The NSW Blues have completed their final training session on Suncorp Stadium before tomorrow night's game.
For NSW to win State of Origin...
Jarryd Hayne needs to keep up his one-man freak show and at least come close to matching Billy Slater’s peerless positional work fielding kicks at fullback.
Daniel Tupou needs to overcome debut nerves and give the Blues an aerial threat on the wing, while negotiating a barrage of high balls in defence.
Michael Jennings and Josh Morris need to maintain their stellar standards of recent series, with their containment of legendary centre pairing Greg Inglis and Justin Hodges critical.
Brett Morris needs to give the Blues thrust coming out of their own half and keep the heat on underperforming yet prolific opposite Darius Boyd.
New halves Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson must produce a kicking performance to trouble Slater, an attacking threat comparable to the great Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk, and a defensive effort without costly misses.
Aaron Woods needs take the next step up, from being a top NRL prop to a genuine Origin force who can find metres when his team is rooted in its own half.
Robbie Farah needs to add a healthy dose of creative support to his rookie halves, while also tackling everything that moves.
James Tamou needs shift another gear from his promising lift in form for the Cowboys, counteracting rampant club teammate Matt Scott.
Beau Scott must take the major hand in containing Thurston, while also body-guarding a willing but sometimes ineffective defender in Reynolds.
Ryan Hoffman must be typically efficient in both attack and defence against the incredibly in-form Matt Gillett.
Paul Gallen must be Paul Gallen, against a player who performs more like Gal with every passing season, Corey Parker.
The bench of Trent Merrin, Anthony Watmough, Luke Lewis and Tony Williams must offer greater impact than their opposites – which they should, on form. T-Rex must go up a notch from his decent club form, bringing the unstoppable explosiveness still absent.
Words: Tim Elbra, Assistant Editor - NRL.com (Story first appeared on NRL.com)
Video: Amie Lindsell - NRL.com
