2024 State of Origin Winner Odds: Queensland favourites to win three in a row

The 2024 NRL season has nearly reached the halfway stage, which can only mean one thing, that the State of Origin is on the horizon.

The three-game series captures the headlines across Australia each and every year, and it is often described as "Australian sport's greatest rivalry".

Each year, the series is contested between two Australian state representative sides - New South Wales and Queensland.

New South Wales, known as the Blues, and Queensland, the Maroons, put club allegiances aside each year, playing three games between May and July during Australia's winter.

Queensland are the reigning holders after winning the 2023 series 2-1, and they will expect to defend their crown under coach Billy Slater.

2024 State of Origin odds

(Odds will display when the market is available)

Queensland

Maroons fans have every right to be fired up ahead of this year's series, especially as their state tries to win a third series in succession.

Former Melbourne Storm and Australia full-back, Slater, has won both of the series that he has coached, and confidence will be high as his players finish off their final few training sessions.

Slater will be without half-back Cameron Munster due to a groin injury, while he surprisingly left David Fifita out of his squad.

Hooker Harry Grant's presence around the ruck will no doubt cause carnage all series if he stays fit, while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Reece Walsh will look to utilise their pace and open up the NSW defence.

Slater usually has a trick or two up his sleeve, and he will look to use Selwyn Cobbo off the bench. In the past, Cooper Cronk, Daly Cherry-Evans and Kalyn Ponga, regular starters for their clubs, were all tasked with shining off the bench, and the Brisbane Broncos ace will hope to make a similar impact.

Queensland will be away from home in the first game, with NSW only losing 10 of their last 31 games played at the Accor Stadium in Sydney.

Slater's side are 41/50 to win Game 1, while they are 91/100 to cover the -1.5 handicap.

New South Wales

Home advantage will be crucial for the Blues, as they try to unsettle Queensland in an attempt to gain any momentum heading into Game 2.

Former Wigan Warriors coach Michael Maguire is now at the helm for the Blues, in what will be his first series in charge.

He has added John Cartwright, Matt King, and Brett White to his coaching staff, who are all premiership-winning players, former Blues, and current NRL assistant coaches.

Maguire made a huge call in his first squad announcement, dropping former NSW captain and full-back James Tedesco, but the Sydney Roosters ace has been recalled due to an injury to rookie Dylan Edwards.

In just four days, Tedesco has had to switch his mindset from club rugby back to Origin, but Maguire will expect him to lead by example in Game 1.

He will need too as well, with five debutants named in Maguire's squad. Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses are still sidelined, so Nicho Hynes will be thrown into the halves.

Latrell Mitchell did also not do enough to earn a place in the squad, but Maguire has tried to select players that have enjoyed an impressive 2024, rather than pick his team on past performance.

There is always so much riding on every game in Origin, and Wednesday's opener will be no different.

The Blues are 1/1 to make home advantage count this week, while those that fancy a high-scoring game can back over 36.5 points at 20/21.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.