Maroons to gamble on youth in Origin crunch match at Lang Park

It’s State of Origin Sunday, with the Blues and Maroons going head-to-head at Brisbane’s Lang Park tonight.

The venue, fondly named Queensland’s Cauldron, has been a fortress for the home side, winning 12 of the last 14 Origin matches at the venue.

They haven’t lost there since Game 1 in 2017, but this time around it’s a completely different story.

Despite a sea of maroon for the historic first Origin game in a regional city, the Blues blitzed it with a record-breaking 44-point victory.

New South Wales hold a 1-0 series lead after winning in Townsville and many would argue the bridge is simply too far for Queensland to cross tonight.

So, who could provide the key to a Queensland comeback?

And how have the teams changed since Game 1? Including a late retraction from the Maroons side. 

Here’s our lowdown for the pivotal Game 2 of Rugby League’s most-loved series.

Who do Queensland need to stop?

“Turbo” Tom Trbojevic is the man the Maroons will most aim to keep quiet.

The Blues centre scored a hat trick in Game 1 for the Blues and mirrored that performance last weekend in NRL clubland for the Manly Sea Eagles.

Trbojevic is making a case for being one of the best in the game and even Maroons’ coach Paul Green is impressed.

“I don’t think you’re going to completely stop a guy such as him, you know he’s in terrific form,” Green said.

Latrell Mitchell also proved he’s learned a thing or two under super coach Wayne Bennett at South Sydney.

It’s been revealed Bennett made a controversial, motivational phone call to Mitchell in the lead-up to Game 1 (even though, Bennett is a proud Queenslander and the state’s most successful coach).

Mitchell crossed twice for the Blues in Townsville.

How are the sides looking?

It is no surprise NSW have attempted to maintain the status quo from Game 1, with just two changes.

They’ve added Roosters’ back rower Angus Crichton and Storm forward Dale Finucane to the squad.

Forward Jake Trbojevic is out with a hip injury.

But going down 50-6 in Game 1, the Maroons needed to shake things up.

Josh Papalii will return from suspension, while the Dragons’ pair of Andrew McCullough and Ben Hunt will also make a comeback to Origin football.

Harry Grant is out with a hamstring injury.

Queensland’s teenage debutant

Eighteen years old and with just seven games of professional rugby league under his belt, the Warriors’ Reece Walsh was all set to make his debut, until the Maroons final training session yesterday.

Not since Ben Ikin in 1995 has a player so young donned the Maroons jersey (for the record, Ikin was just a few months younger and scored a try on debut).

But Walsh will have to wait for his shot in the limelight after suffering a low-grade hamstring strain.

Queensland Rugby League released a statement that “Walsh needed treatment during the captain’s run .. and will unfortunately not be able to make his debut.”

He’ll be replaced tonight by another young on debutant, Cronulla Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.

Additional restrictions

The Blues saw the writing on the wall and moved their camp from Sydney to Kingscliff on Monday, due to the current COVID situation.

They’re missing two doctors and a physio who didn’t arrive in Brisbane in time and they’ll also now be subject to tighter restrictions given the unfolding situation in Sydney.

Because players from both camps play for clubs in affected areas, the NRL has resorted to similar biosecurity protocols seen during the 2020 season.

Things like clean and dirty zones will be in place at Brisbane’s Lang Park tonight, players will also be subject to temperature checks on arrival.

When is kick-off?

Game 2 is scheduled for 7:50pm in Brisbane, although expect Nine broadcasters (who hold exclusive rights to the match) to drag out the pre-game hype.

How can I watch or listen to Origin 2?

Nine’s national telecast begins at 7:00pm AEST.

The network will also make the game available on its streaming platform, 9now.

If you’re overseas, you can stream it via the NRL’s website, although this requires a subscription.

ABC Sport will provide live radio coverage of the game across Australia.

You can also listen to Game 2 through the ABC Sport button on the ABC Listen app.

For those wanting to listen overseas, Radio Australia, BBC 5 Live Sports Extra and New Zealand’s Gold AM will broadcast ABC Sport’s call of the game.

If live blogs are more your thing, make sure to follow our digital coverage at abc.net.au/news/sport on Sunday night.