Channel Nine star sends male footy fans a warning about the horrific dark side of State of Origin

Channel Nine star Marlee Silva has sent a blunt message to men ahead of the Origin decider on Wednesday night in Sydney - domestic violence is never acceptable.

It follows concerning figures from recent years when NSW and Queensland battle for interstate footy glory.

'Dear men, tonight is State of Origin,' began Silva's Instagram post, which she shared from another account.

'2018 data tells us that domestic violence will spike by up to 40 per cent today.

'Your mate may be a perpetrator of violence against women or children.

'Your behaviour, language and the standard you accept matters... always, but especially on days like today.'

Back in 2018, Michael Thorn of the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education said there was a relationship between Origin games and an increase in domestic violence.

'The drivers are complex and many,' he said at the time.

'However, the disturbing findings suggest the State of Origin's particular celebration of heavy drinking, masculinity, tribalism and the toxic level of aggressive alcohol promotion have collided in such a way as to encourage drinking to excess and domestic violence.'

Last year, MP Zali Steggall stated on X when Origin is on 'alcohol and gambling are known drivers of domestic violence' - before urging the federal government to tackle the multibillion-dollar alcohol and gambling industries.

Simon Port, the Manager of Violence Prevention at EveryMan, told the ABC violence is never the answer.

'Violence is a choice and so is behaviour,' he said.

'(We need to) get our frontal cortex back in gear - our thinking brain - so we can make better choices.' 

Port recommended strategies such as limiting alcohol consumption and preparing for the final result.

Meanwhile, both teams aren't expected to make any late selection changes, as the Blues look to go back-to-back after winning the 2024 series.

In an ominous statistic, no Queensland team dating back 45 years has lost the first game and then gone on to win the next two games away from home.

Queensland coach Billy Slater has confirmed Cameron Munster will play, despite the five-eighth leaving camp to be with his family following the sudden death of his father Steven on Sunday.

Daily Mail Australia will have a live blog to follow all the action online, with TV coverage on Channel Nine from 7pm.

Kick-off is 8.05pm AEDT.