State of Origin tips: James Tedesco, Harry Grant clear favourites to win Man of the Match

NSW captain James Tedesco and emerging representative star Harry Grant have firmed as the two clear favourites to play a match-winning role in tonight's State of Origin series opener.

Tedesco has cemented his reputation as a bankable 9/10 performer in big matches having brought his best to the Origin arena and to grand finals on numerous occasions over the last three years.

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And if the Blues are triumphant in Townsville it will be on the back of another superb performance from the Blues' fullback and captain, according to Wide World of Sports' tipsters, with thee of the five backing the Blues to win tipping Tedesco for Man of the Match honours.

However, the eye-brow raising pick for best afield is the Queensland hooker, who was left out of the preferred starting side picked by Maroons icon Cameron Smith.

Smith told SEN Radio that he would pick Eels hooker Reed Mahoney - now injured and unavailable after injuring his shoulder in the Eels' win over the Knights on Sunday; a game he was only playing due to not being in Queensland's top 18 players - to start in the No.9 jersey, with Grant to wear the No.14 and come off the bench when the Blues' defenders tired.

Smith's successor at both club and representative level played that role to perfection in his sole appearance for the Maroons in last year's series, scoring a try and playing a star hand in last year's series-opener.

However new Queensland coach Paul Green ignored Smith's advice and picked Grant as his starting hooker despite the fact that he has not played for his club since he injured his hamstring in Round Nine, and has managed just five games in total this season.

That call has been emphatically backed by the three Wide World of Sports tipsters picking the Maroons to win in Townsville, with all three of them tipping Grant to claim man of the match honours.

While Tedesco and Grant are Wide World of Sports' favourites to win man of the match, they trail Nathan Cleary with the bookmakers.

The Blues halfback is paying $5.50 to win best afield with several bookmakers, with Tedesco second-favourite at $6.50. Grant is paying $11, making him second favourite behind last year's Wally Lewis Medallist, Cameron Munster ($7) among Queenslanders. Daly Cherry-Evans rounds out the top five picks at $13.

Scroll below to see all the Wide World of Sports' tips for State of Origin One, including margin and man of the match predictions!

Paul Gallen: NSW by 12, James Tedesco MoM

Billy Slater: QLD by 4, Harry Grant MoM

Peter Sterling: NSW by 14, James Tedesco MoM

James Bracey: NSW by 4, Nathan Cleary MoM

Peter Psaltis: QLD by 8, Harry Grant MoM

Mat Thompson: QLD by 2, Harry Grant MoM

Ben Glover: NSW by 8, Tom Trbojevic MoM

Tim Elbra: NSW by 4, James Tedesco MoM