State of Origin game one LIVE: All the latest updates and scores as NSW take on Queensland

Here’s proof that it pays to get to your seats early – and not just because the beer queue is almost non-existent.

Blues debutant Zac Lomax is pictured below taking a selfie with some lucky Blues die-hards – and from the looks of the fan’s sign on the extreme right, they might by from his home town of Temora.

No, not Phil Gould – Anthony Field of the Wiggles, all of whom are Blue in this clip. They’re not even trying to be unbiased here.

Let’s be honest – it’s not the same without Rabs behind the microphone. Not even close. Today’s commentators – whether you watch Nine or Fox – just don’t stack up.

And now the man himself has come clean on whether he’ll ever do footy fans a favour and call a NSW vs Queensland clash for the first time since 2021…

It’s become a bit of an Origin tradition for the premiers to up the stakes on game day – and this year, instead of the loser having to fly the other state’s flag from a landmark, Chris Minns is after something a bit more personal and embarrassing from his opposite number.

Bryan Fletcher has got hold of a few NSW stars to drill down into the tactics the team will be using tonight… not.

Unlike the Maroons, who have Selwyn Cobbo to cover any injuries in the back line, the Blues have gone with nothing but muscle on the bench – but if disaster strikes, Raiders back-rower Hudson Young has confirmed he’ll be the man to plug the hole by shifting to the centres.

NSW have named a bench full of forwards and all indications point to them adopting Michael Maguire’s favoured power game tonight – so they’ll be doing rain dances in the sheds, hoping for a slippery surface that will turn the game into more of a slog and help take the edge off Queensland’s pace advantage in the backs.

The forecast is currently predicting a 90 per cent chance of rain – but as I write, there’s none falling within cooee of Accor Stadium.

After helping the Maroons kickstart an era of dominance when he last starred for them almost 20 years ago, Webb is still having a big influence on the way Queensland play – as revealed by Reuben Cotter, who has his work cut out for him against a big NSW pack tonight.

The Blues are running with an untested halves combination in the absence of the injured Nathan Cleary – but as you can see, Hynes and Luai aren’t exactly strangers on the footy field, having played together in their younger days.

Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of all the action as the Blues try to avenge last year’s 2-1 series defeat to the Cane Toads and Michael Maguire makes his Origin coaching debut against Maroons maestro Billy Slater.

From team news to the latest scores, controversies and social media reaction, we’ll have you covered as the Cockroaches find themselves in the unusual position of being underdogs.