Blues favourites to close out Origin at home after Game 1 win

NEW South Wales has firmed as the $1.48 favourites at Sportsbet.com.au to win State of Origin Game 2 at ANZ Stadium on June 21 after the Blues dominated the Maroons in the series opener at Suncorp.

The visitors took an eight-point lead into half-time against Queensland and subsequently smashed the home side off the park to run out 24-point winners and set up the prospect of securing just their second Origin series win in 11 years in two games.

Queensland is at +165 to square up the series heading into game three.

The non-selection of Billy Slater and the injury to Johnathan Thurston were the main points of conjecture heading into game one, and as the game unfolded it was obvious their experience and game-winning ability was sorely missed.

NSW coach Laurie Daley expected both men to come back into the team for game two.

“When we come back into camp we’ll have to work really hard,” Daley said.

“Queensland will have Thurston back, I don’t know what they’re going to do with Billy but if Billy comes back into the side and JT comes back into the side, they’re a different team.”

Our cunning plan to lull Queensland into complacency by constantly losing until Billy Slater and JT died of old age is paying off #Origin

— Alex McKinnon (@mckinnon_a) May 31, 2017

Unfortunately for the Maroons, Thurston is no guarantee to be fit for game two.

Thurston missed Wednesday’s opener, which was the first Origin game he has missed in 36 matches, through a shoulder injury that has kept him out of club football for over a month.

Queensland Kevin Walters was not sure the key playmaker would be back in time for game two on June 21.

“I’m not sure about John, we knew he wouldn’t be fit enough for this game,” Walters said.

“He’ll have to get back to his club doctors and see where they’re at with him.

“Obviously we’re hopeful of getting him for game two but that’s an unknown.

Stunned how many people think JT and Billy would have made a huge difference last night. Queensland was murdered in the middle. #origin #nrl

— Travis Meyn (@travismeyn) May 31, 2017

“With all due respect I think if Johnathan was out there tonight the score line might have been a little bit closer but they were pretty dominant through the middle and John doesn’t play in there.”

The player changes for the Maroons will be the hottest topic heading into the June 21 match, but Storm superstar and 20-game Origin veteran Cooper Cronk believes any changes to the line-up need to be measured and not based off Wednesday’s result.

How good is State Of Origin. Best footy out there. Queensland without Thurston Inglis and Slater makes huge difference

— daniel etteridge (@etto_100) May 31, 2017

“I think it’s a bit too early to make changes. The selectors will sit down and analyse the game,” Cronk said.

“From my point of view I can sit here and honestly tell you that it doesn’t matter who is in the 17 for Queensland in Game Two because they will all spend every last bit of energy trying to get the result no matter who they are. That’s what Origin is about. “