THE Maroons are fast building the kind of brand status enjoyed by the All Blacks and English Premier League sides Manchester United and Chelsea. They entered this year’s State of Origin series with a chance of becoming the first team to win four straight series in one of the tightest sporting rivalries in existence. There is never much between the Queensland and NSW teams in terms of playing talent, but the Maroons were heavily favoured, boasting the Australian Test back line: Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Justin Hodges, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston. The Blues were headed by one of the best coaches in the business, Craig Bellamy – who would go on to win the NRL premiership with the Melbourne Storm – but Queensland won the opening two matches to create history. Will Swanton
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