State of Origin LIVE: Blues and Maroons go head-to-head for game one at Accor Stadium

Question: It’s great to see Selwyn Cobbo back in the Queensland team, but dropping Reece Walsh – the biggest x-factor in the game – is hard to understand – Phil

Agreed Phil. The reasoning for Walsh being brushed that’s emerged from Maroons camp is concern around his confidence since he’s come back to the NRL from a broken jaw. If that’s the feedback Walsh has given Billy Slater himself then it’s hard to argue. But personally, I would have Walsh on the bench ahead of Ezra Mam as your play making cover. I know who I’d prefer to see coming on from a NSW perspective late in the contest.

Over the past 18 Origins, an outside back or half has been forced out of the game and not returned 14 times. Odds-on, one of Matt Burton, Casey McLean, Ezra Mam and Gehamat Shibasaki will see game time tonight.

In case you missed it, Mitchell Moses will not take to the field for NSW tonight.

That’s right, the Origin gods have cursed Moses once more, with the Parramatta halfback tearing his hamstring at training two days out from game one.

It’s another stroke of bad luck for Moses when it comes to the Origin arena, with the 30-year-old fracturing his back in game three of the 2021 series, fracturing his foot before game one of the 2024 series, and tearing his calf in camp ahead of game two of the 2025 series.

Read the full story here.

Good evening footy fanatics, temporary fans and everyone else in between. Finally, it’s Origin time.

It feels like only yesterday I was manically typing away as Tom Dearden scored in the 73rd minute of game three to seal a 2025 series victory for the Maroons.

Alas, it’s a new year, new series, and a very new-look team for Laurie Daley and the NSW Blues.

Billie Eder and Frances Howe here to take you through every try, captain’s challenge, sin bin and bone-crunching tackle for this evening’s match which kicks-off at 8.05pm.

Until then, we’ll be answering your reader questions, bringing you insights from the ground, and providing you with any breaking news that happens between now and kick-off.

Enjoy.