‘Audentes Fortuna iuvat’ or the more commonly known English phrase, fortune favours the bold, refers to a reason why one should perform an action or encourage someone to perform an action.

Alexander the Great who was the King of the Ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedon, for example, used risky yet effective military tactics to one-up his opponent.

He led every military campaign in his life and unlike Julius Caesar fought on the front lines fighting fire with his own fire.

Now, I’m sure you didn’t come here to read about Roman history but there’s a correlation between that and the way Queensland and Billy Slater think.

This Queensland side – compared to New South Wales – is more improvisational, and shall I say risky.

There are more mavericks, more game-breakers – and some might say more of those who have a laissez-faire mentality.

The selection of Reece Walsh for a start is bold. He is fourth in the competition this year for errors. Yet he has scored nine tries in his nine games and set up four himself.

Slater could have indeed selected Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who is a much safer approach as he is 78th in the competition for errors compared to Walsh.

Furthermore, it’s as bold as it gets when it comes to the selection of Selwyn Cobbo on the bench. He is not a utility player, he is a specialist back to cover potential injury. A bold, brave, courageous selection.

The members of this spine, however, are experienced veterans who are building a bubble around the mavericks and the risk-takers. For example, Daly Cherry-Evans is going into his 18th straight State of Origin game, and his 23rd overall.

Ben Hunt is playing his 18th State of Origin game since debuting in Game 3 of 2017.

Harry Grant is playing his ninth game for Queensland arguably the best hooker in the game bar none.

Not to forget Thomas Dearden who has already played a game for Queensland with DCE as a halves combination.

In 324 BC, Alexander the Great stood up and looked at the faces of his Macedonian army. He had seen these faces many times before. Seven years earlier before the battle of Gaugamela, Alexander saw in the faces of these same men a fierce love and a resolute spirit that led to a decisive victory for his army against the Persian king.

So too will Billy Slater, come Wednesday week.

He will have the same faces in his camp, the same faces in the change rooms before kick-off and just like Queensland has been forever, they have been ultimately staunch in picking and sticking and rarely yield despite David Fifita and Dane Gagai in recent years.

As for the non-selection of Fifita this year, Slater has selected soldiers who just like Alexander he would fight with.

J’maine Hopgood is certainly that guy. Hopgood on the stats alone averages 38 post-contact meters, 37 tackles per game and nearly two offloads per game.

New South Wales’ theory relates to ‘fortes Fortuna adiuvat’. This Latin phrase translates to fortune favours the strong.

This has been their approach for years now. The likes of Mark Carroll, Paul Harragon, Steve Roach, Junior Paulo, Tevita Pangai Jr and now Spencer Leniu and Haumole Olakau’atu show a reliance on power south of the Tweed.

A four-forward bench is also a gamble, however, it reflects their game plan; almost mirroring that of rugby union’s Springboks in the past six years, playing a power game.

If the stats reflect post-contact metres (PCM) in this New South Wales side, then these examples read like so:

Payne Haas = 58.67 average PCMs

Isaah Yeo = 53.50 average PCMs

Haumole Olakau’atu = 65.30 average PCMs

The New South Wales side indeed the spine is very safe no thrills no spills. Dylan Edwards has only made seven errors this season and averages twenty-three carries a game.

Reece Robson is second in the number of tackles made this season yet has only averaged six runs a game to that of Harry Grant who averages nine runs out of acting half a game.

As for Nicho Hynes and Jarome Luai, they are the no-frills sort of halves who play their roles consistently at club level.

But does this relate to State of Origin?

Their outside backs are incredibly powerful and strong runners of the football. Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards both average the highest amount of run meters in the competition with Zac Lomax not too far behind.

The Blues approach is simple use power to get down the other end of the football field to make up for the lack of creativity, spark and spontaneity that they give way to Queensland.

This State of Origin series will be fascinating to see which approach works best in this environment.

Will Billy’s Maroons outsmart and outskill – or will Madge’s Blues outpower?

Enjoy your Origin football.