State of Origin 2019: Date, Start Time, Live Stream for Blues vs. Maroons Game 3
Jul 9, 2019
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 23: Blake Ferguson of New South Wales gets tackled by Jarrod Wallace and Felise Kaufusi of Queensland during game two of the 2019 State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at Optus Stadium on June 23, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
New South Wales will win back-to-back State of Origin titles for the first time in 14 years if they can overcome the Queensland Maroons in Game 3 of the 2019 series on Wednesday.
The Blues recovered well from a narrow Game 1 defeat to obliterate Queensland 38-6 in the second match of this year's series, with everything still to play for as the teams travel to ANZStadium in Sydney, Australia.
One of the biggest spectacles in the rugby league calendar will come to a head in a winner-takes-all clash, with each team sealing at least one game for a record-equalling ninth State of Origin series in succession.
The Maroons lost their crown in 2018 following a run of three consecutive State of Origin triumphs, and they will aim to reclaim the title in this great Australian rivalry this week.
Date: Wednesday, July 10
Time: 11:10 a.m. BST/6:10 a.m. ET/8:10 p.m. local time
The battle lines have been drawn ahead of a tense State of Origin decider, and squad selection will be a hotly contested subject approaching Game 3.
Much of Queensland's focus will be based on recapturing some of the defensive structure they exhibited in Game 1, when they came back from a scoreless first half to emerge 18-14 victors, via Sky News Australia:
The Maroons have been hit by the news that second-row forward Matt Gillett could miss out due to a groin injury, while centre Michael Morgan is also a doubt leading up to kick-off, per News.com.au.
Queensland will also hope to see winger Dane Gagai, 28, back to his best. The South Sydney Rabbitohs star scored two of his side's three tries in the series-opening win and has since been in scoring action for his National Rugby League team, via Fox League:
New South Wales dominated at the Optus Stadium in Perth last time out, and they will hope home advantage plays a big role ahead of their only home fixture of this series.
This year's Origin has already featured much of the talent and fierce competition that make it such a unique experience. Blues captain Boyd Cordner was subject to some underhand tactics in Game 1, via Nine News Australia:
In a sneaky manoeuvre, Ben Hunt has ripped off Boyd Cordner’s boot and launched it towards the sideline during Origin game 1, forcing the Blues captain to play with one shoe on for five minutes. #9Newspic.twitter.com/Csg2Lc3iKD
Wednesday's hosts will struggle to match their tally of six tries in the last outing but will hope Game 2 is a sign of the improvement they're making.
Manly Sea Eagles phenomenon Tom Trbojevic, 22, led from the front and scored a hat-trick in the second game to almost level the series single-handedly:
He and older brother Jake, 25, have each scored tries during this Origin series and will look to add to their accounts in Sydney on Wednesday.
State of Origin 2019: Date, Start Time, Live Stream for Maroons vs. Blues Game 2
Jun 21, 2019
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 05: David Klemmer of the Blues is tackled during game one of the 2019 State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on June 05, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The New South Wales Blues will look to keep the 2019 State of Origin series alive on Sunday when they face the Queensland Maroons in their second meeting.
The two sides will face off at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia, with the Blues aiming to avenge an 18-14 defeat in the series opener on June 5.
Date: Sunday, June 23
Time: 5:50 p.m. local (10:50 a.m. BST, 5:50 a.m. ET)
The Blues are the defending champions, having won the series last year for just the second time since 2005.
They looked to be on course for a strong start to this year's series when they took an 8-0 lead at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane into half-time in the first match, but Queensland battled back to draw first blood.
New South Wales have rung the changes in response to their defeat and dropped seven players—three because of injuries—including Latrell Mitchell.
Mitchell was sin-binned in the second half, and Dane Gagai scored the first of his two tries while the Blues player was off the field:
Josh Morris is also among those dropped despite scoring the Blues' opening try.
Fox Sports' Warren Smith had sympathy for him:
Josh Morris is very unlucky to miss out on the Blues team for #Origin 2, but they need to carry a halves back-up, and Wighton is it. It also lets them carry an extra forward on the bench. Can Wighton and Trbojevic defend at centre? I guess we’ll find out.
Cody Walker and Angus Crichton have also been left out, along with the injured David Klemmer (wrist), Payne Haas (hamstring) and Nick Cotric (ankle).
In their place will come Blake Ferguson, Tom Trbojevic, James Maloney, Daniel Saifiti, Dale Finucane, Wade Graham and Tariq Sims.
As for Queensland, they're keeping the same squad together following the victory, aside from replacing Joe Ofahengaue (knee) and Jai Arrow (ankle) with Tim Glasby and Jarrod Wallace.
Gagai will be hoping to add to his tally after his brace of tries in the first match took him to 11 in as many State of Origin games:
Despite their comeback, Maroons boss Kevin Walters is confident his team are capable of much better.
"With the team we have selected, we know there is improvement," Walters said, per Queensland's official website. "After reviewing the game [at Suncorp], I would probably give it a five, or maybe if I am being kind, a six out of 10, and the players are aware of this."
If that was a middle-of-the-road performance from Queensland, New South Wales will have to hope their replacements can help them produce a significantly better showing than they did in the first game, or the series will be going back to their rivals once again.
