The four certainties for State of Origin II

Game II of the State Of Origin heads to Queensland’s Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Maroons currently hold a series lead and they head into the clash as the heavy favourites.

Labelling something a ‘certainty’ in any sport is fraught with danger. But we’ll attempt to find some anyway.

Here is what we consider certainties for Game II.

Cameron Munster to have a one try assist

Queensland five-eighth Cameron Munster is built for Origin.

The superstar playmaker was crucial in the Game I victory, with the 28-year-old scoring a try and picking up an assist at the Adelaide Oval.

At club-level, Munster has notched eight try assists from 11 games so far for the Storm in 2023.

Expect him to have a big say in this contest if Queensland are to secure the series on Wednesday night.

Xavier Coates to score a try

After missing Game I, Xavier Coates returns to Queensland's line-up for Game II replacing the injured Selwyn Cobbo.

At 194cm, Coates will be an aerial target for the Maroons with Brian To'o and Josh Addo-Carr on the wings for NSW and you can be sure that they'll kick to the Storm winger.

While Coates hasn't crossed over in his last four Origin games, he'll be raring to go at Suncorp tonight.

Lachlan Geleit

Josh Addo-Carr to score a try

NSW coach Brad Fittler has switched the two wingers in order to combat the aerial advantage that Queensland had. The 194cm winger is well known for his high leaps.

However, the 22-year-old has struggled defensively this year with 14 missed tackles at just 74.6% efficiency.

This has been his worst output since his debut year in 2019 for the Brisbane Broncos where he only played three matches.

Expect a winger of Addo-Carr’s calibre to capitalise and cross over for a try.

Damien Cook and Reece Robson to combine for 70+ tackles

After Blues incumbent hooker Api Koroisau suffered a broken jaw, Damien Cook and Reece Robson have been called upon to fill in. Both men are renowned for their tackling with Cook and Robson averaging 45 and 44 tackles respectively at club level in 2023.

Cook and Robson will have separate stints at dummy half and are consistently the top tackler for their individual clubs.

Cook averages just shy of 40 tackles in the Origin arena and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect a similar level of output from Robson who makes his Origin debut.

Charles Goodsir

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