The burning issues Queensland must address before Perth
THE FIVE KEY ISSUES THAT WILL DECIDE STATE OF ORIGIN II IN PERTH
* WHAT DO QUEENSLAND DO WITH DALY CHERRY-EVANS?
Andrew Johns has led the calls for Queensland to drop their captain and halfback for Perth after the 18-6 loss in game one. The Maroons lost the game in the middle and had limited good ball in the series opener. But there is a push to put Tom Dearden in the No.7 with the Queenslanders having mustered just one try in the past two games.
* HOW DO THE MAROONS STOP PAYNE HAAS?
Haas has spent the past few State of Origins destroying any suggestion that he was yet to own the representative arena. The front-rower laid the platform for NSW in the series opener, despite barely training in the lead up due to a quad tear. Changes could come in the Maroons pack, with Corey Horsburgh, Josh Kerr and Jai Arrow options.
* DO QUEENSLAND HAVE TO START HARRY GRANT?
Grant had the worst Origin of his career in game one, after being targeted by the Blues pack early. Grant has previously come off the bench with Ben Hunt starting at hooker, but that is out of the question this year given the Brisbane playmaker's injury. One option could be the Maroons picking Max Plath to start at No.9 if fit.
* CAN QUEENSLAND SILENCE NSW'S BACK THREE?
The Blues' territorial dominance was again set up by Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o and Zac Lomax, just as it was in their two wins last year. The trio prove near impossible to stop coming out of their own end, but the Maroons must find a way. Murray Taulagi could also come in to provide Queensland their own early-set firepower, if he recovers from a calf tear.
* HAVE THE BLUES FOUND THEIR PERFECT MATCH?
There were plenty of questions around how Mitchell Moses and Nathan Cleary would combine in the series opener, but they were answered in the first 40 minutes. The pair linked up regularly in attack, Moses was free to run and Cleary still had the most touches. The Maroons must find a way to limit the duo's time.
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