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State of Origin 2023 Game 2 Predicted Teams

13/06/2023|SB Staff|NRL Expert Predictions & Tips

Blue heads will surely roll after Queensland’s Adelaide ambush in State of Origin Game 1. A number of players are on the chopping block for NSW after they once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the annual interstate clash. On top of this, there have been a number of injuries to both sides, headlines by Blues halfback Nathan Cleary who will miss the remainder of the series with a hamstring injury.  With Game 2 set to be played at Suncorp Stadium, Brad Fittler will need to produce a miracle to keep the series alive and will need to pick the players capable of pulling off said miracle. As for victors Queensland, they will undoubtedly adopt the “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” mentality and should be only forced into two changes due to injury. Just who will make up the NSW Origin team and the QLD Origin team? Our predicted teams for State of Origin Game 2 are below.   <h2>Predicted NSW Origin Team</h2>   1. Dylan Edwards Straight off the bat, Brad Fittler will have a massive call to make. Incumbent fullback and captain James Tedesco was heavily criticised for his performance in Game 1. He entered the clash at the Adelaide Oval out of form in club land and was at fault for both of Queensland’s two late tries. The modern fullback is hugely responsible for their team’s attack, and NSWs was clunky and disjointed. If Teddy is to go, the man to replace him would be Panther’s fullback, Dylan Edwards.  One of the standout performers this season, the 27-year-old averages similar meters to Tedesco coming out of trouble but could offer more in attack. His attacking combinations with former and present Panthers like Nathan Cleary, Api Koroisau, Brian To’o and Isaah Yeo could be just what NSW needs to breach the Maroon wall.   2. Brian To’o Penrith flyer To’o did enough in Game 1 to justify his selection and will be lining up at Suncorp Stadium on June 21. He was good coming out of trouble as always and made a crucial line break, which, unfortunately, his side could not capitalise on.   3. Stephen Crichton A late inclusion due to Latrell Mitchell’s scratching through injury, Crichton was one of the Blues’ better outside backs. He crossed for a crucial try and should retain his place for Game 2.   4. Latrell Mitchell If all goes to plan, Latrell Mitchell should be fit and ready to go for NSW come Game 2. A massive loss for the Blues in Game 1, Latrell has been in career-best form in 2023 and is exactly the type of player who can single-handedly turn this series on its head. With Tom Trbojevic likely to miss Game 2, as he will have to miss the next 11 days of footy due to new concussion protocols and will not get to play between games 1 and 2, Mitchell could be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Blues.   5. Campbell Graham Josh Ado-Carr was underdone going into Game 1, and it showed as the Hammer burned him for the match-winning try. South Sydney’s Campbell Graham has been in career-best form this season and was unlucky not to have played in Adelaide. Not just in fine try-scoring touch, but one of the best backline defenders in the competition, Graham could be a huge point of difference for NSW both with and without the ball.   6. Cody Walker A hamstring injury to Nathan Cleary has opened the door for Souths standoff Cody Walker to return to the Origin arena. Walker has been in scintillating form for the Rabbits this term and deserves a shot at inter-state redemption.  Jerome Luai was already in danger of losing his spot before Cleary went down, and now, with no club combination to save him, surely his time is up in the Blues No. 6 jersey.    7. Nicho Hynes There were calls for the reigning Dally M Medalist to start Game 1; those calls have only grown louder after the Blues’ defeat in Adelaide. Now with Cleary’s injury, Brad Fittler’s hand has been forced, and whether he likes it or not, it’s time to give Nicho his shot at controlling one side of the ruck.  Hynes is arguably the best player in the game at the moment, and if you had to win a stand-alone game of footy at all costs, who else is there better to turn to? His game-managing style should complement Walker's more adlib interpretation of the game and could be just the combo NSW need to level the series.

8. Junior Paulo The TPJ gamble did not pay off for Freddy and his Blues. The question is now – double or nothing? Or cut your losses? Doubling down surely isn’t the answer, and we anticipate Freddy to revert back to the tried and tested Junior Paulo as the first of his starting props.   9. Apisai Koroisau One of the few NSW players who excelled in Game 1. Koroisau played the full 80, made 41 tackles and scored a try. He won’t be going anywhere.   10. Payne Haas Still the best prop in the game. Haas is a certain starter.   11. Tyson Frizell The veteran backrower impressed on his return to the Origin arena with his blend of experience and effort. His 33 tackles at a 94.3% efficiency will see his lineup once again in the No.11 jersey.   12. Liam Martin An absolute wrecking ball for the Blues off the bench in Game 1. Martin scored NSW’s best try and more than earned promotion to the run-on side for their do-or-die match at Suncorp Stadium.   13. Isaah Yeo © The ultra-reliable Isaah Yeo did not put a foot wrong in Game 1 and is a lock at lock for Game 2. If Teddy is dropped, Yeo should be the next man up as Captain.    14. Damien Cook If Nicho Hynes is promoted to the starting side, NSW will need a new utility on the bench. Veteran rake Damien Cook could very well be that man. He was unlucky to miss selection in Game 1, and his speed around the ruck could be exactly what NSW needs late on in the game.   15. Cameron Murray As one of the game's best and most versatile forwards, Cam Murray will be pulling on that Blues jersey once again come June 21.   16. Hudson Young In Game 1, Hudson Young brought the niggle and aggression as many tipped he would. Unfortunately, he didn’t bring much else. Such has been his club form this year; he will probably be given a shot at redemption by Freddy, but most likely from the pine.   17. Jack De Belin Controversial forward Jack De Belin has been in imperious form for St George this season despite their struggles. His ability to play anywhere in the forwards, as well as his knack for getting away late offloads, could make him the perfect impact forward for NSW.  Calls for him to get a spot in Freddy’s 17 have been growing louder each week.

18th man – Matt Burton Another legitimate option for the bench utility role is if Damien Cook does not receive the call-up as we are predicting, he will definitely once again be the 18th man for the Blues.   <h2>Predicted QLD Origin Team</h2>   1. Reece Walsh Reece Walsh justified his selection ahead of incumbent Kalyn Ponga in an assured display on his Origin debut. He was safe under the high ball and had a hand in a couple of Queensland’s tries. He’ll be the man at the back once again for the Maroons as they look to wrap up the series on June 21.   2. Selwyn Cobbo Two tries for the No.2 ensures he will be starting in Game 2.   3. Hamisou Tabuai-Fidow Game. Breaker. The Hammer was the hero for the Maroons as he scored the match-winning try, burning both Josh Ado-Carr and James Tedesco to send the travelling Queensland fans into raptures.    4. Valentine Holmes Ran for over 100m, set up a try and is the Maroons’ first-choice goalkicker. Val Holmes is not going anywhere anytime soon.   5. Murray Taulagi There were questions over Taulagi’s initial selection due to his disappointing form for the Cowboys this season. It didn’t take him long to silence the doubters, pulling off a remarkable try-saver on James Tedesco early on.    6. Cameron Munster Built. Different. Origin is to Munster what the NBA Playoffs are to Jimmy Butler – fuel to take his game to the next level. The Blues' chief antagonist once again was the difference maker for the Maroons when it mattered most, and they will be looking to him for a repeat performance in Game 2.   7. Daly Cherry-Evans © Captain, leader, game manager. DCE did what he always does, help guide QLD to the win. The 40/20 he booted with the game in the balance was as big a play as they come. That’s why he wears the armband and why he’ll be wearing it again at Suncorp Stadium.   8. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui In a late switch, big Tino was promoted to the starting side. Whether he’s named on the bench or not, we have no doubt he’ll be on the run-on side in Game 2.   9. Ben Hunt The one-two punch of Bun Hunt starting, with Harry Grant coming off the bench, continues to work a treat for the Maroons, and they’ll be running with it until it doesn’t work anymore.   10. Reuben Cotter Another late switch on game day, Cotter came into the run-on side and promptly won Man of the Match. He was everywhere, and his efforts in Game 1 will ensure he starts Game 2 to maximise his minutes.   11. Kurt Capewell The only expected change for the Maroons in Game 2 is this one. Tom Gilbert is facing a stint on the sidelines after sustaining a dislocated shoulder early in Game 1. He will need replacing, and while Jeremiah Nanai is an option, we think Slater will opt for the more defensively reliable and experienced Kurt Capewell.

12. David Fifita Titans wrecking ball David Fifita put in a big shift on the edge in his return to the Origin arena. His controlled and industrious performance will have ensured he lines up again in the No.12 jersey in Game 2.   13. Patrick Carrigan Everything that was said about his NSW counterpart, Isaah Yeo, can be said about Patrick Carrigan. Also, like Yeo, Carrigan is an absolute lock at lock.   14. Harry Grant The bread to Ben Hunt’s butter, Grant will be on deck in Game 2 to terrorise the tired NSW middles again when called upon.   15. Tom Flegler If anyone in Queensland’s setup is likely to lose their spot based on their Game 1 performance, it would be Tom Flegler. Demoted to the bench on game day, he was sin-binned late in the match, but maybe that was all part of the plan because the Maroons scored two tries as soon as he left the field. Despite all this, Slater will most likely give him another crack at staying on the field this time around.   16. Lindsay Collins Big leaping Lindsay pulled off arguably the moment of the match when he out-jumped his Roosters teammate and captain James Tedesco to set up the match-sealing try for the Maroons. QLD fans will be hoping for my high-flying heroics in Game 2 from the front rower.   17. Corey Horsburgh  Jai Arrow’s injury could open the door for Raiders’ firebrand Corey Horsbrugh to make his Origin debut.  Big Red was knocking on the door for Game 1 and should now get his chance to bring the ruckus off the pine.    18th man – Tom Dearden Tom Dearden should once again be on hand for the Maroons if anyone is a late scratching.

18 Dec 02:32

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