Queensland vs New South Wales Prediction: Blues to draw first blood

Queensland and New South Wales will begin the next chapter in their fierce rivalry on Wednesday morning (11:05, Sky Sports Main Event) when they clash in State of Origin Game 1 at Suncorp Stadium.

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Queensland vs New South Wales prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the showdown in Brisbane.

Rugby League Odds

Team News

Starting with Queensland, the hosts start with a pack that includes Moeaki Fotuaika, Harry Grant, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai and Patrick Carrigan.

The Maroons go with a backline of Daly Cherry-Evans, Cameron Munster, Valentine Holmes, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Robert Toia, Xavier Coates and Kalyn Ponga.

As for New South Wales, Mitchell Barnett, Reece Robson, Payne Haas, Liam Martin, Angus Crichton and Isaah Yeo start in the forwards.

In the backs, Nathan Cleary, Mitchell Moses, Lomax, Latrell Mitchell, Stephen Crichton, Brian To'o and Dylan Edwards.

Match Odds, Queensland vs New South Wales

Despite playing at home, Queensland are the 13/10 underdogs to win Game 1, while New South Wales are 4/6 to leave Brisbane with the victory.

A draw after 80 minutes is available at 18/1, while the Blues are 7/5 to be leading at both the half-time and full-time whistles.

New South Wales -3.5 handicap @ 5/6

Suncorp Stadium has not traditionally been a happy hunting ground for the Blues over the years, with New South Wales losing six of their last eight games against Queensland there.

However, a 14-4 win in their last visit to Suncorp in the deciding game of the 2024 State of Origin has shown this Blues side are capable of being victorious in Brisbane.

New head coach Laurie Daley has named many of the same players who claimed that famous win at Suncorp for the game on Wednesday morning and this experienced New South Wales side can fall on the right side of the handicap here.

All of the Blues side have players with 100 or more individual NRL appearances and that experience can help them deliver back-to-back wins at Suncorp for the first time since 1997-98.

Zac Lomax anytime tryscorer @ 10/11

A key figure in the Blues' Origin success last year, winger Lomax will be hoping to have a similar series this time around.

Lomax scored a try in the opening game last year at Accor Stadium in Sydney before he went on to bag himself a brace of tries in Game 2 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Scoring two tries in his last game for the Parramatta Eels against the Newcastle Knights before joining up with the New South Wales camp, Lomax is a winger in form and is worth considering in the anytime tryscorer market on Wednesday.

Rugby League Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.