Although relatively unknown on British shores, apart from pockets of hard core Rugby League resistance up in places like Hull and Oldham, the State of Origin is one of the biggest annual sporting events in Australia.

The best-of-three series of rugby league matches between the Maroons, representing the state of Queensland, and the Blues, representing the state of New South Wales attracts huge television audiences Down Under and this year’s contest should prove just as thrilling as previous battles.

The Maroons led by skipper Darren Lockyer can take nothing for granted against the Blues who have lost the last three duels between the sides.

Lockyer will be looking to lead by example when the contest gets underway at Docklands in the early hours of tomorrow morning. Having attacked a Brisbane pub owner when drunk last year, Lockyer will be keen to let his rugby do the talking.

However, the State of Origin wouldn’t be the State of Origin if at one point in the three match series we failed to witness a classic Australian ‘tear-up’. History shows us that it almost certainly will happen, but when, well we will have to wait and see.

Maroons coach Mal Meninga, who we featured last week (click here to witness his pitiful political career), has a mixture of youth and experience to choose from, while Craig Bellamy has 7 untested and untried players at his disposal for the Blues.

Will the Blues youngsters lose their heads in the heat of battle? Quite possibly, but they will have to go some to live up to the 1995 episode when literally everyone was involved!