State of Origin 2012: Game III preview

The 2012 State of Origin series between Queensland and New South Wales reaches a conclusion at the cauldron of Lang Park tonight.

Queensland remains favourite for the deciding game after winning the past six Origin series but the Blues are confident of claiming the series.

Coaches Mal Meninga and Ricky Stuart have only increased the tension with their barbs at each other during the past six weeks.

Tonight one of these Origin legends will bask in the glory of possibly their sweetest victory.
Maroons prop Petero Civoniceva makes his 33rd and final Origin appearance and will be hoping to go out - as Darren Lockyer did 12 months ago - a winner.

Ahead of tonight's game Grandstand previews the match and looks back at all the facts and figures since Origin began in 1980.

• State of Origin by the numbers
• Game I and II statistical analysis
• Stuart insists Blues not intimidated
• Civoniceva: It's not about me

Grandstand's broadcast on local and digital radio starts just after 7pm (AEST), or catch the live web stream of the game and follow our live blog.

QUEENSLAND		NEW SOUTH WALES
GREG INGLIS Age: 25 Origin: 17	1	BRETT STEWART Age: 27 Origin: 7
DARIUS BOYD Age: 24 Origin: 13	2	JARRYD HAYNE Age: 24 Origin: 15
DANE NIELSEN Age: 27 Origin: 2	3	MICHAEL JENNINGS Age: 24 Origin: 6
JUSTIN HODGES Age: 30 Origin: 14	4	JOSH MORRIS Age: 25 Origin: 4
BRENT TATE Age: 30 Origin: 17	5	BRETT MORRIS Age: 25 Origin: 5
JOHNATHAN THURSTON Age: 29 Origin: 23	6	TODD CARNEY Age: 26 Origin: 2
COOPER CRONK Age: 28 Origin: 8	7	MITCHELL PEARCE Age: 28 Origin: 8
MATT SCOTT Age: 26 Origin: 10	8	TIM GRANT Age: 24 Origin: 1
CAMERON SMITH (C) Age: 29 Origin: 26	9	ROBBIE FARAH Age: 28 Origin: 4
PETERO CIVONICEVA Age: 37 Origin: 32	10	JAMES TAMOU Age: 23 Origin: 2
NATE MYLES Age: 27 Origin: 19	11	BEAU SCOTT Age: 28 Origin: 4
SAM THAIDAY Age: 27 Origin: 16	12	GREG BIRD Age: 28 Origin: 10
COREY PARKER Age: 30 Origin: 7	13	PAUL GALLEN (C) Age: 30 Origin: 13
Interchange
MATT GILLETT Age: 23 Origin: 2	14	TONY WILLIAMS Age: 23 Origin: 1
BEN TE'O Age: 23 Origin: debut	15	LUKE LEWIS Age: 28 Origin: 10
BEN HANNANT Age: 27 Origin: 11	16	BEN CREAGH Age: 27 Origin: 10
DAVID SHILLINGTON Age: 29 Origin: 6	17	ANTHONY WATMOUGH Age: 28 Origin: 8

Maroons Coach Mal Meninga Expects Better Of His Team; Unfazed By NSW Selection Issues

QUEENSLAND coach Mal Meninga has turned up the heat on his side ahead of the Origin decider by admitting he has not been completely satisfied with the Maroons' performances in the first two games. 
 
The Maroons have struggled with their execution this series without the cool-headed organisation of former skipper Darren Lockyer, putting pressure on his five-eighth replacement Johnathan Thurston to fire in the Suncorp decider next Wednesday night.

Emboldened by their 16-12 win in Origin II, the Blues are growing in confidence and believe they have finally struck the right formula in team balance and attitude to end Queensland's six-year interstate dominance.

While praising his side's commitment and desire, Meninga said the major lesson he has learned from the opening two matches is Queensland's need to be more clinical across the board.

Meninga's warning came as the Maroons prepared to launch their preparations for Origin III with the first training session at a rain-soaked Stockland Park on the Sunshine Coast today.


"We have always talked about preparation and the effort has been there but we have let ourselves down a bit in execution," Meninga said.

"We have to come up with the right formula, the right plan and the right team to get on with the business of winning the decider.

"It is getting more difficult each year. Ricky (Stuart, NSW coach) has a very good side, they believe they are more desperate than us and they understand the cauldron of Suncorp Stadium.

"It's a challenge each game we play. It's different to club footy, you have to focus intensely on each game and you only have three games so every time you put the Maroon jersey on you have to be at your best.

"It's about how we handle it all. The side has to realise NSW are coming to our home and we have to start well."

While the Maroons are sweating on the fitness of injured fullback Billy Slater, Queensland hierarchy do not expect Blues hitman Glenn Stewart to take a knee injury into the decider.

Asked about how the Blues were shaping up after naming another extended squad, Meninga said: "I don't really care to be honest with you, it will sort itself out.

"We have had to endure this before in regards to their make up. We will plan around what to expect, we don't expect Stewart to play but we have to make sure we are settled to prepare as best we can."

Maroons prop Petero Civoniceva said he was not concerned that Queensland's 20-man squad could derail their preparations.

"It's not disruptive at all," he said.

"It's something we have to deal with week in, week out with our own (club) teams.

"You get guys who are carrying injuries into games every week and it's a process.

"The core of our team is our strength and we've got some great combinations that has brought us a lot of success over the years.

"I'm sure that familiarity will help us in our preparation."

State of Origin Series to Kick Off in Melbourne

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher and the Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh Delahunty last week launched public ticket sales for the first game of the 2012 Harvey Norman State of Origin series to be played in Melbourne.

This will be the second time game one has been played outside of Queensland or NSW. In 2009 Melbourne attracted record crowds of almost 51,000 people for a State of Origin event, yielding an economic benefit to Victoria of around $17.1 million.

Australian Rugby League (ARL) Chief Executive Geoff Carr said since 2005 the ARL’s partnership with the Victorian Government and the Victorian Major Events Company has brought truly memorable Australian sporting moments to Melbourne, attracting sell-out crowds.

"To once again host a series opener here shows just how successful that partnership has been and once again fans from not just Victoria but across Australia will converge in Melbourne to be part of something they are really going to enjoy," Mr Carr said.

The Harvey Norman State of Origin 2012 game one will be held on 23 May at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne.

State of Origin – Game 2 preview

The biggest game in rugby league is entering the second instalment tonight and for the Blues yet again it is a must win as the New South Welshmen desperately try and keep the State of Origin series alive.

What happened last time?
Game one was the same old story for the most part; Queensland dominated the ruck, possession and the moments that counted.

However, the Blues can take a huge amount of belief from the defensive effort that they put up, particularly in the first 30 minutes. This shows they can stick solid when they put their minds to it.

The Blues also found some space and vulnerability on the Queensland right edge, which they were able to exploit twice.

It can be argued that the Queensland halves were quiet, but the New South Wales halves were a new pairing and took a while to find their feet, with Soward extremely quiet in the first 20-30 minutes.

Who’ll win?
Tonight it is all on the line. It is really do or die for the Blues.

If they want to try and (postpone) the Queensland claim to another series win, I believe this is the side that can keep it close.

We won’t see the same lopsided possession as we saw a few weeks ago in Queensland. The refs need to give the Blues a hand, after some shocking calls last time out.

There is a lot of talk about the difference in the forward pack sizes. There is a big difference with the Blues not having as many big men as Queensland, nor the experience of Queensland’s heavy hitters.

It is a selection risk, one that will either be a flop or a massive reward.

Every man and his dog knows the Blues will be looking for their forwards to play fast football but it’s how the forwards approach the defence that will have a huge impact on this game.

The Blues’ forwards need to match it with the Maroons’ forwards and keep them from making easy metres up the middle of the park.

With the weather set in and the track bound to be wet, despite it’s great drainage, this will play into the Blues hands.

Big men don’t turn as fast as a ballet dancer; more like the Titanic.

I expect to see the Blues move the ball around a bit, inside passes are the key, to keep the Queenslanders turning and slipping.

The Blues halves have an extremely important role to play tonight. Soward barely touched the ball first half of game one, which was not good enough for one of the best tactical and positional kickers in the game.

He grew into his role during the game which is promising.

If Soward can keep kicking early in the set, having Slater, Yow Yeh and Boyd chasing and starting sets from deep in their half.

The Blues back line looked more dangerous than the Maroons for the first time for a while last match. The men coming in look to have the potential to keep this rolling, although the Maroons have brought in Greg Inglis and have kept the faith in their line up.

This isn’t where it’ll be won – it’ll be solely decided on the forwards performance. Whoever makes the least mistakes and plays the smartest positional football will be the winner in this one.

The New South Wales Blues will send this to a Game three blockbuster.