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Origin live: The attributes Origin debutant shares with King Wally
SENZ • May 27th, 2026 10:14 am
- SEN will have THREE different calls with NSW and Queensland specific calls alongside a neutral call
- Our radio coverage begins from 7pm AEST
- Game I takes place at Accor Stadium, Sydney
- Kick-off is at 8:05pm
After plenty of build-up across the last few weeks, the 45th edition of the State of Origin series is set to get underway tonight.
With Queensland regaining the shield in a decisive Game III win on enemy territory, NSW, led by coach Laurie Daley, will be desperate to reclaim what was once theirs in front of a packed out Accor Stadium.
The Maroons will look to repeat the feat with their fourth win in their last five games at the venue.
Either way, we're in for a ripsnorter of a match.
Make sure to follow all the latest news in the build-up to Game I below.
Rogers: Why Origin debutant can be a great five-eighth
With Ethan Strange set to make his Origin debut for NSW as a five-eighth, Mat Rogers believes he is capable of living up to the occasion.
It’s been a whirlwind couple of days for the 21-year-old who was one of six new faces to join Laurie Daley’s Blues squad as NSW looks to regain the shield.
Initially, the Raiders' half was named on the extended bench.
But with Mitch Moses being ruled out of the series opener with a hamstring injury, Strange has been promoted into the starting line-up, seeing him join Nathan Cleary in the halves.
While there will be plenty of pressure on Strange to perform in front of a packed-out Accor Stadium, the former Queensland representative believes Strange can live up to it.
“He's got every attribute to go down as one of the great number sixes,” Rogers told SEN’s Sportsday with Rat and Jarrod.
“When you consider what Wally Lewis did at Origin, what Laurie Daley did at Origin, what Brad Fittler did, he's got that.
“He's big, he's strong, he's physical, he'll go after it, and he's got one of the greatest, if not the greatest ballplayer inside him (in Nathan Cleary), to steer the ship, and he can just go and play his natural game.
“It might help New South Wales having him there.”
