednesday's Round 2 NRL game between Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues. 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 Queensland Maroons vs. New South Wales Blues game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Wednesday June 21, 2023 at 8:05 pm

Where: Suncorp Stadium

Bet: Bet On This Match HERE

Queensland Maroons vs New South Wales Blues Odds

Queensland Maroons vs New South Wales Blues Preview

After yet another extraordinary, character-filled Queensland upset in the State of Origin series opener, New South Wales head up to Suncorp Stadium for game two in the rare position of being rank underdogs.

The Blues’ bid to force a decider has been rocked by injuries to their first-choice halfback and hooker, while they will attempt to force a decider with two more debutants on deck – after jettisoning two of their first-gamers from the Adelaide clash.

It hasn’t been totally smooth sailing for the Maroons as they aim to wrap up the Origin shield defence with a game to spare, however, with three of their game one heroes rubbed out by injury.

The series opener was an Origin for the ages. Queensland raced out to a 10-0 lead in 10 minutes but NSW clawed to the front soon after halftime. The lead changed hands twice more and the Blues were in the box-seat at 18-16 with Maroons forward Tom Flegler sent to the bin in the 68th minute.

But as only Queensland can, the defending champs conjured two brilliant tries while a man short to roll over the top of NSW 26-18.

The Blues had 53 percent possession, largely dominated territory, chewed off 300 more running metres, and made less missed tackles and gave away less penalties. But disjointed, impatient attack brought them undone time and again, while Brad Fittler’s bench use came under fire.

Most glaringly, though, they just didn’t seem to want it as much as the Maroons.

Nathan Cleary succumbed to a hamstring injury four days later and Api Koroisau suffered a fractured jaw last weekend. Damien Cook was an obvious No.9 replacement, but Mitchell Moses’ recall at halfback (he debuted in the 2021 dead-rubber loss) was more contentious.

Nicho Hynes was dumped altogether after an unfortunate interchange debut, as was enigmatic prop Tevita Pangai Jr. Cowboys hooker Reece Robson and Tigers front-rower Stefano Utoikamanu will debut off the bench in game two. Junior Paulo starts this time around in an astute switch.

Withdrawing from game one after being selected, strike weapon Latrell Mitchell comes back in at centre for Stephen Crichton – but he hasn’t played since May 19 and will be a late starter in Blues training this week.

Queensland trio Selwyn Cobbo – who bagged a double in Adelaide – Tom Gilbert and Jai Arrow were ruled out of the return clash. But the straight swaps for Origin-experienced Xavier Coates, Jeremiah Nanai and Moeaki Fotuaika means the difference is negligible and far less risky.

In game one, man-of-the-match Reuben Cotter typified the Maroons forwards’ relentless effort, while Daly Cherry-Evans kept his side cool through the rough spots, Cameron Munster came up trumps in the clutch and Reece Walsh had a flawless debut at the back.

For NSW, whopping (for Origin) $2.40 outsiders, the solutions seem simple: start better, build pressure, sort out their edge defence, take more of their scoring opportunities. But it’s easier said than done in the Suncorp Stadium cauldron.

Moses and game one standout Jarome Luai need to get Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic into the game, while James Tedesco would best serve the Blues by not overplaying his hand as he did in Adelaide.

Queensland have won 38 Origins at Suncorp Stadium to NSW’s 20 with one drawn. The Maroons have also won five of the last six matches staged at their fortress and 13 of the last 16. The Blues wrapped up the 2021 series there with a 26-0 game two shutout.

Meanwhile, NSW have gone to Brisbane one-nil down on four occasions and levelled the series just once, in 1998. Queensland have squared Origin series in enemy territory after losing the opener just twice – in 1987 and 2017 – from nine attempts.

Suncorp Stadium Origins have proved reliably low-scorers in recent years, with the last seven Brisbane clashes producing no more than 34 points – hence the skinny 37.5 total points line.

Not since the days of Smith, Thurston, Cronk, Inglis, Slater and Lockyer have Queensland seemed this unbeatable heading into an Origin match. Keeping a lid on any complacency may be Billy Slater’s biggest task in the lead-up…but this one shapes as an early victory lap for the Maroons.

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