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State of Origin Game 2 2021 match day guide and preview

Match day guide and preview for State of Origin Game II 2021 between Queensland and New South Wales.

Who, when and where?

Queensland Maroons vs New South Wales Blues

Sunday 27 June, 7.50pm

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

A limited amount of tickets have become available due to a number of NSW residents unable to attend because of the recent border closures. Click here to buy tickets.

Head-to-head record: Match wins: QLD 64 – 54 NSW | Series wins: QLD 23 – 15 NSW

Team selection

Queensland NSW
   
Valentine Holmes1James Tedesco
Xavier Coates2Brian To’o 
Kurt Capewell3Latrell Mitchell
Dane Gagai4Tom Trbojevic
Kyle Feldt5Josh Addo-Carr
Cameron Munster6Jarome Luai
Daly Cherry-Evans7Nathan Cleary
Christian Welch8Daniel Saifiti
Andrew McCullough9Damien Cook
Josh Papalii10Junior Paulo
Jai Arrow11Cameron Murray
Felise Kaufusi12Tariq Sims
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui13Isaah Yeo
Bench Bench
Ben Hunt14Jack Wighton
Moeaki Fotuaika15Angus Crichton
David Fifita16Payne Haas
Francis Molo17Liam Martin
Reserves Reserves
Coen Hess18Apisai Koroisau
19Campbell Graham
 20Dale Finucane
Coach Coach
Paul Green Brad Fittler

Paul Green has made a number few changes to the Queensland side after their flogging in Game I.

18-year-old rookie sensation Reece Walsh was selected at fullback in the initial side but has been ruled out with a hamsrtring injury sustained during the captain’s run. Ronaldo Mulitalo was initially named to come into the side for Walsh but was ruled out after NSW launched a protest into his eligibility to play for Queensland. It means axed winger Xavier Coates comes back into the side on the wing.

Josh Papalii is back from suspension and provides a huge boost to the front row while Francis Molo comes onto the bench with Joe Ofahengaue and Jaydn Su’A dropped.

With Harry Grant and Reed Mahoney out injured, Andrew McCullough will start at hooker with Ben Hunt on the bench as the utility in place of AJ Brimson.

After a quiet series opener, David Fifita has been relegated to the bench with Jai Arrow to start in the second row.

Conversely, Brad Fittler has made just the one change to his NSW side after losing Jake Trobjevic to injury.

They have a pretty handy replacement though with Angus Crichton coming onto the bench and Junior Paulo to start in the front row.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 22: Reece Walsh during a Queensland Maroons State of Origin training session at the Cbus Super Stadium on June 22, 2021 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Queenslander Reece Walsh has been ruled out after sustaining an injury the day before the game. Getty

Game I recap

Despite Queensland gaining a home crowd advantage for the series opener in Townsville, the Blues dominated proceedings to claim their biggest ever Origin victory, 50-6.

The Blues got on top early and were relentless for the full 80 minutes, with Tom Trbojevic the chief destroyer, scoring a hat-trick in the centres.

NSW controlled the entire game with their back five the stars of the show. Tedesco, To’o, Mitchell, Trbojevic and Addo-Carr combined to score seven of the eight tries and 928 run metres.

The Panthers halves pairing of Cleary and Luai barely put a foot wrong all game, although their job was made easier by how dominant the rest of the side was.

Remarkably, NSW only had 51% of possession which doesn’t reflect their dominance. However, they did win plenty of other stats, most notably line breaks (10 – 1), tackle breaks (52 – 31) and all run metres (1,841 – 1,261) which better reflects how good they were.

2021 State of Origin Highlights: NSW v QLD - Game I | NRL on Nine

Last 5 meetings at Suncorp Stadium

Even though the Maroons era of dominance ended in 2017, they’ve still maintained their strong home ground advantage, winning the last four matches in Brisbane.

The Blues won the series in both 2018 and 2019 but couldn’t win up in Brisbane. Their dominant 28-4 victory in 2017 is their only win at the ground in their last eight meetings there. However, this year’s NSW team may be the best we’ve seen in a long time and won’t hold any fears heading to Suncorp.

Pre match predictions

Reece’s Pieces: Reece Walsh to record a try assist in his Origin debut. – Denholm Samaras

Centre stage: Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell to carve up again with two tries and two try assists between them. – Denholm Samaras

Cherry on top: Daly Cherry-Evans to kick the match-winning field goal to ice the win.

Brian Tw’o: Brain To’o to score another double for the Blues.

Other match day information

The match will be broadcast live nationally on the Nine Network and 9Now, Sky Sport in New Zealand and WatchNRL internationally.

The Live entertainment will feature local Brisbane band, Sheppard.

The Ampol Women’s State of Origin will be played at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday, June 25. Click here for tickets.

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