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4 hours ago | Andy P
Let's Talk Origin - PREVIEW: Game One
New South Wales Blues v Queensland Maroons
ANZ Stadium - Wednesday 8:00pm 
Will the youthful exuberance of the Blues shine through, or will the Maroons old firm reign supreme once more?
After breaking a record eight year drought of series losses last year, the Blues should have the Origin world at their feet. Finally after so much blood, sweat and tears were spilt, they wore down the Queensland juggernaut to taste the spoils of victory. They were hungry, desperate and committed to the cause like never before. It was supposed to be the beginning of a new era, a dynasty of their own. Now twelve months on and the experts will tell you their back in the same place, the Maroons are a team of champions and will be too good, they should have picked Luke Lewis, they shouldn't have picked Trent Hodkinson… The experts don't coach the team though, Laurie Daley does and only he knows how he wants to play the game and who he needs and trusts to execute the game plan.
Perhaps the biggest obstacle for the Blues to overcome will be the loss of some of their more experienced "Origin players". Jarryd Hayne is chasing an NFL dream, Greg Bird is suspended and won't play a part in the series, Brett Morris is injured and will be unlikely to play a part this year and inspirational Captain Paul Gallen is also out injured, for the first game at least.
It's no secret how the Blues plan to attack the Maroons in the series opener. They've picked a monstrous front-row quartet who will look to get over the advantage line, with a mix of experienced and youthful back-rowers punching away behind them. Whether they have the points in attack to capitalize remains to be seen.
The experts were right on one thing, the Maroons are indeed a team of champions. Their eight year winning dynasty will be etched in Rugby League folklore for hundreds of years to come. There's every chance, up to four of their stars will become Immortals of the game, an unprecedented stat that surely will never be seen again. And guess what? Their back for what many of them will see as their last chance of tasting success together at this level. The majority of the squad have never been faced with the pain of a series loss which should be driving them and making them as hungry as ever before.
The biggest test on the paddock for the Maroons on Wednesday night will be whether they can match the size and brute force of the Blues forwards. If they can hold their own in the battle up front, their champion spine of Slater, Thurston, Cronk and Smith should provide the necessary class to get them the points. If they can't match it with the Blues tall timber, the fatigue factor will begin to take its toll on their ageing bodies and they will need to call on every bit of their famous "Queensland spirit" to hold their younger opponents out.
Last meeting: Game 3 2014 - Queensland Maroons 32 New South Wales Blues 8
In what was looking like another tight and gripping affair, the Maroons reminded everyone what they are capable of, scoring three tries in the final eight minutes to runaway commanding winners and light the fuse for this year's series in the process.
Who to watch: All eyes will be on the recalled Mitchell Pearce. The Blues look to have the forward power to lay a solid platform to attack from. With no Hayne this year, the Blues most attacking player will be the more mature and complete Pearce. With Trent Hodkinson picked to steer the team around the park, Pearce should be able to just play footy and let his attacking skills shine.
In his long awaited Origin debut, Josh McGuire is staring down the barrel of the toughest job in this match. With the experienced and passionate Matt Scott and Nate Myles expected to lift for the occasion and go toe to toe with the Blues starting props, it will be the injection off the bench of Andrew Fifita and David Klemmer that really tests the Queensland engine room. McGuire should enter the field of battle at around the same time and one gets the feeling he's waited his whole life for this moment. If he can match it with the Blues super subs, it will go a long way to victory for his team.
The favourite: With so many experienced names missing for the Blues and the Maroons having their all-conquering line-up to call upon, the Queenslanders will hold favouritism in the series opener.
My tip: Happy to buck the more popular opinion here. Laurie Daley has done an outstanding job in creating a culture New South Wales can be proud of. If the Blues can hold onto the same hunger and desire they showed last year, they should prove too strong at the death for a tiring Queensland team on the back of a dominant performance from their forwards. Look for big match player Josh Dugan to have a stormer... New South Wales by 4.
1. Josh Dugan 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Josh Morris 4. Michael Jennings 5. William Hopoate 6. Mitchell Pearce 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farah 10. James Tamou 11. Beau Scott 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Josh Jackson
Interchange: 14. Trent Merrin 15. Boyd Cordner 16. David Klemmer 17. Andrew Fifita
1. Billy Slater 2. Darius Boyd 3. Greg Inglis 4. Justin Hodges 5. Will Chambers 6. Johnathan Thurston 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Matthew Scott 9. Cameron Smith 10. Nate Myles 11. Aidan Guerra 12. Sam Thaiday 13. Corey Parker
Interchange: 14. Michael Morgan 15. Josh McGuire 16. Matt Gillett 17. Jacob Lillyman 18. Dylan Napa
Referees: Ben Cummins, Gerard Sutton; Sideline Officials: Nick Beashel, Brett Suttor; Video Referees: Bernard Sutton, Luke Patten;