The NSW Blues were once favorites, but stumbled in the first game against a rising Queensland Maroons team.
Now Maroons coach Billy Slater has a chance to close out the series in Perth.
Fox Sports experts on both sides of the border give their full predictions of how it will unfold Sunday night.
BRAITH ANASTA
Sunday, June 26th
Sunday, June 26th
WHO WINS AND WHY? New South Wales. It’s a much more balanced side. They will control the ruck more in the second game with more power at once. We will see a totally different team and performance compared to game 1.
FINAL SCORE? NSW 24 – 8 QLD
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Nathan Cleary
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Stephen Crichton
STATE OF DAY OF THE STATE OF ORIGIN: LIVE coverage and start time
The Blues resist the rise of Qld in thriller! | 01:23
STEVE ROACH
WHO WINS AND WHY? The blues. This time they will not be ambushed. NSW will suffer its performance in Sydney and there are many improvements next door.
FINAL SCORE? NSW 28 – 10 QLD
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Matt Burton
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Nathan Cleary
MICK ENNIS
WHO WINS AND WHY? New South Wales. Isaah Yeo will play a fantastic game and allow NSW to gain the lead on the ruck. I’m tipping Stephen Crichton to hit at the start of the match.
FINAL SCORE? NSW 21 – 16 QLD
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Isaah Yeo
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Stephen Crichton
COOPER CRONK
WHO WINS AND WHY? Queensland. I hope the QLD starts better than they did in the first game and maintains its leadership to ensure victory.
FINAL SCORE? QLD 20 – 12 NSW
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Josh Papalii
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Josh Papalii
Terrific Taylor helps the Blues down Maroons | 01:16
NATHAN HINDMARSH
WHO WINS AND WHY? The blues. NSW will be more desperate to win because they have to and introducing Koroisau as a starting hooker will be a masterstroke for Freddy.
FINAL SCORE? NSW 18 – 16 QLD
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Cameron Murray
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Liam Martin
BEN ELIES
WHO WINS AND WHY? New South Wales. The Maroons did a brilliant job with Nathan Cleary in the first game, but I doubt they can do it again. The Panthers superstar will orchestrate the Blues’ attack once Isaah Yeo and Jake Trbojevic gain control of the ruck.
FINAL SCORE? NSW 30 – 12 QLD
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Nathan Cleary
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Matt Burton
BILLY MOORE
WHO WINS AND WHY? Queensland! I’m tilting the Maroons to finish the series in Perth with a pretty similar game plan to game 1. Their top ruck control and balance on their bench will be too good for the Blues.
FINAL SCORE? QLD 16 – 12 NSW
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Criminal Justice
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Selwyn Cobbo
“He obviously discussed how to cancel it” 02:29
JAMES GRAHAM
WHO WINS AND WHY? The blues. They win in Perth because they’ve done it too, it’s as simple as that. They will be more desperate than Queensland.
FINAL SCORE? NSW 22 – 12 QLD
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Isaah Yeo
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Daniel Tupou
GEOFF TOOVEY
WHO WINS AND WHY? New South Wales. While Freddy has made a lot of changes, I think this is a much more balanced side and he can match it with Queensland in the middle. I’m tilting Jake Trbojevic to score under the posts in the final minutes for the Blues ’victory.
FINAL SCORE? NSW 18 – 16 QLD
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Jake Trbojevic
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Brian To’o
PAUL KENT
WHO WINS AND WHY? Queensland. The Maroons are seated and have been prepared like a Melbourne Cup horse. The series will end in Perth.
FINAL SCORE? QLD 20 – 12 NSW
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Cameron Munster
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Dane Gagai
The 5 referees summoned to the blues were harmed by | 01:57
LARA PITT
WHO WINS AND WHY? New South Wales. Blues changes will make a difference. Koroisau & Cook’s one-two hit, Burton’s class and Jake Trbojevic’s chorus will prove too much for the Maroons.
FINAL SCORE? NSW 22 – 14 QLD
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? James Tedesco
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Cameron Murray
BRENT READING
WHO WINS AND WHY? Queensland. The grenades will win because the wind is in their sails. They will finish the job in Perth.
FINAL SCORE? QLD 28 – 12 NSW
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Kalyn Ponga
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Felice Kaufusi
MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL
WHO WINS AND WHY? The blues. It’s easy. We will win because we have to.
FINAL SCORE? NSW 26 – 10 QLD
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? James Tedesco
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Brian To’o
“Kaufusi the true villain of the origin” | 04:26
HANNAH HOLLIS
WHO WINS AND WHY? Queensland. It will be a uniform fight that comes down to a field goal by Daly Cherry-Evans to get the series in two.
FINAL SCORE? QLD 21 – 20 NSW
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Daly Cherry-Evans
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Matt Burton
COREY PARKER
WHO WINS AND WHY? Queensland will win because it is very simple, they are Queenslanders!
FINAL SCORE? QLD 20 – 18 NSW
THE MAN OF THE PARTY? Valentine Holmes
FIRST GUNTADOR SEAT? Selwyn Cobbo