Blues face the curse of Suncorp

NSW will have to rewrite history and overcome a daunting Suncorp Stadium hoodoo to win back the State of Origin shield.

The Blues have not won back-to-back State of Origin games at Suncorp Stadium in 20 years but coach Laurie Daley has declared: “It certainly doesn’t hold any fears.”

The last time NSW won consecutive matches at the Brisbane stadium was in 1997 and 1998.

Since then, all Blues victories have been one-offs.

The Blues’ crusade to end their Suncorp Stadium curse will continue today when Daley names an unchanged line-up for the decider, despite some injury concerns.

NSW won Game Three 8-6 of the 1997 series at Suncorp before backing that up with a 26-10 Origin I victory in 1998.

After a smooth run through the first two games, the Blues have injury concerns ahead of naming an extended squad today with questions around captain Boyd Cordner (calf), James Tedesco (ankle), Josh Dugan (knee), Jack de Belin (calf) and Tyson Frizell (ribs/ back/ankle).

Penrith’s Trent Merrin and Matt Moylan, Manly’s Tom Trbojevic and Melbourne’s Jordan McLean are on standby for any withdrawals.