6 hours ago
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Follow Daily Mail Australia's live blog for all the updates and scores from the first game of this year's State of Origin series as the Cane Toads look to get past the scandal surrounding coach Billy Slater and level the series.
Looking for a skillful, fast-flowing game? We have some bad news...
There's a 90 per cent chance of rain in Perth at kickoff time, and a quick look at the rain radar just showed pockets of downpours coursing over the city.
This year's first Origin match was deservedly panned for being a low-quality affair full of handling errors and poor discipline, making it more like a club game than footy's biggest attraction - and now there are decent odds the second rubber will be a dour and conservative affair due to the weather.
Paul Green's family break their silence
Green's brother Rick has spoken out after Billy Slater called the late coach's wife Amanda (pictured together, below) to apologise 'for any hurt' his comments caused the family.
'The family regrets that Paul's name was brought into the current narrative and the manner this has been done,' Rick Green told the Sydney Morning Herald.
'The family wants to reiterate that we love Queensland and its team. We also bear great respect for the person charged with the team's performance.
'It was unfortunate that Mr Slater made the reference that he did, but he has responded appropriately and apologised without reservation.
'We sincerely wish him the best in his role as the coach of our state team.'
A look back at the biggest story of Origin so far
It was one of the quietest and safest build-ups to Origin for years - until Billy Slater brought footy legend Paul Green's tragic death into it as he hit back at Aaron Woods.
The former NSW star had branded Slater a grub - and despite having a week to prepare his comeback, the Queensland coach got it horribly wrong on Tuesday afternoon.
By this morning he was issuing a public apology after calling Green's widow to apologise for any hurt he'd caused the family.
The view from Perth
This shot was taken not too long ago at Optus Stadium, with all 60,000 seats sold out for tonight's match.
G'day and welcome
Thanks for joining Daily Mail Australia's coverage of game two of this year's Origin series.
NSW are just 80 minutes away from sewing up their second straight series victory and they're clear favourites with the bookies.
But Queensland are just where they want to be - backs to the wall, absolute underdogs. And we've all seen what happens when the Maroons get written off.
