New South Wales back-rower Liam Martin has declared the Blues are brimming with belief ahead of Wednesday night's State of Origin series decider against Queensland at Suncorp Stadium. Martin, who has been one of NSW's best performers in the series so far, says the squad is fully focused on securing the shield in enemy territory.
Martin's confidence in the Blues' game plan
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Martin emphasised the team's preparation and unity. "We've done the work, we know what's required, and everyone is ready to rip in," he said. "It's a grand final situation, and that's when you want to be playing your best footy." The 28-year-old Penrith Panthers star has been a key figure in the Blues' forward pack, averaging over 40 tackles per game in the series.
Queensland's home advantage
The Maroons will have the backing of a passionate home crowd at Lang Park, but Martin insists the Blues thrive on the hostile environment. "Playing at Suncorp is always tough, but we love it. The energy from the crowd gets us going," he said. Queensland will be without injured captain Daly Cherry-Evans, with Harry Grant taking over the captaincy for the decider.
Series so far
The series is tied 1-1 after NSW claimed a dominant 34-10 victory in game two in Sydney, following Queensland's 38-10 win in the opener. The Blues' defensive resilience in game two was a major talking point, with the team completing 92% of their tackles. Martin credited the coaching staff for making the necessary adjustments. "We learned from game one, fixed our errors, and now we're building momentum," he added.
Selection changes
NSW coach Michael Maguire has made two changes to the winning side, with Mitchell Barnett replacing the injured Haumole Olakau'atu and Connor Watson coming onto the bench for Cameron Murray. Martin backed the new faces to make an impact. "Mitch and Connor have trained the house down, they'll slot straight in," he said.
Path to victory
Martin highlighted the importance of winning the middle third battle against Queensland's formidable pack, led by Patrick Carrigan and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui. "They've got a big forward pack, but we've got the forwards to match them. It's going to be a war," he said. The Blues will also rely on the kicking game of Nathan Cleary to pin the Maroons deep in their own half.
What's at stake
A win would give NSW their first series victory since 2021, while Queensland are chasing back-to-back titles for the first time since 2016-17. The match is expected to draw a record television audience, with the NRL reporting a 15% increase in viewership for the series compared to last year. Martin said the Blues are motivated by the chance to create history. "We know what it means to the people back home. We want to bring the shield back to NSW," he concluded.
