Origin Game 1 Preview, Key Stats & Tallis vs Hill KO | Ahead of the Game Ep. 31

In Episode 31 of Ahead of the Game - Sports Chat, Ryan and Jez go head-to-head over every matchup in Origin Game 1 - and the takes are flying.

They start with the backlines, where Queensland’s missed tackle rates are sky-high (Ponga 50%, Coates 26%) compared to New South Wales’ more stable unit led by Crichton, Lomax and Latrell. From there, it’s all about the halves - with Cleary’s Origin legacy on the line and Moses coming in hot after last year’s success.

The forward pack battle is classic Origin: Queensland going mobile, NSW going brutal. And the bench? Connor Watson gives NSW flexibility. Dearden? Not so much. The coaching matchup - Laurie Daley vs Billy Slater - is also getting attention, and the boys think it could swing Game 1.

The episode closes with GPT KO - Gordon Tallis vs Terry Hill - finally settling the 1999 stare-down in the cage. It’s fists, fury and Maroon vengeance.

This is the only Origin preview you need before Wednesday.