Wide World of Sports presents STATE OF ORIGIN

With New South Wales hellbent on reclaiming the crown of interstate rugby league supremacy, the Nine Network will broadcast game one of the 2007 State of Origin series exclusively live from 7.30pm tomorrow night at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Nine’s Wide World of Sports will bring viewers the best seat in the Origin arena as the Wizard NSW Blues – blooding a new halfback in Jarrod Mullen – strive to go one-up in the series over the XXXX Queensland Maroons.

Ken Sutcliffe will host Nine’s bumper broadcast, with Ray Warren calling the play – his 58 th State of Origin match – and State of Origin legends Peter Sterling, Paul Vautin and Andrew Johns bringing their vast experience to the commentary team, along with former Blues coach Phil Gould.

Together Gould and Vautin notched up 33 games as Origin coaches, while Sterling, Vautin, Andrew Johns, his brother Matthew and Ben Ikin (who are also on the commentary team) played a total of 79 games in Origin.

Matthew Johns and Ben Ikin will be on hand for Nine’s pre-game, half-time and post-match coverage, analysing the big plays, while Andrew Voss reports from the dressing rooms and conducts post-match interviews.

The commentary team will have access to Maroons coach Mal Meninga as well as Blues coach Graham Murray. And Nine will also catch up with the family (all 20 of them) of Blues rookie, Jarrod Mullen.

As always, viewers can expect a huge battle between New South Wales and Queensland. After the dramatic end to the Origin decider last year that gave the Maroons the series in the dying minutes, the Blues will be fired up to regain the Origin title.

This year Nine’s Origin coverage will begin with a new “virtual” opening segment in which Matthew Johns joins the two teams on the field back in game three in Melbourne last year – at the crucial moment when a wayward pass gave Queensland the game and series.

For the first time ever, a new camera called Tracking Rail Cam will be used in Nine’s coverage tomorrow night. This technology, adapted from the military, features a track from one end of Suncorp Stadium to the other with a camera mounted on it. The camera can move at high speed, providing higher quality pictures that will revolutionise the Origin experience for viewers. With 27 cameras and more than 120 Wide World of Sports staff at the ground, Nine’s coverage will guarantee viewers the best seat in the house for the best representative contest in rugby league: the supreme test, mate against mate, State against State.

The Nine Network will broadcast game two of the 2007 State of Origin series from Sydney’s Telstra Stadium on Wednesday, June 13, and the third match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Wednesday, July 4.

*Please note: Viewers should check local guides for full telecast details.