State of Origin 2021 Game 1: Qld Maroons v NSW Blues – live!




11:29




11:26




11:23




11:17




11:14

We’re off!




11:11




11:07




11:00




10:56




10:51




10:42




10:08

Preamble

State of Origin week is rarely short of drama. Past years generated at least a headline a day and enough tit-for-tat to last a lifetime let alone 3×80 minutes of rugby league. In 2020, of course, the NRL backed down on its plan to forego the national anthem (hi ScoMo!).

Similarly, the build-up to game one of this series did not disappoint. Granted, it has not delivered on a Robbie-Kearns-falls-off-a-horse level, but still … we have witnessed NSW acts of espionage to conceal a SWAP IN POSITIONS between Blues wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Brian To’o, Queensland’s “smokescreening” around Dane Gagai’s alleged tonsillitis, and Phil Gould’s deep anxiety about the high-tackle crackdown’s potential to soften Origin’s “gladiators”.

Oh, ICYMI, there was also a venue change after Victoria’s Covid outbreak forced game one to be moved to Townsville. Interested to hear your thoughts. It is, in my humble opinion, an excellent decision and a real regional win that could yet set a precedent for the future. Should we be sharing the Origin love a bit more?

Anyway, here we go. Whether you are propped up on a bar stool, in a tent, or checking the score while watching re-runs of Friends, we’ll endeavour to keep you up to date on all the happenings at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Updated

source: theguardian.com