Last meeting: Suncorp Stadium
Referees: Tony Archer, Shayne Hayne
TV: Live, Channel 9
Greg Prichard writes: There isn't much between these two sides. The Maroons will start favourites on their own ground, but the bookmakers are keeping the Blues safe in the betting because they are a real chance up there. The Blues almost won Origin I at Suncorp Stadium. It was only the combined brilliance of Johnathan Thurston, Darren Lockyer and Billy Slater that conjured up the matchwinning try inside the last 10 minutes for the Maroons. The Blues then had the home-ground advantage at ANZ Stadium for game two and won like a good team.
The key to this game could be whether the Blues start well or not. They trailed 10-0 in game one and 8-0 in game two. If they can be on their game from the start here and manage to get to the lead themselves early it could put the Maroons under a lot of pressure. The Blues don't want to be the team that loses what would be a sixth straight series, but the Maroons don't want to be the team that couldn't continue the record run either. The result could come down to a big play from one of the many great players on either side - it's that close a call.
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Queensland: Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Nate Myles, Sam Thaiday, Ash Harrison. Interchange Cooper Cronk, Ben Hannant, Jacob Lillyman, Dane Nielsen, Corey Parker (one to be omitted)NSW squad: Paul Gallen (capt), Greg Bird, Ben Creagh, Michael Ennis, Keith Galloway, Mark Gasnier, Kurt Gidley, Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings, Luke Lewis, Tim Mannah, Trent Merrin, Anthony Minichiello, Brett Morris, Mitchell Pearce, Beau Scott, Jamie Soward, Glenn Stewart, Akuila Uate, Anthony Watmough (four to be omitted).
NSW hooker Michael Ennis has reminded his teammates that winning Origin II in Sydney last month will count for little if they slump to a record sixth consecutive series defeat at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow night.
The Blues signalled that an end to Queensland's domination may be close with a stunning 18-8 victory at ANZ Stadium but after losing the opening game 16-12 they must win again to clinch NSW's first series triumph since 2005. ''It doesn't matter if we don't win on Wednesday night because it will be 2-1 and they will win the series again,'' Ennis said.
''It is the first time that the series has been on the line for a while and it is something that is very motivating for us, but in terms of whether we are happy with where we are at, no not at all. We've won one game of footy against a very good side and we know that we are up against it again on Wednesday night. If we win on Wednesday there will certainly be some pats on the back but … we certainly haven't won anything yet.''
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"We certainly haven't won anything yet" ... Michael Ennis says the Blues must cement their Origin comeback with a convincing victory over the Maroons. Photo: Andy Zakeli
Despite the disruptions caused by injuries, Ennis described the Blues as the ''best balanced'' and ''best prepared'' team he had played in during the two years since he made his Origin debut. According to Ennis, the main reason for that was coach Ricky Stuart being appointed to the job on a full-time basis.
''I feel like it is the best balanced side we have put together, definitely,'' he said. ''You can just tell with Ricky … that, having no club commitments, his preparation and the time he has been able to put into our camps and the staff that he has got involved, we are certainly very, very well prepared and that is a credit to him.''
Providing extra motivation for the Maroons is the desire to send Darren Lockyer out on a winning note in his final representative match in Queensland and Ennis said the Blues were determined to spoil the celebrations.
''It is a huge opportunity for us to turn the tide for NSW, every one of us who take the field on Wednesday night and even the guys who miss out. We have all been a part of this,'' he said.
''There is no doubt what Locky has done for the game. I have played with him and against him for a long time, and he will no doubt go down as one of the greatest of all time, and rightly so. But we can't be going into the game thinking about Locky and all of his milestones. The fortunate thing for us is that [we] have been down in NSW and away from it all. We have prepared very well … and we have got a job to do on Wednesday night.
''Whatever celebrations there are after the game hopefully they are ours. They will want to send him off with a fairytale. But there is plenty of motivation for us - we have lost five series in a row.''
Asked what another series defeat would mean, Ennis said: ''I haven't really thought about it to be honest. I've been thinking about the other scenario … It is certainly something I hope I don't go through again.''
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