Two of the biggest names in the game are back, but it will it be enough to stop the NSW Blues attack when Queensland heroes Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston return in State of Origin Game II –  exclusively LIVE and FREE on Nine next Wednesday, June 21, at 7.30pm.
 
The voice of rugby league, Ray “Rabs” Warren, will call the action from from ANZ Stadium in Sydney alongside Peter Sterling, Phil Gould and Paul Vautin.

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

Lockyer, a former Queensland captain, explained what the Maroons must do to stop a NSW series win and force a Game III decider on their home turf at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

“The Queensland forward pack is mostly new to the arena but their great energy will account for what they lack in experience. Over the years Queensland have proven that they can perform when their backs are against the wall and this is the case now. Expect a much closer outcome this time around.”

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 II 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: Will Queensland’s team changes be enough to win Origin II? Queensland’s lack of up-and-coming talent; and Gus reminisces about his time coaching the NSW Origin side.

Podcast available for download here: Origin II Special – Six Tackles with Gus 

• SPORTS SUNDAY – Sunday, June 18, at 10.00am. Frank and open debate on all the big issues in the week of sport. Wally Lewis and Sharni Layton join Peter FitzSimons, Neil Breen and Emma Freedman.

• SUNDAY NRL FOOTY SHOW – SOO Preview, Sunday, June 18, at 11.00am. Host James Bracey is joined by Origin legends Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer and Brad Fittler as well as Jillaroos star Allana Ferguson.

• WWOS.NINE.COM.AU – Wide World of Sports will have expert analysis before and after Origin II and Origin III, with Gus Gould to pen an exclusive column on Wednesday and Thursday on top of his Six Tackles with Gus podcast. David Middleton will run his rule over the key statistics that will determine the Maroons’ and Blues’ fate, while the WWOS team will have the latest news about each side in the lead-up to the match. 

• NINE NEWS, week nights from 6.00pm – Your favourite nightly news service will deliver the most up-to-date news leading into Origin II. Led by Cameron Williams and Wally Lewis, Nine’s expert rugby league reporters Danny Weidler, Neil Breen, Julie Snook and Danika Mason will have all the biggest stories from either side of the border.

• NRL FOOTY SHOW – SOO Special, Thursday, June 22, at 8.30pm – The 11-time Logie Award-winning NRL Footy Show State of Origin Special will have all angles covered following Origin II with the raw emotion captured through exclusive post-match interviews – giving viewers unrivalled access to the best players in the game from the sheds at ANZ Stadium.

Broadcast Times

Wednesday, June 21, 2017
State of Origin Game II
VB NSW Blues vs XXXX Queensland Maroons 

Sydney                    7.30pm LIVE on Nine 
Brisbane                  7.30pm LIVE on Nine 
Melbourne               7.30pm LIVE on Nine
Adelaide                  7.30pm LIVE on Nine
Perth                        5.30pm LIVE on Nine

For further information please contact:  
Ryley McKay  
Nine Network Publicity
rmckay@nine.com.au 
02 9965 2727 

Friday, 16 June 2017