State of Origin is here, and while that means that the NRL is sort-of ruined for the next two months or so, it also means some of the best rugby league of the year is about to happen. It also gives us another opportunity to dive into some rugby league stats with our 2023 State of Origin Game 1 Stats and Tips.
Our look into Game One of the 2023 State of Origin series supplies the usual barely interesting stats and visuals regular readers would come to expect from The Gurgler. Plus some bold predictions about what might happen.
So enjoy our 2023 State of Origin Game 1 Stats and Tips and feel free to use any of the pieces at a pre-Origin hype party or similar.
2023 State of Origin Game 1 Tips
Before we unleash a bunch of interesting or barely interesting stats, we’ll put our money where our mouth is.
So we have compiled a few choice H2H stats for State of Origin Game One, worked out the percentage for each stat, and come up with an end score.
And it is close, with Queensland’s overall record good, NSW has the edge for points scored and neutral venues.
MATCH PREDICTION: QLD 20 NSW 18
Anytime Try Scorers – Stephen Crichton, Valentine Holmes, Harry Grant
2023 State of Origin Game 1 Stats and Stuff
Queensland lead NSW 21-20 for the first game of State of Origin, where there has been a multi game series.
Queensland lead 3-1 when the first game of a State of Origin series is played at a Neutral venue.
All four times when the first game of a State of Origin series is played at a Neutral venue the winner has gone on to win the series.
From the 21 times Queensland have won the opening game of a State of Origin series, they have won 17 series and lost four. For NSW it is 14 wins and six losses.
NSW lead Queensland 8-5 overall for State of Origin games on neutral grounds. This does include the Long Beach exhibition game. Although it’s 5-5 for neutral games on a Wednesday.
When Queensland have won the neutral game of a series they have won the series that season on all five occasions. For NSW it is 5/7. Meaning that the winner of the neutral game goes on to win the series 10/12. This excludes Long Beach where the game was after the series was decided.
On average, more points are scored at Neutral venues (average 35 points). Followed by games in Queensland (34.5 points) and NSW (30.4 points).
Queensland average 14.3 points per game on Neutral venues, NSW average 20.7.
New South Wales won the first three games on neutral territory, and four of the last five. The only exception is Adelaide in 2020.
Queensland lead the H2H for all Wednesday State of Origin Games by 45-35, but NSW have the advantage 14-13 for Game Ones that are on a Wednesday.
2023 State of Origin Game 1 Bold Predictions
- Reece Walsh to be involved in three tries for Queensland, and two for NSW.
- Pat Carrigan to break 50 tackles.
- Tevita Pangai to spend at least one stint in the sin bin.
- Nicho Hynes to be a game changer and spell the end of Jarome Luai.
- NSW to hurt without an 80 minute hooker and proper back up.
- The Hammer to score the first try.
- Adelaide people having no idea about what State of Origin is.
2023 State of Origin Game 1 Stats and Visuals
STATE OF ORIGIN AT NEUTRAL GROUNDS
STATE OF ORIGIN – WIN FIRST GAME & SERIES?
FULL GAME ONE STATE OF ORIGIN LIST
