NSW Blues vs QLD Maroons updates, results, kick off time, teams, highlights and latest news, Billy Slater could pull selection shock with Cameron Munster replacement

Conditions are fine and dry in Brisbane for the match, although one factor that might play a part tonight is the wind, with a gusty south-westerly tipped to increase in strength throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting gusts of over 50km/h by kick off time tonight, which will make it tricky for those at the back, especially when New South Wales centre Matt Burton launches one of his towering bombs.

We still don’t have confirmation of the teams, with speculation around who will start at five-eighth for Queensland in place of Cameron Munster, who has been ruled out with COVID-19.

Tom Dearden is the most likely to line up alongside Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves, but Queensland legend Wally Lewis isn’t ruling out a late surprise.

“It’s very hard to work out, I think Billy may even pull a little bit of a swifty close to the game, come up with something New South Wales weren’t expecting,” he told Nine’s Today.

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“That’s the key to State of Origin, coming up with something that your opponents don’t expect.

“It will certainly be won up front, the big boys, and that’s where New South Wales appears to have a lot more size.”

Lewis said the loss of Munster and winger Murray Taulagi hasn’t helped the Maroons, but all that will be forgotten when the two sides run out onto Suncorp Stadium tonight.

“It certainly hasn’t been all that great in the build-up, we’ve lost a couple of our key players, but that’s happened before for Queensland and they’ve never used that as an excuse,” he explained.

“If they’re good enough on the night then they’ll win the game, there’ll be 52,500 fans here, very hopeful Queensland will be at their best tonight.”

Another State of Origin legend, New South Wales’ Benny Elias, said the Blues won’t be worried about any late Queensland reshuffle.

“They can put Jesus Christ at five-eighth for all we care, we are so ready for tonight,” he told Today.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve won a series up here at Suncorp, but we’re so thoroughly covered in every position, the bench is very strong, Freddy Fittler’s preparation has been first class, and I think we’ll be dominant in every facet of the game.”