WHY QUEENSLAND ARE BETTER FOR STATE OF ORIGIN GAME II
BILLY SLATER
Slater's puzzling omission from Game I may not have cost them the match, but the Maroons needed his spark from the back. Slater, who turns 34 on Sunday, has scored five tries and set up 12 in 11 games for Melbourne since returning from his latest career-threatening shoulder injury, and is the Maroons' equal third all-time tryscorer with 12 from 27 matches.
THE CENTRES
The likely shift of Will Chambers to right centre could shut down the ever-dangerous Jarryd Hayne. Chambers has missed just nine tackles in his five Origin games to be considered safe in the backs. In comparison the man he is replacing, Justin O'Neill, missed eight tackles in Origin I.
CLUB COMBINATIONS
The Maroons now have super combinations where it matters most. The return of Slater at fullback to join Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk reunites Melbourne's spine and spells constant danger for the Blues. Smith also has a strong combination with debutant prop Tim Glasby, having put him over for a try last weekend against Cronulla. Meanwhile Johnathan Thurston works well on the edges with Cowboys teammates Gavin Cooper and Coen Hess who have been called in.
A BETTER PACK
The Maroons were dominated in the pack in Game I, but an injection of in-form players should at least temper that. Jarrod Wallace, Coen Hess, Gavin Cooper and Tim Glasby have been chosen to stem NSW's Andrew Fifita-led dominance up front, giving the Maroons' star-studded backline and halves the chance to work their magic.
JOHNATHAN THURSTON
It's stating the obvious to say Thurston will have a strong influence on return from injury and the numbers illustrate that it's no fluke their great Origin run has coincided with his career. Thurston has set up more tries (30) than any player in Origin history, along with the second most line-break assists (32) in his 36 games for 23 wins.
*Stats courtesy Fox Sports
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