Move over Slater,Cronk and Smith!
It’s the New South Wales “Big Three” that are set to dominate State Of Origin 2 according to online bookmaker sportsbet, with the Blues boasting 3 of the top 4 favourites to take out Man of the Match honours.
SPECIAL OFFER: $250 STATE OF ORIGIN GAME 2 FREE BET
SPECIAL OFFER 2: Back NSW Blues at $3 odds + a $250 FREE BET
Blues fullback Jarryd Hayne is the $6.00 favourite to repeat his game one performance, with skipper Paul Gallen and hooker Robbie Farah (both $8.00) the other players at the top end of the market.
Johnathan Thurston ($7.50) and Daly Cherry-Evans ($9.00) are the only Maroons in single figures.
“The times are changing – punters believe Hayne, Gallen and Farah are the new superstars of the game at the moment, but Blues fans have been stung in the past when the Maroons have been written off,” said sportsbet.com.au’s Christian Jantzen.
NSW remain favourites to win the match and claim their first series since 2005, with the Blues priced at $1.65 for Wednesday night’s game at ANZ Stadium.
Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
State of Origin – Game 2 Winner
$1.65 NSW
$2.30 QLD
Man Of The Match
$6.00 Jarryd Hayne
$7.50 Johnathan Thurston
$8.00 Paul Gallen
$8.00 Robbie Farah
$9.00 Daly Cherry-Evans
$10 Greg Bird
$10 Cameron Smith
$12 Josh Reynolds
In the news:
Injured Queensland halfback Daly Cherry-Evans will be entrusted to make the final call on whether he plays in State of Origin II.
The Manly playmaker is racing the clock to overcome a knee complaint and will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness in what Maroons captain Cameron Smith admits is a huge gamble.
Cherry-Evans’ understudy Ben Hunt – who has played just 13 games as Broncos No.7 – is in line to make his Origin debut in a game Queensland must win to keep their dream of nine straight series wins alive.
Smith was quietly confident Billy Slater (shoulder) and Greg Inglis (ankle) had done enough to play Origin II but said Cherry-Evans would not be assessed until their final session on Tuesday.
“It is a gamble but Daly has been present at all of our sessions, he’s been watching on,” Smith said of their approach.
“It’s pretty late but that’s the situation we are in.
“No one is panicking. Everyone is pretty relaxed about it.”
Smith backed Cherry-Evans to make the right call, just like backrower Sam Thaiday who pulled out of game one with a calf complaint.
“(Coach) Mal (Meninga) has been really good with guys carrying injuries,” Smith said.
“It has been left up to the player to make the decision. Ultimately they know if they will right to play.
“We saw in game one Sammy Thaiday withdrew knowing he would not be able to fulfil his role.”
Smith said Hunt – who had only stepped up as Broncos No.7 this year after acting as a bench utility – to was capable of filling Cherry-Evans’ shoes if needed.
Hunt has spent the last week training at halfback at Queensland’s Gold Coast camp with Cherry-Evans either looking on or being restricted to running drills.
“Ben has trained extremely well. We would like to see DCE there but if he’s not available I am sure Ben will do a good job for us,” Smith said.