State of Origin I expert tips: Freddy's warning to 'slow' Nathan Cleary who will be a Maroons 'target'
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New South Wales legends Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns have detailed where the State of Origin opener will be won and lost on Wednesday night.
And it comes with a scary warning for the two champion halfbacks - Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans.
The Blues are short-priced favourites to win the game at Suncorp Stadium and Johns believes they have the better team.
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"I think NSW have got an advantage on the edge, with their backrowers and centres," Johns told Freddy and the Eighth.
"But you can't got there until you've done the hard work in the middle.
Nathan Cleary looks to pass during Blues training. Getty
"I think the back five for NSW are important... getting out of dummy-half and getting forward to help their forwards.
"If NSW have a greater share of possession and field position, there are too many points in NSW."
Fittler reckons the Blues and Maroons will attack the game with a similar plan - to isolate the halfbacks.
"They will both be very similar," Fittler said.
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"They will want to get to Harry (Grant), or get to our hookers, and get to their right - so getting at (Cameron) Munster and getting his tackle count up, or getting at (Mitchell) Moses and getting his tackle count up.
"What that will do is leave (Cherry-Evans) isolated and with (rookie Maroons centre) Robert Toia, and isolate Nathan (Cleary) - Nathan can be slow on leads sometimes, so he will be a real target.
"That will be both their game plans - get to the right to open up their left. I think the decision making with those blokes on our right is going to be crucial."
Johns pointed out if Cleary can be exposed, it opens the door for a Kalyn Ponga clinic.
The livewire fullback is back in the Maroons side and he is at his best when attacking the left side of his field.
Fittler has tipped Moses to be man of the match, as he was in game two last year.
Here are all of Nine's expert tips and man of the match predictions.
Andrew Johns: Blues by 8, Nathan Cleary
Darren Lockyer: Maroons by 10, Harry Grant
Brad Fittler: Blues by 10, Mitchell Moses
Paul Gallen: Blues by 8, Mitchell Moses
Peter Psaltis: Maroons by 8, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
David Middleton: Blues by 4, Payne Haas
Mat Thompson: Blues by 7, Angus Crichton
Danika Mason: Blues by 4, Liam Martin
Michael Chammas: Blues by 12, Mitchell Moses
The Mole: Blues by 7, Nathan Cleary
Ben Glover: Blues by 10, Latrell Mitchell
