So out of the gate the Blues are facing an uphill battle and I’m just not sure they can conquer the Maroon machine. 

First things first, I’m a Blues fan through and through, it’s my earliest memory of rugby league, watching the Blues smash the Queenslanders with my Dad since I was about six. 

But, i’m not stupid enough to think we can win purely under the weight of support, as there are plenty of Maroon lovers lurking among us. 

A lot of strategy in tonight’s game will hinge on Cooper Cronk, whether he’s a ‘pawn’ and been hamming up his injury for the media like Paul Gallen says, or whether the Hooker will shy away from the pinnacle contest. 

Even without him, Queensland has a list of play-makers as long as your leg. 

And on the revers of that, there are a few in the Blues camp that I personally don’t like; Greg Bird and Andrew Fifita. 

I don’t care how many metres these two morons can run with a half-dozen Maroons on their back, Fifita and Bird are grubby players and they give up penalties, a lot. 

Bird is a serial offender at holding too long and Fifita is just a punk. I haven’t looked at him the same since he threatened to “smash” a junior ref so I wouldn’t have given him a Blues jumper in the first place. 

Dugan is out on our end of things too, but Josh Morris is more than a capable centre and I think he’ll slot in with no drama. 

I’m looking forward to the battle in the middle with Gallen and Woods moving play forward through the ruck. 

James Tamou is also a good runner and I’ll be keen to see how he can impact play off the bench.

I like the inclusion of Woods (or The Mongolian as he is known in my house) one, because I’m a Tigers fan, and two, because he adds a new spark to the forward pack that NSW has probably been lacking in years gone by. 

Maybe Gallen can give Nate Myles a little touch up again, too, because I don’t like Myles much either. 

But, more seriously, the Blues face mounting pressure from Queensland’s outside players; Darius Boyd is always a danger and it will be interesting to see him at fullback. 

Cameron Smith is a born leader and will take control out of dummy half and Jonathon Thurston never backs down from a play. 

With an anticipated crowd of 80,000 tonight in Sydney, I think the Blues are a chance in front of a massive home crowd. 

I think good play could come out of Jennings and Mansour, while Morris is a great left fringe runner for a possible intercept or line break. 

My tip? I reckon it will be close no matter, so I’m backing NSW 20-18. 

Got the burning need to tell me how wrong I am? My social media links are in the header ^^ up there. 

TEAM BREAKDOWN

The NSW Blues:  1. Matt Moylan, 2. Blake Ferguson, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Josh Morris*, 5. Josh Mansour, 6. James Maloney, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Robbie Farah, 10. Paul Gallen, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Josh Jackson, 13. Greg Bird

Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker, 15. James Tamou, 16. David Klemmer, 17. Andrew Fifita

The QLD Maroons: 1. Darius Boyd, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Greg Inglis, 4. Justin O’Neill, 5. Dane Gagai, 6. Johnathan Thurston, 7. Cooper Cronk*, 8. Matt Scott, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Nate Myles, 11. Matt Gillett, 12. Sam Thaiday, 13. Corey Parker

Interchange: 14. Michael Morgan, 15. Josh McGuire, 16. Aidan Guerra, 17. Josh Papalii