State Of Origin III: Man of the Match

State Of Origin III: Man of the Match

The Wolf’s Man of the Match preview for State of Origin III.

Man of the Match By Position (2003-17)

Fullback: 3 (Last: Game I, 2014)
Wing: 4 (Last: Game III, 2013)
Centre: 3 (Last: Game II, 2015)
Five-Eighth: 8 (Last: Game III, 2015)
Halfback: 6 (Last: Game III, 2016)
Backrower: 8 (Last Game II, 2017)
Prop: 5 (Last: Game I, 2017)
Hooker: 6 (Last: Game 2, 2016)
Bench: 1 (Last: Game I, 2003)

Bet on Man of the Match

Queensland
Cameron Smith (2007, 2011, 2011, 2013, 2015,2016)
Johnathan Thurston (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012. 2015)
Greg Inglis (2008)
Sam Thaiday (2009)
Nate Myles (2012)
Corey Parker (2014)
Matt Gillett (2016)

New South Wales
Greg Bird (2007, 2008, 2012)
Paul Gallen (2011, 2014)
Michael Jennings (2015)
James Maloney (2016)
Andrew Fifita (2017)
Josh Jackson (2017)

State Of Origin III Preview

Queensland
Billy Slater ($13) – Slater had 18 runs for 115 metres in Game 2 and was solid in his return to the Origin arena after he was left out of the Maroons side for Game 1. Slater rolled his ankle at training and The Wolf is happy to risk “Billy The Kid” here.

Valentine Holmes ($81) – Scored a try on debut in Game 2, but it’s almost impossible for a winger to take out of man of the match honours if you go on recent history. Pass

Will Chambers ($67) – He was very strong in Game 1, with 23 runs for 184 metres, and made 140 metres from 15 runs in Game 2. Once again he’ll do his job, but won’t win the award here.

Michael Morgan ($15) – Morgan moves off the bench into the starting side at centre at the expense of the injured Darius Boyd. He has been kept very safe if he makes the shift into the halves in favour of Cameron Munster, but The Wolf can’t consider him if he plays out of position in the centres.

Dane Gagai ($34) – Gagai was arguably Queensland’s best player in Game 1, making 220 metres from his 21 runs and made 11 tackle-breaks. He was huge again in Game 2, scoring a double and making a whopping 24 runs for 189 metres. Arguably should have been the man of the match in Game 2 and looks over the odds again at $34 despite playing on the wing. Good roughie and is owed one after Josh Jackson somehow won MOTM in Game 2.

Cameron Munster ($23) – Munster will be making his Origin debut and The Wolf is confident that the occasion won’t get the better of him. The only thing he might be guilty of is not overplaying his hand and letting Storm teammate Cooper Cronk take control.

Cooper Cronk ($10) – This could be Cronk’s swansong if he decides to hang up the boots at the end of the season. He hasn’t stood out in the first two games, but is one of the best competitors in the game and could lift for the occasion. Right in the mix here.

Dylan Napa – ($26) – Napa was very strong in Game 2, running for 119 metres and making 30 tackles. Front row partner Jarrod Wallace only played 22 minutes in Game 2, so Napa’s minutes might get reduced in Game 3. He’ll make an impact, but not enough to take out the man of the match.

Cameron Smith ($7.50) – Smith was very disappointing in Game 1, with 3 runs for 9 metres and missed 7 tackles. He had 8 runs for 36 metres and made 39 tackles in Game 2. Like Storm teammate Cooper Cronk, Smith is the ultimate competitor and can never be dismissed when discussing man of the match chances.

Jarrod Wallace ($67) – Can’t be trusted after Maroons coach Kevin Walters only gave him 22 minutes in Game 2.

Gavin Cooper ($34) – Cooper was strong on both sides of the ball in Game 2, making 47 tackles and running for 108 metres. Only Napa, Cooper and McGuire ran for 100+ metres out of the Maroons forwards.

Matt Gillett ($17) – The attacking stats have been down for Gillett across the first two games. He only had 6 runs for 67 metres in Game 1 and followed that up with 10 runs for 77 metres in Game 2. He’ll tackle everything that comes his way but needs to do more in attack to feature in the man of the match calculations.

Josh McGuire ($21) – McGuire made the most metres of any Queensland forward in Game 1 and was second (117 metres) behind Dylan Napa (119 metres) in Game 2. Played 63 minutes and led the tackle count for the Maroons with 49. The Wolf’s top pick and at a good price too.

Ben Hunt ($51) – Not sure how he will feature when he gets on the field or if he gets on the field. Pass

Josh Papalii ($34) – Only played 32 minutes in Game 2 and can’t be considered based on that.

Coen Hess ($81) – Only played 19 minutes in Game 2. Good talent but not enough game time to warrant consideration.

Tim Glasby ($126) – The roughie of the field and in the same boat as Papalii and Hess.

Bet on Man of the Match

New South Wales
James Tedesco ($7.50) – Tedesco was sensational in Game 1 and if it wasn’t for Fifita’s huge performance, Teddy would have taken out MOTM honours. He ran for over 200 metres, made two line-break, busted 12 attempted tackles, set up one try and scored one himself. He followed that effort up with 15 runs for 153 metres, two try-assists and one line-break in Game 2. He’s the equal favourite at $7.50 and will be hard to beat if the Blues are victorious.

Blake Ferguson ($101) – Queensland winger Dane Gagai has been sensational during the series and still couldn’t get a look in. Happy to risk both NSW wingers.

Josh Dugan ($41) – Dugan has by all reports recovered from a cork to take his place in the side. He was strong in Game 2 and will be up against Michael Morgan, who is playing out of position. Not the worst hope at big odds.

Jarryd Hayne ($19) – Scored a try in Game 2 but missed five tackles as well. Dugan looks the better hope out of the NSW centres.

Brett Morris ($101) – It’s a hard award for wingers to win. Just look at Gagai’s performance in Game 2.

James Maloney ($10) – Maloney took out Man of the Match honours in Game 3 last year and was very good in Game 1 this year, especially after Mitchell Pearce went off with a head knock. He’s a massive liability in defence, missing 9 tackles in Game 1, but did make two line-breaks and score a try in attack. NSW will need to score points if they are to win here and Maloney will need to be instrumental if that is to occur.

Mitchell Pearce ($7.50) – Pearce has played 17 Origins for five wins. He is the fairytale choice if NSW win, but The Wolf doesn’t believe in fairy tales.

Aaron Woods ($19) – He’ll go forward all night and provide the odd offload, but only played 41 minutes in Game 2. Need more minutes from Woodsy

Nathan Peats ($19) – Peats doesn’t do a lot in attack, with all of his good work coming in defence. He made 57 tackles in Game 2 and will tackle himself to a standstill once again.

Andrew Fifita ($13) – Took out the Man of the Match in Game 1 and produced one of the best Origin performances of all-time, running for 183 metres, scored a try and busting through 11 tackles. Queensland did a good job on him in Game 2, restricting him to 93 metres. If Queensland stop Fifita, they win the series.

Josh Jackson ($34) – Jackson was the shock winner of the man of the match award in Game 2 , but what was even more surprising was that he was on the losing side. Won’t happen again.

Boyd Cordner ($9) – He had 17 runs for 151 metres in Game 1 and 18 runs for 153 metres in Game 2. The skipper will lead from the front, but the calf injury is a worry and there is a chance he won’t see out the 80 minutes.

Tyson Frizell ($26) – Comes into this clash under an injury cloud and is unlikely to play the 80 minutes. Better chances than Frizell

David Klemmer ($67) – Klemmer was strong off the bench in Game 2, leading all NSW forwards with 174 metres. However, he only played 40 minutes. Minutes is the issue again for all of the bench forwards.

Wade Graham ($31) – Played 46 minutes in Game 2 and didn’t have the same impact that he had in Game 1. Pass.

Jake Trbojevic ($51) – Like Klemmer, Trbojevic was very strong off the bench, running for 114 metres and making 26 tackles. Worth a gamble at the big price if he were to play increased minutes.

Jack Bird ($51) –  Only 19 minutes in Game 2 and it would take an injury for Bird to feature.

Bet on Man of the Match

Best Bet: Josh McGuire ($21)

Roughie: Dane Gagai ($34)