Men’s State of Origin series begins tonight with game one at Brisbane’s Lang Park

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The men's State of Origin series gets underway in Brisbane tonight, with the Maroons and Blues re-igniting their rivalry at Lang Park.

Transcript

00:00I don't know if it's cold here in Queensland, whether that's the weather, or the icy blues

00:08making a triumphant return to take back what's rightfully theirs.

00:12It is the best time of the year.

00:14It's mate versus mate, a rivalry as old as time, the state of origin which has all the

00:19makings of a great film.

00:21We've got the heroes, the villains, yeah, and of course the comeback and the redemption

00:28story and boy do the Maroons need a redemption after last year's thrashing by the Blues right

00:34here in a Brisbane Decider 14-4.

00:37Now 13 of those original players that were on the field that fateful night will be making

00:41a return to the scene of the crime tonight.

00:44It is going to be spectacular.

00:46Speaking to some super fans here on the ground, many say they just can't wait.

00:51I'm over the moon, look at the blue sky, that's a sign for us today, so come on Blues.

00:57And tell me about meeting Paul, so you guys just met this morning?

01:01Yeah, I just thought I'd come down for a walk because I only just live over the road and

01:05I thought I'd come down and have a look around and then I saw Uncle Ian and I thought, hello,

01:09I'm going home to change into my Blues and that's how I come back.

01:12How do you feel, Paul, about matching almost?

01:14Oh, we're good.

01:15I don't mean, you know, it's a rivalry between state against state, mate against mate and country

01:22versus country.

01:23Now all eyes for the Blues are going to be on Stephen Crichton who unfortunately suffered

01:28a corked thigh after training on Monday night.

01:32He's been given the all clear but of course Campbell Graham is on standby just to take

01:36the pitch in case for the series opener.

01:39But Billy Slater's Queensland side has not been without injury either.

01:42Of course speed star Hamaso Tabua Fido also suffered an injury to his knee on Sunday.

01:48He too has been given the all clear with the players list nice and submitted.

01:53But what will be interesting about this game for the Queenslanders in particular is the

01:56return of Cameron Munster after a two year hiatus due to injury.

02:02Another interesting point is going to be the debutants or perhaps the sheer lack of in comparison

02:06with the women's state of origin.

02:08This year the Blues boast only one single state of origin debutant in the form of Max King,

02:15while the Queenslander camp has only three debutants taking the field for tonight.

02:19It is going to be very interesting.

02:21Now the cauldron here at Lang Park has been primed and prepped.

02:25It's ready for a maroons boiling.

02:27This is of course the 45th anniversary of the game's showpiece and boy is it going to be exciting

02:33as everyone heads to the game for tonight.

02:36I've only got one thing left to say.

02:38Go the Blues!

02:45Go the Blues!

02:48Go the Blues!

02:49Go the Blues!

02:51Go the Blues!

02:52Go the Blues!

02:55Look when you tae.

02:56See them that when you just bring thesongy symbol 부� adrenal great!

03:04The second and last year is the first feeling that you shall die,

03:06by the way you will see you and stack them on your스테 fundamentals

03:10under the ground,

03:11last The Junior team WWshop with clear our beginnings.

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