Barely Interesting State of Origin 1 Preview

The biggest game in rugby league is almost here, and a big game deserves a big preview, so our Barely Interesting State of Origin 1 Preview is here for all.

Our Barely Interesting State of Origin 1 Preview is much like our weekly NRL previews – lots of barely interesting facts, some colourful visuals, and took a long time to do.

Some of the stats might get you interested, or change your bet for the big game, or settle an argument or two. Or fill in a second or two on a lazy Sunday morning.

Either way the Barely Interesting State of Origin 1 Preview is ready for those who love their stats.

STATE OF ORIGIN 1 PREVIEW – GAME STATS

MATCHES IN SYDNEY

NSW have won the last three games in Sydney – which means Queensland haven’t won in Sydney since 2017. For the record – Jarryd Hayne and Tim Glasby payed in this match.

However, Queensland have won the last two games in Sydney where it was the first match of the series.

NSW Won 14 out of 15 games in Sydney from 1990 to 2006 on a Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY’S NEWS

Queensland hold the overall advantage for Wednesday State of Origin games 43-36. However, NSW hit the front 21-11 for Wednesday games in Sydney.

For something more obscure, in the last 12 State of Origin games on a Wednesday, the winner has scored between 18 and 22 points on nine occasions. The average margin for these nine games was six points.

MARGIN OF ERROR

Here are some barely interesting facts on which day and game has the closest margins.

FIRST GAME WINNER

The first game record is pretty tight – after 42 years Queensland have the edge 22-20, but if you include only the three game series it’s 20 wins each.

FIRST STATE OF ORIGIN GAME IN SYDNEY

NSW didn’t host an opening game of the Series until the SFS opened in 1988. They lost all three games that season.

Sydney have only hosted the first game of the series 15 times out of 42 seasons.

For the record it is 8-7 to NSW for first game of the series wins in Sydney.

NSW beware though, Queensland win the series 6/7 when winning the first game in Sydney.

DOES WINNING THE FIRST GAME OF THE SERIES LEAD TO A SERIES WIN?

Yes, it’s pretty convincing. Out of the 40 three game series since 1982 – 30 times the team that won the first game goes onto winning the series.

But who has the better strike rate?

Out of Queensland’s 20 wins in the first game of a three game series they have gone on to win the series 16 times. For NSW it is 14/20.

The last two times the game one winner didn’t go on to win the series was in 2017 and 2019. One for each state.

WHAT’s THE POINT/S?

Well here’s a barely interesting fact if ever we’ve seen one – the average points scored in total per game.

And it’s a win for game three, as below. Probably the dead rubbers help, but not much between games one and two.

NSW have the upper hand in points scored in Game One of all series. They have scored 665 points compared with Qld’s 620. It helps they won by a million points in last year’s first game we guess.

STATE OF ORIGIN 1 PREVIEW – PLAYER STATS

Was Josh Addo-Carr treated badly by missing out? Was Selwyn Cobbo the right choice over Corey Oates? Is Kalyn Ponga going better than James Tedesco? Which forward pack has more firepower? Have we missed just how good Ryan Matterson is going? Is Kurt Capewell really the Captain Plod he has been accused of?

Answers to those and many other things are available in our next section, where we compile various 2022 player stats and show them side by side by position.

WINGERS

CENTRES

PROPS

FULLBACK

HALVES

SECOND ROW / LOCK

HOOKER