Origin 2 betting tips, top odds & best value bets – June 26, 2022

Game two of the 2022 State of Origin series travels to Perth, where the New South Wales Blues will take on the Queensland Maroons this Sunday night. The Blues are one down in the series and need this win if they are to force a decider in game three at Suncorp Stadium.

Brad Fittler and his Blues won their only previous game in Perth all the way back in 2019, where Tom Trbojevic scored a hat-trick and the Blues thumped the Maroons by 38-6. Fittler famously wielded the axe for that match too, and it proved the right choice. Will history repeat this Sunday?

The Maroons have been forced to make changes with injuries to Xavier Coates and game one hero Reuben Cotter. Jai Arrow has been called into a reshuffled forward pack for the Maroons, while Murray Taulagi will make his Origin debut on the wing.

For the Blues, Jack Wighton has been ruled out with COVID-19, but Fittler has dropped Kotoni Staggs, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Ryan Matterson, and Tariq Sims in favour of Angus Crichton, Matt Burton, Siosifa Talakai and Blues stalwart Jake Trbojevic. This combination of Origin experience with damaging ball-carrying and ball-playing abilities is what Fittler hopes will inspire a game two victory for the Blues.

NSW are still $1.70 favourites with online bookmakers, which is fair given their only game in Perth has been a victory. However, that victory came with Tom Trbojevic, Josh Addo-Carr, James Maloney, and Boyd Cordner all in the Blues side. This Sunday will be much different for the Blues as they take on an in-form Cameron Munster, Valentine Holmes, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Patrick Carrigan. The value is with Queensland, although they’re not expected to blow the Blues off the park. Backing Queensland to win by 1-12 points is the smartest play here, paying $3.20.

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One man to keep an eye on as a tryscorer for Queensland will be Dane Gagai. He is an Origin veteran and it’s often said he is a totally different beast in that arena. Gagai proved this in game one this year, scoring a try and breaking two tackles in a tough game of football. Look for Gagai to score again at any time during the match at the incredible price of $3.30 with BetOnline.

Another Queenslander to watch is Taulagi, and although he is making his Origin debut, this season he has displayed just how special a winger he is, scoring tries in the air and on the ground for the Cowboys. Taulagi will surely be the target in the air for Queensland to leap over his opposing winger, Brian To’o, and score at any time during the match, paying $2.55.

The Blues will certainly be looking to bounce back and score plenty of points, as they did in their last outing at Optus Stadium. Their captain, James Tedesco, will be the man leading the way for New South Wales, as he always does, and he is still yet to lose his ability to score from anywhere on the field. In what is shaping to be a statement game for the Blues, look for Tedesco to score a try at any time during the match at a generous price of $2.75.

Each of the last three State of Origin matches have fallen below the total match points line at Ladbrokes. What this stat does not consider is how poorly the Queensland side of 2021 played, and the fact that game one this season was at Accor Stadium, a difficult ground to score points at. Game two should see a change in this trend, as both head coaches of these teams have suggested their team will be better from the first match. With the total points line for this game set at 38.5, that should be easily exceeded at the $1.90 price.

Key matchup: Harry Grant vs Damien Cook

These two hookers may be starters in club land, but on Sunday they will play very specific and pivotal roles that will dictate the outcome of this match. While Api Koroisau and Ben Hunt have been named to start at hooker in their respective sides, Cook and Grant play the more important hooking roles as impact players off the bench. They will be looking to exploit fatigued forwards in the middle with their running game and football IQ. This will create time and space for the playmakers around these two men, and whoever plays their role better on Sunday should be leading their side to a victory.

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