IT’S that time of the year again when rugby league fans across the state band together to get behind one sporting team – the Queensland Maroons.
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Fans from Mount Isa and the North West are geared up and ready for game 1 of the 2015 State of Origin series to be held in Sydney at ANZ Stadium tonight.
The Maroons are looking to take back what has been theirs for the last eight years previously – the State of Origin title.
With minimal changes to last year’s squad, Mal Meninga’s side is set as favourite to take out the series considering the number of key omissions from the Blues champion squad of 2014.
Mount Isa’s Sportspower store is leading the charge for the Maroons with a total revamp and decoration of its store in true Origin spirit.
Although he is wearing a Blues jersey for the mock-up photo, Sportspower staff member Will Atkinson is an avid Queensland supporter and is quietly confident his boys will get the job done.
“I tip Queensland to win the series 2-1, but New South Wales to win the first one 20-18,” Atkinson said.
“To win the series, the Blues have got to win the first game. It’ll be interesting to see how [Mitchell] Pearce and [Trent] Hodkinson go this year. I’m fairer to them than I am to [Josh] Reynolds so that’s a good catch for them.
‘‘Hopefully Aidan Guerra protects JT [Johnathan Thurston] to keep the likes of Beau Scott at bay.