State of Origin 2023 Game 1: Queensland Maroons v NSW Blues – live updates | State of Origin

A surprisingly political Welcome to Country, with a nod to the Voice referendum, precedes the national anthem. It’s almost go time.

And after a not insignificant pause, the Maroons are out on the turf as well, top to toe in the colour of rich Queensland soil.

Here we go… Out come the Blues, the nominal away side this evening, and they’re in an unfamiliar navy uniform with sky blue trim. They are met with resounding boos from the Adelaide crowd, peppered with only a smattering of cheers.

Ashley Klein is once again the man in the middle after earning positive reviews for his handling of last year’s series. Expect him to blow the whistle only when absolutely necessary.

“The revelation that Origin 1 is not a sell out isn’t really that much of a surprise,” emails Phil Withall. “Australian sports seem to have a need to be loved, irrespective of the needs of supporters. The recent A-league grand final deal in Sydney being a case in point. The desire to be seen as massively important, to get government funding, is actually diluting the vitality of the game they claim to promote. Yes, I am a grumpy old man.”

The Living End are still giving it their all, by the way. It’s not doing a lot for the Channel 9 punditry panel.

It’s unlikely to be a sellout in Adelaide tonight but a healthy crowd pushing 50,000 is expected nonetheless as rugby league bosses continue to take their most marketable asset around the country to increase the sport’s popularity outside its heartlands.

It’s mild and dry in South Australia’s capital, with a slight northerly breeze the only impediment to perfect playing conditions.

In more sombre ruby league-rock n roll crossover news, Nick Tedeschi reflects on the sad news of the death of Tina Turner.

Turner was arguably as loved in New South Wales and Queensland as she was anywhere else in the world, a remarkable state of affairs for a grandmother born in Nutbush, Tennessee, who had no idea what rugby league was before becoming its voice.

“Ladies and gentlemen they have won six Arias,” crows the stadium announcer, unintentionally damning The Living End with faint praise. He goes on, adding plenty of qualifiers: “regarded as one of Australia’s most iconic live rock acts, here with their classic song White Noise!”

Cue a classic Triple M cacophony with the stadium lights down and the amps turned up to 11.

Keith’s called it early.

“I heard the game wasn’t a sellout,” emails El Rey. “That would be because the good folk of Adelaide are all in bed by 7:30pm, wouldn’t it?”

That’s the one and only cheap shot I’m allowing at South Australia’s expense.

And for all the snark from other states it is a salutary reminder that no sport can take it’s support for granted outside its heartland. Nights like tonight are about growing the game and if it isn’t a sellout it shows how much work is still to be done spreading the gospel.

Brad Fittler was optimistic when he had a word with the TV boys. “I feel good. The training during the week, they train at such a high level now. It’s quite impressive. We had some tough sessions and they just ticked all the boxes. Pretty happy with where they are at at the moment.”

What will win it for the Blues? “Our kicking at the back end of sets,” according to Fittler. “If we can get to the back end of sets I feel like Nathan [Cleary] is experienced enough. Spoken a lot about chasing and getting down there being clean. A lot of work has to go into getting us to the back end of sets, so I look forward to seeing how he processes that part of the game. I think we can lean on Nathan with his professionalism and execution. He gives that advantage with his kicking.”

Billy Slater has had a word with the host broadcaster.

“I think to start with we have got to earn it, we have got to get our game on,” the Queensland coach said. “Obviously we are not ignorant to the fact they are a good side and they are going to bring strength and we have to shut them down.”

Asked about NSW selecting plenty of muscle up front, Slater responded: “Well, that’s obviously what they think suits them. We have got our own game. We will play our style, they will play theirs. That’s what makes this a great contest, doesn’t it? It’s an aggressive game. You’ve got to be aggressive to get the upper hand. We would like to think that we are going to be pretty aggressive.”

Nick Tedeschi reflects on the absence of NSW star Latrell Mitchell.

The NRL will also be devastated by Mitchell’s forced withdrawal. Tickets are not sold out, which is rare for State of Origin, but more worrying is the impact Mitchell’s absence in Adelaide will have on growing the game in South Australia. Adelaide briefly had a premiership team in the Rams from 1997 to 1998, and while it is not a city on the radar for expansion it is an area where the NRL is hoping to see a spike in week-to-week interest after this Origin clash.

Angus Fontaine runs the rule over the two squads.

New South Wales have gone back to the future for State of Origin 2023, recalling a host of stars to their Game One squad while Queensland have overhauled their winning combinations from last year to blood a batch of young guns and forge a new dynasty.

NSW XVII

Queensland XVII

Angus Fontaine sets the scene.

Last year at Suncorp, with a minute to play and NSW attacking close to the line, Cleary sniffed victory and put the ball on that golden boot of his. Ben Hunt saw the kick coming, charged it down and raced 90-metres to score a try that sealed the match and series. Yet again, glorious victory and abject defeat in Origin was decided in a single moment by a slight miscalculation and a sweet stroke of genius. When the chance comes on Wednesday and the lightning is there to be bottled, who will be the one?

Preamble

Jonathan Howcroft