July 8, 2026 • 9 mins
The State of Origin series is locked at 1-1 with a massive decider set to take place tonight at Suncorp Stadium.
Queensland will continue to build on their strong showing in game two to take the series whilst NSW will be hoping to put it behind them and send the Queensland crowd home in despair.
Jake Duke is a commentator for Fox League in Australia, he joined D'Arcy to preview the match.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Oregon's a lot that one a piece decider up tonight
gets Underweight sun Cork just after ten o'clock. Queen's Lana
look to continue on this strong showing in the second game,
try and take the series. New South Wales helping to
put it all behind them and seeing the Queensland crowd
a home order Presston half cut. Jake Duke commentated for
Fox League in Australia. Joins us now to preview that match.
(00:35):
Good evening, Jake, how are you very well?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Origin Day?
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Very nervous As a New South Wales supporter, I've got
that glimmer of hope that every Origin Day brings.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
So we'll see how it plays out tonight.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, glimmer of hope. I think that's the essence with
all Origin games because you just don't know. Hence is
the nature, especially over the last couple of years, of
the swings and roundabouts of this outrageous competition.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
I do find it crazy that New South Wales a
they've been written off and saying they have no chance.
I mean, if you look at their team, I know
they haven't played well the first two games, but the
team is absolutely stacked with talent. If they were two
club sides, your money be on New south Wales. It
just seems to be something that Queensland kind of fined
in the origin arena that has kind of carried them
(01:26):
in the way they play over this series especially, But
New south Wales are stacked with talent, so I don't
think it's the walkover people think it might be. And look,
it'd be something special to win up there if they
New south Wales, but they've certainly got the players to
do it.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
It's all coming down to coaching the Yeah, the players,
the cattle are all there, but it's how they whip
the cattle, they get them into shape. It's got to
be hugely influential, surely.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Well the series would suggest that because as we've all seen,
New South Wales have played well below their potential barring
that twenty minutes where they played against the twelve man
Queensland side. So they're very lucky to be in it,
but that doesn't matter. Like how many times have we
seen Queensland win games not supposed to win and no
one gives them a chance and they go and upset everyone.
(02:10):
I remember game a couple of years ago where they
got flogged thirty two. They were down thirty two nel
or something in the first half of Game two. They
lost that game and no one game a chance and
then decided and they went out and won it. So
it's it's New South. It's Queensland to lose, no doubt.
But we've seen Queensland do this so often on the
(02:30):
opposite with the shore on the opposite foot, So why
can't your South Wales.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
When you look at the most influential man on the part,
we don't want it to be Ashley Klein, but it's
probably going to be one of the thought prices around
one he can provide.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Ah, Look, you just never really know.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Well, what we could hope is that in the decider
he kind of a couple of penalties early, sets him
a warning, then puts the whistle away. But also you've
got a factor in the sun Corps Stadium crowd, which
is obviously the fourteenth man on the field for Queens
Then whenever they play up there, whether they can influence
Ashley decisions. You know, there's not many New South Weals
(03:09):
fans up there at all, So if queens Leander on top.
You know, that crowd gets involved and it's hard to
kind of peg back and it really doesn't matter, you know,
will kind of help you get from the referee and
things like that, because they just seem to grow another leg.
So let's hope the players can sort it out tonight
and you know, just a good quality decider at SUNCRP,
(03:31):
the best stadium in Australia for rugby league, and let's
hope it delivers because you know, probably the first two
games of the series have been kind of disappointing on
both fronts from both states. Really when you consider being
a Queensland fan. In Game one you were disappointed in
what happened at the end, and then you said, oh's were.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Very poor in game two.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
So let's hope we get a contest worthy of the
of the spectacle tonight and these two great teams.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Jake, you mentioned the crowd and their influence over the referees.
I think their crowd and their influence over the players
when it's going well, it's very pose of it. But
you look at the Maroons fan base, they're the banana benders.
If they start getting beaten and they go quiet, how
much does that take out of the air tanks of
the Maroons.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Well, it's funny because New Cubwives have actually won their
past two games at Suncorp Stadium. So you think back
to Game one last year they won and then the
Game three that decided in twenty twenty four, which was
only the third time they've wanted a sider in Queensland.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
So they've won the past two at Unclup Stadium.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
So a lot of these players have been there, have
won there, so it shouldn't hold as much fear as
it probably where New Sowise really struggled to get victories
up there, and especially as you go back towards that
eight straight Origin win, So a lot of these guys
should not hold fear. Like Nathan Cleary, he's won Grand
Finals at sun Corps Stadium. When you think of the
(04:58):
covid are and playing up there, so all these guys
have spent so much time playing at that ground. It
is a different atmosphere for anyone who's been there. It
is loud like nothing else. The crowds right on top
of you. You can barely hear yourself, So I can
understand how it becomes all encompassing and overroaring when you're
(05:20):
on that field. But this New South Wales team hall
won their past two, so there's no reason again why
they can't go out and win that tonight.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Jake who'd a been like? Off the bench and these
spark plugs as they used to call them, who's going
to you believe have the biggest effect on the trajectory
of this game.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Well, there's a lot of great players on both benches
and also with these nineteen man benches, it's hard to
know who's actually going to get on right because you know,
an injury or hia earlier in the game can completely
disrupt the rotation and what people thought was going to
be the rotation. We saw in New South Wales kind
of bungle their bench in game one, which you know
(05:57):
many people were critical of the fact that Appy Korusa
didn't get onto the field, of the fact that Adam
Fanle Blake only played ten minutes. I think for New
South Wales the big trump card is how they play
Blake Brayley off the bench and whether Cam Murray starts.
I think most people think and hope that Cam Murray
will start in the lock position and probably push Isaiaho
through to the front row, but Laurie, despite calls for
(06:21):
that to happen over the first two games.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Has resisted that temptation. So I think that they're the
two big factors.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Whether Cameron Murray gets significant game time or starts, and
also how Blake Brayley is used off the bench. Obviously,
mis Robson played all eighty minutes in Game two and
it just probably didn't provide that spark when they needed
it to find points, So that for New South Wales
is most important. For Queensland, I think Max Plath has
been a guy that's been injected really well by Billy
(06:50):
Slater off the bench and how he influences. The other
big inclusion is Jeremiah and then they who hasn't played
all series. He's on the bench after a barnstorming return
for the Cowboys over the past couple of weeks helped
him win that game over Penrith a fortnight ago, and
he's had shoulder injuries all year, but we know what
he can do under the high ball.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
He's a try scoring back rower.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
How they get him on and get him into the
game is another big influence.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
And all will be revealed around about midnight tonight. In
New Zealand time and why I've got you here, Jacob
got to last. The Warriors has spent more time having
buys in the last couple of months and nextly playing
games of football. From your perspective, they've got the runner
now and it's not how you start, it's how you finish.
Then they've started the season well, but there's a lot
to face. Where do they sit right now? What do
(07:39):
you think about what they've got considering they've had twins,
they've had buys, they've had losses, it's been a little
up and down.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
I think what's impressive about the Warriors is that they've
had a lot of injuries, you know, and injuries in
key positions, but they've kept winning. They've maintained their place
at the top of that ladder. But as you said,
it's how you finish. And we know last year they
were going great guns. They were inside the top two,
and then they had a few injuries and they fell
away and just kind of draped into the finals and
(08:07):
then out the back door. So I think it's a
really interesting proposition the Warriors. I know a lot of
people are excited by them. They've been playing great foota
this year. I just saw that they've re signed to
Marty Martin and Dallen motenis a Lesniak in the past
twenty four hours, which is great news. But yeah, they'll
(08:28):
be judged ultimately on how they perform in the back
end of this season. I think a lot of people
want to see them do well. The game in New
Zealand seems to be flying at the moment. You know,
we've just had the TV rights deal and Sky extending
its deal and it's going to be more available in
New Zealand on Freedom Air than it ever has been before.
Let's talk about the twentieth team and whether that'll be
a second New Zealand side. So New Zealand Oby League
(08:51):
flying at the moment. A deep run from the Wires
into the finals would be great. I think everyone watched
that Warriors Dolphins game a couple of weeks ago and thought, wow,
if that's the Grand Final, it'd be pretty cool. Obviously
Penrith will have a big saying that. Ye'd imagine a
few other teams around there well, So yeah, very interesting
to see how the Warriors shape up in the back
(09:11):
end of the finals. But I think they've got a
lot to be positive about a lot of great players,
a lot of talent. Andrew Webster seems to be working
his magic there. And yes, so we'll see how they run.
They start that run home against the Tigers in Campbelltown,
you know, a tough road trip, but one you'd think
out side of the Warriors, Calliber would expect to win
considering the way the Tiger's been playing of late.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
So yeah, they've got to get that right and then
go from there.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Expectations. It's the last thing you need when you're playing
any game in the NRL. That doesn't really man, it's
the way it rolls. Ahjake, thanks so much for joining
us on News Talk. Z'd be a real pleasure. You
enjoy origin like you won't.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Well hopefully, hopefully it could be a very good or
very bad night. Go to Blues for more from sports Talk.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Listen live to News Talks it'd be from seven pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Oregon's a lot that one a piece decider up tonight
gets Underweight sun Cork just after ten o'clock. Queen's Lana
look to continue on this strong showing in the second game,
try and take the series. New South Wales helping to
put it all behind them and seeing the Queensland crowd
a home order Presston half cut. Jake Duke commentated for
Fox League in Australia. Joins us now to preview that match.
(00:35):
Good evening, Jake, how are you very well?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Origin Day?
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Very nervous As a New South Wales supporter, I've got
that glimmer of hope that every Origin Day brings.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
So we'll see how it plays out tonight.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, glimmer of hope. I think that's the essence with
all Origin games because you just don't know. Hence is
the nature, especially over the last couple of years, of
the swings and roundabouts of this outrageous competition.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
I do find it crazy that New South Wales a
they've been written off and saying they have no chance.
I mean, if you look at their team, I know
they haven't played well the first two games, but the
team is absolutely stacked with talent. If they were two
club sides, your money be on New south Wales. It
just seems to be something that Queensland kind of fined
in the origin arena that has kind of carried them
(01:26):
in the way they play over this series especially, But
New south Wales are stacked with talent, so I don't
think it's the walkover people think it might be. And look,
it'd be something special to win up there if they
New south Wales, but they've certainly got the players to
do it.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
It's all coming down to coaching the Yeah, the players,
the cattle are all there, but it's how they whip
the cattle, they get them into shape. It's got to
be hugely influential, surely.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Well the series would suggest that because as we've all seen,
New South Wales have played well below their potential barring
that twenty minutes where they played against the twelve man
Queensland side. So they're very lucky to be in it,
but that doesn't matter. Like how many times have we
seen Queensland win games not supposed to win and no
one gives them a chance and they go and upset everyone.
(02:10):
I remember game a couple of years ago where they
got flogged thirty two. They were down thirty two nel
or something in the first half of Game two. They
lost that game and no one game a chance and
then decided and they went out and won it. So
it's it's New South. It's Queensland to lose, no doubt.
But we've seen Queensland do this so often on the
(02:30):
opposite with the shore on the opposite foot, So why
can't your South Wales.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
When you look at the most influential man on the part,
we don't want it to be Ashley Klein, but it's
probably going to be one of the thought prices around
one he can provide.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Ah, Look, you just never really know.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Well, what we could hope is that in the decider
he kind of a couple of penalties early, sets him
a warning, then puts the whistle away. But also you've
got a factor in the sun Corps Stadium crowd, which
is obviously the fourteenth man on the field for Queens
Then whenever they play up there, whether they can influence
Ashley decisions. You know, there's not many New South Weals
(03:09):
fans up there at all, So if queens Leander on top.
You know, that crowd gets involved and it's hard to
kind of peg back and it really doesn't matter, you know,
will kind of help you get from the referee and
things like that, because they just seem to grow another leg.
So let's hope the players can sort it out tonight
and you know, just a good quality decider at SUNCRP,
(03:31):
the best stadium in Australia for rugby league, and let's
hope it delivers because you know, probably the first two
games of the series have been kind of disappointing on
both fronts from both states. Really when you consider being
a Queensland fan. In Game one you were disappointed in
what happened at the end, and then you said, oh's were.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Very poor in game two.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
So let's hope we get a contest worthy of the
of the spectacle tonight and these two great teams.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Jake, you mentioned the crowd and their influence over the referees.
I think their crowd and their influence over the players
when it's going well, it's very pose of it. But
you look at the Maroons fan base, they're the banana benders.
If they start getting beaten and they go quiet, how
much does that take out of the air tanks of
the Maroons.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Well, it's funny because New Cubwives have actually won their
past two games at Suncorp Stadium. So you think back
to Game one last year they won and then the
Game three that decided in twenty twenty four, which was
only the third time they've wanted a sider in Queensland.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
So they've won the past two at Unclup Stadium.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
So a lot of these players have been there, have
won there, so it shouldn't hold as much fear as
it probably where New Sowise really struggled to get victories
up there, and especially as you go back towards that
eight straight Origin win, So a lot of these guys
should not hold fear. Like Nathan Cleary, he's won Grand
Finals at sun Corps Stadium. When you think of the
(04:58):
covid are and playing up there, so all these guys
have spent so much time playing at that ground. It
is a different atmosphere for anyone who's been there. It
is loud like nothing else. The crowds right on top
of you. You can barely hear yourself, So I can
understand how it becomes all encompassing and overroaring when you're
(05:20):
on that field. But this New South Wales team hall
won their past two, so there's no reason again why
they can't go out and win that tonight.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Jake who'd a been like? Off the bench and these
spark plugs as they used to call them, who's going
to you believe have the biggest effect on the trajectory
of this game.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Well, there's a lot of great players on both benches
and also with these nineteen man benches, it's hard to
know who's actually going to get on right because you know,
an injury or hia earlier in the game can completely
disrupt the rotation and what people thought was going to
be the rotation. We saw in New South Wales kind
of bungle their bench in game one, which you know
(05:57):
many people were critical of the fact that Appy Korusa
didn't get onto the field, of the fact that Adam
Fanle Blake only played ten minutes. I think for New
South Wales the big trump card is how they play
Blake Brayley off the bench and whether Cam Murray starts.
I think most people think and hope that Cam Murray
will start in the lock position and probably push Isaiaho
through to the front row, but Laurie, despite calls for
(06:21):
that to happen over the first two games.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Has resisted that temptation. So I think that they're the
two big factors.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Whether Cameron Murray gets significant game time or starts, and
also how Blake Brayley is used off the bench. Obviously,
mis Robson played all eighty minutes in Game two and
it just probably didn't provide that spark when they needed
it to find points, So that for New South Wales
is most important. For Queensland, I think Max Plath has
been a guy that's been injected really well by Billy
(06:50):
Slater off the bench and how he influences. The other
big inclusion is Jeremiah and then they who hasn't played
all series. He's on the bench after a barnstorming return
for the Cowboys over the past couple of weeks helped
him win that game over Penrith a fortnight ago, and
he's had shoulder injuries all year, but we know what
he can do under the high ball.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
He's a try scoring back rower.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
How they get him on and get him into the
game is another big influence.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
And all will be revealed around about midnight tonight. In
New Zealand time and why I've got you here, Jacob
got to last. The Warriors has spent more time having
buys in the last couple of months and nextly playing
games of football. From your perspective, they've got the runner
now and it's not how you start, it's how you finish.
Then they've started the season well, but there's a lot
to face. Where do they sit right now? What do
(07:39):
you think about what they've got considering they've had twins,
they've had buys, they've had losses, it's been a little
up and down.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
I think what's impressive about the Warriors is that they've
had a lot of injuries, you know, and injuries in
key positions, but they've kept winning. They've maintained their place
at the top of that ladder. But as you said,
it's how you finish. And we know last year they
were going great guns. They were inside the top two,
and then they had a few injuries and they fell
away and just kind of draped into the finals and
(08:07):
then out the back door. So I think it's a
really interesting proposition the Warriors. I know a lot of
people are excited by them. They've been playing great foota
this year. I just saw that they've re signed to
Marty Martin and Dallen motenis a Lesniak in the past
twenty four hours, which is great news. But yeah, they'll
(08:28):
be judged ultimately on how they perform in the back
end of this season. I think a lot of people
want to see them do well. The game in New
Zealand seems to be flying at the moment. You know,
we've just had the TV rights deal and Sky extending
its deal and it's going to be more available in
New Zealand on Freedom Air than it ever has been before.
Let's talk about the twentieth team and whether that'll be
a second New Zealand side. So New Zealand Oby League
(08:51):
flying at the moment. A deep run from the Wires
into the finals would be great. I think everyone watched
that Warriors Dolphins game a couple of weeks ago and thought, wow,
if that's the Grand Final, it'd be pretty cool. Obviously
Penrith will have a big saying that. Ye'd imagine a
few other teams around there well, So yeah, very interesting
to see how the Warriors shape up in the back
(09:11):
end of the finals. But I think they've got a
lot to be positive about a lot of great players,
a lot of talent. Andrew Webster seems to be working
his magic there. And yes, so we'll see how they run.
They start that run home against the Tigers in Campbelltown,
you know, a tough road trip, but one you'd think
out side of the Warriors, Calliber would expect to win
considering the way the Tiger's been playing of late.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
So yeah, they've got to get that right and then
go from there.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Expectations. It's the last thing you need when you're playing
any game in the NRL. That doesn't really man, it's
the way it rolls. Ahjake, thanks so much for joining
us on News Talk. Z'd be a real pleasure. You
enjoy origin like you won't.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Well hopefully, hopefully it could be a very good or
very bad night. Go to Blues for more from sports Talk.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Listen live to News Talks it'd be from seven pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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