Barely Interesting 2022 State of Origin Game 2 Preview

June 20, 2022

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State of origin game 2 - feature image — Caption Text: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Cameron Munster of the Maroons makes a break during game one of the 2022 State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at Accor Stadium on June 08, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Was the first State of Origin for 2022 not enough for you? Well game two is nearly here and so is our Barely Interesting 2022 State of Origin Game 2 Preview.

Our Barely Interesting 2022 State of Origin Game 2 Preview is much like our weekly NRL previews – lots of barely interesting facts, some colourful visuals, and took a long time to do and likely very few readers.

Some of the stats might get you maroon/blue blood flowing, or change your bet for the big game, or settle an argument or two. Or feature in pubs and RSL bars around Perth.

Either way the Barely Interesting 2022 State of Origin Game 2 Preview is ready for those who love their stats.

STATE OF ORIGIN 2 PREVIEW – GAME STATS

GAME ONE STATS

Queensland have now taken the lead for Game One of a three match State of Origin Series over NSW by 21-20.

Queensland have now won the last three Game One matches in Sydney – 2022, 2016 and 2015.

GAME TWO BLUES

NSW lead Queensland by 23-17 for the second match of three game series.

NSW also lead the H2H by 12-8 when Queensland win the first game of a series.

NSW have won both of the game two matches played on a Sunday following a Queensland win, and quite convincingly too. 26-8 in 2001 and 38-6 in Perth in 2019.

In fact, NSW have won all four games on a Sunday when it is the second match.

NSW have won the last four Game Two matches by a combined 116-30.

MATCHES AT NEUTRAL VENUES

NSW lead Queensland 6-5 for games at Neutral venues.

NSW are undefeated for games played on a Sunday at neutral venues. Which is also the only game played in Perth. Good signs for NSW then.

NSW have won 5/6 neutral games when the match is the second game of the series.

Here is the breakdown of margins and total points scored at the three different venue types.

Neutral
Total Points 31.9 Margin 9.36
NSW
Total Points 30.4 Margin 8.45
NSW
Total Points 34.7 Margin 12.23

SUNDAY NIGHT’S ALL RIGHT

NSW lead Queensland 4-2 for State of Origin games on a Sunday.

NSW have also won the last three straight on a Sunday. The Blues have won those three games by a combined 82-20.

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.

WHAT ABOUT IF QLD WIN THE FIRST GAME IN SYDNEY

Queensland have won the first match of a three game series in Sydney eight times now. Of the previous seven times, Queensland went on to win the series six times.

MARGIN OF ERROR

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

Day	Av Margin
Mon	6.4
Tue	10.0
Wed	10.2
Thu	12.0
Fri	15.0
Sun	20.7

Game	Av Margin
3	11.7
2	10.9
1	8.7

If you exclude NSW’s 2021 Game One thrashing of Queensland, the average margin for game one going back to 2003 is 6.1 points.

STATE OF ORIGIN GAME TWO PREVIEW – PLAYER STATS

Have the NSW Blues made changes that will make the side better? Are Queensland’s replacements up to the job? Is Patrick Carrigan as good on 2022 season stats as he was for Origin Game One?

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.

HALVES