Johns reveals Maroons’ X-factors

By ANDREW JOHNS SYDNEY: This is shaping as the best State of Origin series in years.
Form players, especially in the spine, for both teams; debutants ready to explode at this level but who are wrestling with whether they are good enough; two packs ready to fire.
New South Wales (NSW) have an advantage with their combinations from club level, especially Penrith with halfback Nathan Cleary, No.6 Jarome Luai and lock Isaah Yeo.
Except for the centres because of injuries to Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell, this team has been together for a few years now. But the worry with NSW is the new centre combination of Jack Wighton and Kotoni Staggs.
How, when, and where on the field do they like the ball? How do they react in defence when placed under pressure? Queensland’s advantage is their spine because it’s also been together for several years.
Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans and No.6 Cameron Munster bring out the best in fullback Kalyn Ponga.
The worry for the Maroons is hooker Harry Grant staying in Melbourne to get over the flu.
He’s also carrying a groin injury.
If he doesn’t play, how does that affect Queensland’s bench? Will Ben Hunt be able to play 80 minutes at hooker? There are match-ups all over the field, but the one I’m salivating over are the big boys up front.
NSW’s Junior Paulo and Payne Haas up against Josh Papalii and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
That late footwork brings offloads into play.
They all play big minutes and they all like to hurt and intimidate the opposition.
The other big match-up are the wingers. Queensland have picked two tall wingers in Xavier Coates and Selwyn Cobbo, and that’s why NSW have selected Daniel Tupou.
Therefore, Queensland will target Brian To’o on the other wing.
To’o concedes height but he provides a big advantage in the way he returns the ball.
Queensland will look to get more out of their centre pairing of Dane Gagai and Valentine Holmes.
The selection of Reuben Cotter for Queensland at lock tells me Queensland will play a completely different style to NSW.
You look at club level, locks these days play like halfbacks, but Cotter is a ball runner.
I can’t remember seeing him pass the ball.
That means Cherry-Evans and Munster will be playing on the ball and getting all the quality ball.
That terrifies me.
– SMH