Maroons in the Hunt as Blues make no changes for Origin 3

NEW South Wales coach Laurie Daley has named an unchanged squad for the final game of the 2017 State of Origin series.

It was thought the axe might swing after the Blues collapsed in the second half of game two to let Queensland back into the reckoning.

But the NSW selectors have held firm while their counterparts north of the Tweed look to cover the absence of injured superstar Johnathan Thurston.

Despite a late fade out in game 2 NSW Coach Laurie Daley has stuck solid with the same 17 for #Origin 3 pic.twitter.com/YzsshebgBF

— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) July 3, 2017

Barring any extenuating circumstances between now and Wednesday, July 12, Ben Hunt will make his Origin debut for the Maroons at Suncorp Stadium.

The selection comes only weeks after the St George Illawarra-bound halfback was dropped to the reserves by Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett.

He gets the call-up in lieu of Daly Cherry-Evans, whose impressive form for Manly Warringah in the NRL was expected to net him a seventh Origin cap.

#Origin Queensland camp. pic.twitter.com/FwidhUJtkj

— Fake Dave Smith (@FakeDavidSmith) July 3, 2017

Queensland coach Kevin Walters hit back at press speculation over the reasons behind DCE’s exclusion.

“He was disappointed but he was most disappointed with the media and what was a pretty personal attack on him,” he told reporters on Monday.

“And I agree with him. These rumours and nonsense, this hogwash about him not fitting into the set-up – it couldn’t be further from the truth.

“When you wear the Maroon jersey you are part of a great family.

“If he keeps playing the way he is he will wear it again next year.”

According to online bookmaker Sportsbet.com.au, initial support for New South Wales has eased off after the flurry of bets that followed Thurston’s withdrawal.

The latest head-to-head quotes have the Blues pegged at -125 and Queensland at an even +100.

While NSW hold 57 per cent of the overall money, punters have placed more individual bets on the Maroons to seal the series.

“New South Wales were heavily backed when Johnathan Thurston was ruled out of the decider, but things are balancing out,” said Sportsbet’s Will Byrne.

“The Blues have received the most money, but more bets have been placed on Queensland.”

Origin 3 match betting

-125 – New South Wales

+100 – Queensland

Handicap betting

-111.11 – New South Wales -1.5

-111.11 – Queensland +1.5

Margin betting

+188 – New South Wales by 1-12

+188 – Queensland by 1-12

+350 – New South Wales by 13+

+400 – Queensland by 13+

Markets courtesy of Sportsbet.com.au

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