Does Penrith's impressive record at Suncorp help NSW ahead of the series decider?

07/01/2024 11:47 PM

The NSW Blues enter Game III of the 2024 State of Origin series looking to win the shield in enemy territory for just the third time in the organisation's history.

Michael Maguire's side ensured the series would go down to the final game after an impressive 38-18 win over the Maroons in Game II but now face the daunting challenge of winning at Suncorp Stadium.

Since 1983, the series has gone to a decider in Brisbane 12 times, with Queensland coming out victorious ten times.

The only two times NSW has walked out of Queensland with a shield in Game III came in 1994 and 2005, where the Blues won by 22 and 15 points respectively.

Although history isn't on the Blues' side, there is one statistic that could play into their favour, that being the impressive record that the Penrith Panthers have at Suncorp Stadium.

The Panthers have won 14 of their last 16 clashes in Brisbane, including the first of the three-peat in the 2021 NRL Grand Final. With seven current and former Panthers in the squad for Game II, SEN's Joel Caine pointed out that the strong record at Suncorp could translate into an Origin series win for the Blues.

"The marketplace still has the Queenslanders (as favourite), because of that Suncorp factor," Caine said on SENQ Mornings.

"But just be warned by this, those Penrith players, I'm including Stephen Crichton from back in the day, they've won 13 of the last 15 at Suncorp Stadium, they had great success winning their first Grand Final there.

"Whilst it's been a tough place for NSW, a lot of these Penrith players, Liam Martin, Crichton, Jarome Luai, Isaah Yeo, Dylan Edwards, they love playing at Suncorp.

"That is a little thing that gives me a little bit of comfort."

SENQ's and Queensland Maroons legend Corey Parker admitted whilst the Blues do deserve to be the favourites heading into the game, he isn't buying into that stat.

"Nah, that's dribble for mine," Parker responded.

"The fact that you're clutching Penrith players playing at Suncorp."

The 2024 State of Origin series heads to a series decider in Brisbane as Queensland host NSW on Wednesday, July 17th.