With the conclusion of Magic Round, the Origin teams have been revealed.
The Knights are on the rise, while the Sea Eagles are making waves, contrasting sharply with the declining fortunes of the Tigers and Bulldogs.
Origin by the Numbers
Historically, winning Game 1 puts a team in a remarkably secure position, despite last year's events.
In fact, the team that takes the opening match of the Origin series has been victorious 26 times out of the last 35 years.
This year's crucial neutral game will take place at the MCG in Melbourne, a venue where Queensland typically enjoys strong backing.
However, the historical record in Victoria is quite balanced.
At the MCG, the win tally stands at 3-3, while overall, NSW has a slight edge with 5-4 in Victoria, including a few at Docklands.
No team has completed a clean sweep of 3-0 since Queensland managed it in 2010, while NSW last achieved a 3-0 sweep back in 2000.
Sharks' Yo-Yo Continues
The Sharks' dominant performance against the Bulldogs highlights their season trend, where every match has ended with a double-digit margin.
Remarkably, dating back to last year, only one of their last 16 matches has been decided by fewer than ten points, which was the Preliminary Final loss to Melbourne.