State of Origin | WishTips

Game 3: Overview

With the series locked away for Queensland following their dominant win in Game 2, we go back to Sydney for a dead-rubber. The Maroons will be looking to clean sweep the series for the first time since 2010, while NSW will be looking to redeem themselves after a disappointing campaign to date and keep any remaining hopes of Brad Fittler’s coaching tenure alive.

While Queensland goes into the match relatively unchanged, there’s again been much contention over the selection of the Blues squads. Brad Fittler’s decisions are utterly puzzling and are typical of a coach under pressure. With Reece Walsh’s suspension, Billy Slater has been forced into a change, opting for Titans flyer AJ Brimson at fullback. Corey Horsburgh has also been added to the side on the back of his outstanding form with Canberra this season.
Dead rubber or not, there will be lots of feelings in this. Let’s try to find the winner!

New South Wales

What a disappointing campaign it’s been for Brad Fittler and the Blues. This a side who started the series heavy favourites and are now staring down the barrel of being clean-swept. With the series done and his career on the line, Fittler has shaken things up – but not in the way many expected.

Moses also maintains his spot but will be partnered by Cody Walker, who makes his long-awaited return to the Origin arena on the back of a stellar season with the Bunnies. Parramatta enforcer Regan Campbell-Gillard, Jacob Saifiti, Jake Trbojevic and Clint Gutherson (head-scratcher) have also been recalled. New faces include Bradman Best in the centres and Keaon Koloamatangi, who starts in the second row. While Koloamatangi’s inclusion has yet to spark much debate, the same can’t be said for Bradman Best. He’ll have plenty of doubters to prove wrong.

This side has been tasked with restoring some pride in the jersey, which has come under heavy fire in the opening games. Whether they can avoid the clean sweep, I’m not convinced. Players out of form, with question marks over their representative credentials… there are too many holes in this side for mine. I can’t have them.

James Tedesco
Brian To’o
Stephen Crichton
Bradman Best
Josh Addo-Carr
Cody Walker
Mitchell Moses
Jake Trbojevic
Damien Cook
Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Liam Martin
Keaon Koloamatangi
Cameron Murray
Isaah Yeo
Reece Robson
Jacob Saifiti
Clint Gutherson

Recalled Blues star Clint Gutherson is ready to do anything to help NSW avoid a series whitewash…
And that includes playing in the front row 😂https://t.co/F7y5GMqyev
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 4, 2023

Queensland

What a series it has been from the Queensland outfit. Written off by many, and yet again, they have proved the doubters wrong. They have been fully deserving of their wins in both games, especially most recently when they wrapped up the series in emphatic style at Suncorp Stadium.

While Brad Fittler is under relentless fire, Billy Slater can do no wrong. Unsurprisingly, he’s stuck with a similar side throughout the series and has paid in spades. There were question marks around his selection of Walsh over Ponga, but boy, has that paid off. As mentioned, Walsh sits this one out through suspension, who they will miss, but is replaced by AJ Brimson, who has consistently delivered in the Maroons jersey.

The Queensland side comes into this popular favourites again, being backed into $1.65 since teams were announced. Despite being in Sydney, it’s hard to see any result other than Queensland win here.