A WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS SPECIAL EVENT

Special time 7.00pm Wednesday – Exclusively live & free

The stage is set for the ultimate showdown when Nine’s Wide World of Sports presents State of Origin – The Decider, exclusively LIVE and FREE on Wednesday, July 12, at 7.00pm.

Bringing fans more Origin than ever with an extended 30 minutes of pre-show coverage and a special tribute to Johnathan Thurston, Nine will have all angles covered in a colossal broadcast for The Decider.

The voice of rugby league, Ray “Rabs” Warren, will call the action from the spiritual home of Origin, “The Cauldron”, Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, alongside Peter Sterling, Phil Gould and Paul Vautin.

James Bracey will host Nine’s exclusive coverage, flanked by rugby league Immortals Andrew “Joey” Johns and Wally “The King” Lewis, along with Origin legends Darren Lockyer and Brad Fittler.

Johns, the last NSW halfback to win a series-deciding Origin match, gave his insight into how the Blues can conquer Queensland on their home turf for the second time in the 2017 series. 

“The blueprint was Origin I – they need to get through their sets and power through the middle with their forwards, who I believe hold an advantage. After they win the battle upfront they have to turn the ball back on the inside and challenge the mobility and fatigue of Queensland’s forwards with NSW speed men like James Tedesco.

“It’s really important that they cut out the stupid errors, and I wouldn’t go targeting anyone from Queensland in particular. It needs to be a total team performance for 80 minutes, and if they can do this then the shield will be on its way back to NSW.”

Lockyer, a former Queensland captain, said: “I think NSW played poorly in the second half of Origin II and left the door wide open for Queensland. Without Johnathan Thurston it’s going be a tough task, but that’s what we have always thrived on.

“Cameron Munster and Ben Hunt make their debuts, while Michael Morgan needs to step up as a playmaker in the absence of Thurston. I like the style of players they are, they’re all physically strong despite their size, and more importantly they’re instinctive footballers.

“I’m confident that Queensland can get the job done. Morgan, Munster and Hunt are genuine footballers who won’t be overawed by the occasion. Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater will make them comfortable.”

Viewers can get up-to-date scores, tackles and live commentary with Wide World of Sports on social media: LIKE the big moments on Facebook and Instagram. Join the chat on Twitter using #Origin.

STATE OF ORIGIN – THE DECIDER, COUNTDOWN ON NINE:

• SIX TACKLES WITH GUS – Nine’s James Bracey talks the biggest rugby league issues of the week with NRL legend and expert commentator Phil Gould on Six Tackles with Gus.

  This week: All the excitement ahead of The Decider; and Gus weighs in on the NRL pay dispute

  Podcast available for download here: The Decider – State of Origin preview: Six Tackles with Gus
  

• NRL FOOTY SHOW – Tonight, Thursday, July 6, at 8.30pm. The 11-time Logie Award-winning NRL Footy Show leads off in the build-up to The Decider when Darren Lockyer and Konrad Hurrell join the panel, while Billy Slater and James Maloney cross live from both NSW and Queensland Origin camps.
• SPORTS SUNDAY – Sunday, July 9, at 10.00am. Frank and open debate on all the big issues in the week of sport. Ian Healy, Adam MacDougall, Candice Warner and Andrew Webster join Emma Freedman.

• SUNDAY NRL FOOTY SHOW – SOO Preview, Sunday, July 9, at 11.00am. Host James Bracey is joined by Origin legends Wally Lewis, Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Paul Gallen as well as Jillaroos star Allana Ferguson.

Broadcast Times

Wednesday, July 12, 2017
State of Origin – The Decider
XXXX Queensland Maroons vs VB NSW Blues

Sydney                    7.00pm LIVE on Nine

Brisbane                  7.00pm LIVE on Nine

Melbourne               7.00pm LIVE on Nine

Adelaide                  7.00pm LIVE on Nine

Perth                       5.30pm LIVE on Nine