<> Market Watch: NEW $1.95 v WTG $1.87

> Tuesday Preview: MASSIVE game for the Wests Tigers who were beyond poor at the SCG v the Rabbitohs last Sunday. Newcastle won't have their best player in skipper Kurt Gidley who will captain NSW and key players Jarrod Mullen, Isaac De Gois & Zeb Taia due to injury. The Tigers on the other hand have their best players available in Robbie Farah, Benji Marshall & Lote Tuqiri and simply must win this game even on the road at EnergyAustralia Stadium. Tim Sheens will light every fire he knows under his players for this clash and I'm backing the experienced Tigers coach to get the best out of his players against an understrength Knights. Tigers by quite a few.

> Selection & Fantasy News (Updated May 19): As mentioned above Kurt Gidley won't play as he's skippering NSW in Origin 1 and there's no Mullen, De Gois or Taia for the Knights. Newcastle also lost Shannon McDonnell to a knee injury and Evarn Tuimavave to a snapped achilles tendon. The Tigers won't have Liam Fulton or Blake Ayshford who both were injured against South Sydney but promote impressive English recruit Mark Flanagan to the backrow and give the speedy Geoff Daniela a chance in the centres for Ayshford. Youngster Simon Dwyer also joins the bench with possible debutant Josh Davis for the Tigers. (Check back on Friday for the latest information with help from the SMH's Late Mail).

<> Market Watch: PAR $1.30 v CRO $3.50

> Tuesday Preview: Parramatta have lost Jarryd Hayne & Timana Tahu to NSW but get Eric Grothe back from injury - so they are in good shape for the Origin period. The Sharks didn't have a player picked in either Origin side initially but Trent Barrett has been called up as the standby five-eighth for NSW should Tahu not be fit. It is a disruption the Sharks don't need and coach Ricky Stuart probably expected to lose Paul Gallen instead of his skipper. Cronulla blooded another rookie at fullback with Nathan Gardner not looking out of place in the top grade but the Sharks attack looks promising for the opening few sets and then uninspiring for the rest of the match. Cronulla's strength is their backrow yet they rely on them far too much in attack when they really don't offer a great deal of variety on the edges... Parramatta played superbly v Manly at Brookvale and even without Hayne & Tahu - their second phase play will be too much for the Sharks to beat. Eels in a close one at Parramatta Stadium.

> Selection & Fantasy News (Updated May 19): With Hayne & Tahu out for the Eels they put rookie Tom Humble (who impressed on debut v Manly at five-eighth) at fullback and Krisnan Inu moves to the centres with Grothe coming onto the wing. Outside back Jonathon Wright is on the bench as cover for Grothe. Cronulla named the same 17 that was beaten 34-14 by Penrith but if Barrett stays in camp with NSW then look for either early season discard Scott Porter to get the call up or John Morris will shift to five-eighth from hooker allowing Paul Aiton to start. (Check back on Friday for the latest information with help from the SMH's Late Mail).

<> Market Watch: STI $1.75 v CAN $2.08

> Tuesday Preview: Canberra should enter this game with some confidence despite playing some ordinary football against the Storm at home last Saturday Night. The reason is they've got a good recent record against the Dragons and St.George-Illawarra won't have Ben Creagh, Neville Costigan, Michael Weyman, Brett Morris, Matt Cooper or Darius Boyd who are playing Origin. That means a host of fill-ins for the Dragons - although getting Beau Scott back from injury is a bonus. Canberra need to open up their game plan for a start but their big man centric plan might work against the Dragons at WIN if errors don't dominate. St.George-Illawarra still have Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby & Luke Priddis so their structure in the basics will remain but they've lost their entire left side attack... and that's their go-to strength in attack. Big game for Dan Hunt who has played well enough this season to enter into NSW calculations if injury hits any of the Game One starters. Canberra on the road in a nail biter.

> Selection & Fantasy News (Updated May 19): St.George-Illawarra lose their six man Origin contingent and replace them with Scott, Kyle Stanley, Michael Lett, Nick Emmett, Ricky Thorby & Trent Merrin in the run on team. Forwards Jarrod Saffy & Jake Marketo join the bench. Canberra got Joel Monaghan back from a busted thumb last week but lost Tom Learoyd-Lahrs & David Shillington to Origin - Joe Picker will start, while Brett Kelly, Danny Galea & Sam Mataora join the bench. Travis Waddell is also out for the Raiders, while there's still no sign of Alan Tongue. David Furner has incidated that although he wasn't named, Shaun Fensom a big chance of starting at lock with Trevor Thurling moving to the prop rotation. (Check back on Friday for the latest information with help from the SMH's Late Mail).

<> Market Watch: PEN $1.38 v CBY $3.05.

> Tuesday Preview: One tough game to pick. On form you have to take the home side Penrith but the Bulldogs played well in their loss to the Dragons... and then there's the Origin factor. Penrith have lost Petero Civoniceva, Luke Lewis & Trent Waterhouse, while Canterbury wave goodbye to Michael Ennis, Brett Kimmorley & Jamal Idris. If you weighed up the value lost - you'd come out fairly even, so this game comes down to the class left on both teams. That sees the advantage go to Canterbury who still have Josh Morris, Luke Patten and Ben Barba (who is finally starting at halfback) vs Michael Jennings, Lachlan Coote & Frank Pritchard (returning from injury). Halfback Luke Walsh's kicking game could decide this but even with this being at CUA Stadium - Canterbury's pack looks strong with David Stagg, Andrew Ryan & maybe Ben Hannant playing, Barba will get plenty of ball and feed the likes of Patten, Morris & Goodwin all night and I'm taking the Bulldogs by a dozen.

> Selection & Fantasy News (Updated May 19): Ben Hannant is a chance of making a comeback from a knee injury given the game is on a Monday but the Bulldogs have still got a number of big outs with Ennis, Kimmorley & Idris playing for NSW. Dene Halatau goes to hooker, Shane Neumann covers centre and Ben Barba is at halfback. Rookie Jake Foster comes onto the bench alongside former Panther Joel Romelo. Penrith promote Matt Bell, Nathan Smith and get Pritchard back to replace their Origin players. Joseph Paulo, Frank Puletua & Wade Graham join the bench. (Check back on Friday for the latest information with help from the SMH's Late Mail).

@ ANZ Stadium Wednesday May 26. 8:10pm Kick-Off.

<> Market Watch: GAME ONE: NSW $2.12 v QLD $1.72 v DRAW $21. / SERIES: QLD $1.70 v NSW $2.15

> Tuesday Preview: We'll have a comprehensive preview up on the Weekend for State of Origin Game One - for our initial views check out NOT The Footy Show Episodes 20 & 21.

NSW: K Gidley (c), B Morris, M Cooper, T Tahu, J Hayne, J Lyon, B Kimmorley, M Weyman, M Ennis, J Perry, T Waterhouse, B Creagh, A Watmough. Bench: J Idris, T Learoyd-Lahrs, L Lewis, B White. Emergencies: T Barrett & B Finch.

QLD: B Slater, D Boyd, G Inglis, W Tonga, I Folau, D Lockyer (c), J Thurston, M Scott, C Smith, P Civoniceva, N Myles, S Thaiday, A Harrison. Bench: C Cronk, D Shillington, D Taylor, N Costigan. Emergencies: B Te'o & M Ballin.