The 2020 NRL Premiership season might be over, but the headline act of the Rugby League year is only just about to begin!
It’s not at its usual point of the year, nor will there be a couple of weeks between games, but the NRL has figured out a way to make it work, and the 2020 State of Origin series will commence at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday night!
Both the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues have been forced to deal with big name casualties, but there is no denying the wealth of talent at the disposal of the latter, and the Blues will enter State of Origin Game 1 clear favourite in betting.
You can find a preview of the game and our complete 2020 State of Origin Game 1 tips below.
Head to Head State of Origin Betting
It comes as no surprise that the Blues are clear favourites to win Game 1, and indeed the entire 2020 State of Origin series.
Having suffered a shock loss in last year’s Origin opener, the Blues fought back into the series in game 2 and left it late, but iced the series in Game 3, claiming their second in succession.
A win in Game 1 would put them in the driver’s seat, and prime position to secure three three-peat and begin a dynasty of their own.
Queensland love an underdogs tag, but they will seriously need to pull out all the stops to win Origin Game 1 and the series, and that is well and truly echoed in their $3.25 quote (at publish).
If there’s a man that can get the best out of his young, inexperienced side however, it’s Wayne Bennett, and the master coach is sure to install all of the passion in his players that has become synonymous is the Queensland origin side.
The line is currently set at just eight points and on face value, that appears to flatter this Maroons side.
Tip:
Back the Blues to cover the line (-8) @ $2
State of Origin Try Scorer Betting
Try Scorer betting is a fan favourite week in, week out every NRL season, and there is certainly no exception to that rule come State of Origin.
We’ve had great success in tipping the winner in recent years, including Tom Trbjovic in Game 1 2019, who went on to complete a hat-trick that night.
With Turbo ruled out of the 2020 season with injury, I’m instead going to look towards another experienced player in New South Wales’ backline, Jack Wighton.
Wighton enters the 2020 State of Origin series off the back of (arguably) his best NRL season, bolstered by a shock Dally M Medal win.
He is a big, fast backline player who is built for Origin, and the $14 available for him to score the first try in Origin 1 looks to be the value.
On the opposite side of the field, it’s hard to look past a player like Dane Gagai.
Gagai is another player that keeps his best footy for the grandest stage, and it’s probably fair to say that he has been Queensland’s best player for the last couple of series’.
Tips:
Back Jack Wighton to score the first try @ $14
Back Jack Wighton to score a try at any time @ $2.70
Back Dane Gagai to score the first try @ $15
State of Origin Man of the Match Betting
Selecting the Man of the Match in any State of Origin game can prove to be a lucrative betting play, and there is terrific value to be found in the market ahead of Game 1.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, New South Welshman occupy the top three lines of Man of the Match betting, with star fullback James Tedesco the market leader ($6).
Tedesco has been under a small injury cloud this week, and while there is every chance he does come out and make this game his own, I think that he is under the odds at that price, and I am happy to take him on.
The inexperienced Maroons’ defence will have their hands full with hooker Damien Cook, and he looks to be the value for the Blues ($9).
Cook is good for metres every time that he touches the football, and he will be key to the Blues’ go-forward each set.
Cameron Munster is the $10 top-elect for the Maroons in Man of the Match betting and if they are to secure an upset victory, you’d have to think that he is instrumental.
Tip:
Back Damien Cook to be named Man of the Match @ $9