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NSW have the advantage of experience over Queensland but there are still a number of factors that give the Maroons hope for Wednesday's State of Origin opener.
THE 10 FACTORS WHICH WILL DECIDE STATE OF ORIGIN I:
* THE POWER OF A FAST START: Half-time leads are everything in Origin, with the team on top at the break winning 25 of the past 33 matches. NSW have the advantage here, having never trailed at halftime under Brad Fittler.
* NEUTRAL VENUE: Wednesday will be crucial to the outcome of the series, with no home-game advantage available. The four times the series has opened outside NSW and Queensland, the victor in Game I has lifted the Shield. The Blues have won seven of 11 matches on neutral territory.
* EXPERIENCE IN THE HALVES: The one area where Queensland have the Blues for experience and the most important one. Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster have 17 Origins between them, while Nathan Cleary has played just five and Luke Keary is on debut. Cherry-Evans and Cleary are both ice men, but experience could be crucial in a close game.
* NSW'S MOBILE PACK: The Blues have picked a pack for 2020's rules. Jake Trbojevic and Cameron Murray have two of the speediest play-the-balls in the NRL, while Daniel Saifiti and Payne Haas are both quicker than the Maroons' starting forwards. Junior Paulo is meanwhile a halfback in a prop's body, leading all front-rowers for try-assists.
* JOSH PAPALII: The most influential forward in the competition. If he's at his best, Queensland stand a chance. The Canberra prop carried the Raiders to the preliminary final after their pack was ravaged by injury, and he is among the NRL's best props for run metres, tackle busts and linebreaks.
* POINTS GALORE: This Origin series could be one like no other with the NRL's new rules. Whoever can handle fatigue best in the faster game will be crucial, let alone over three straight weeks. Attack could also be more crucial than ever, after the highest-scoring finals series in history. Cleary and Munster could again be key, after they were part of the two teams who adapted to it best.
* ORIGIN ROOKIES: Don't underestimate the power of the rookies. Queensland will have eight debutants on Wednesday night, and just 70 games of Origin experience to NSW's 80. But that doesn't always mean for a tough initiation. In 2018 NSW kicked off their current run with 11 debutants in Game I, winning 22-12. Queensland have history with them as well, winning series in 2001 and 1995 with 10 and nine rookies respectively.
* AJ BRIMSON: The loss of Kalyn Ponga for Queensland could be completely offset by Brimson's brilliance. The Gold Coast fullback was one of the two most exciting players in the NRL over the last few months alongside Cody Walker. Broke the line 14 tries in nine games, scoring seven tries and setting up five others. Could be the x-factor Queensland need.
* DANIEL TUPOU AND NATHAN CLEARY: The underrated combination in NSW's attack. Cleary's kicking game is the best in the NRL, especially close to the line. His signature play is the short cross-field kick, and he'll have the NRL's tallest winger in 196cm giant Daniel Tupou on the receiving end on the left edge. Fittler picked the Sydney Roosters flyer for his height and now is his time to shine.
* THE WAYNE BENNETT FACTOR: Queensland look second-best on paper but Bennett has five series wins to his name as Maroons coach while assistant Mal Meninga has nine. Their influence alone will be massive. Bennett pulled off a miracle as coach in 2001, while Meninga started the Maroons' dynasty in 2006.
