A mouthwatering match race clash between Jay Is Jay and Mackenna headlines next Thursday night's 2024 Origin Greyhound Series at Albion Park.
On Friday, Racing Queensland (RQ) and Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) revealed their respective teams for the three race series where an eye-watering $360,000 in prize money is up for grabs.
Leading the teams into battle for the sixth staging of the State Of Origin is Ben Hannant (Qld) and Laurie Daley (NSW).
Daley assumes the role for NSW following the shock recent passing of Terry Hill.
Headlining the Queensland contingent is superstar sprinter Jay Is Jay, the Million Dollar Chase hero selected to defend his Origin Match Race crown following his resounding victory last year over Simply Limelight.
The Albion Park track record holder will return from a stint on the sidelines in the Origin where he'll match motors with Golden Easter Egg winner Mackenna.
Former Maroons great Ben Hannant will once again take the coaching reins for Queensland, while Blues legend Laurie Daley will don the NSW coach's cap.
Hannant said Queensland's team had him full of confidence that the Sunshine State would retain bragging rights in 2024.
"We saw the Maroons dominate the Blues on the field in Sydney in Game One this week, and I have no doubt we will repeat those efforts on the track at Albion Park next Thursday night," Hannant said.
"It's fantastic to see Jay Is Jay back in the team after his stellar efforts in the Origin Match Race to help us claim the series last year, while I'm excited to see what Valpolicella can do in the Origin Distance race.
"While I'm confident Queensland will get the job done over NSW in Melbourne in Game Two, I'm even more convinced we can make it three straight series wins for Queensland at Albion Park next week."
Blues coach Laurie Daley said there would be some added motivation for the NSW team following the tragic passing of the team's inaugural coach Terry Hill.
"We all know ‘Tezza' was a long-time greyhound fan and he loved going up to Queensland every year to take part in this series, and getting amongst the punters on Origin night," Daley said.
"It's an impossible task to fill his big shoes but I will do my best to honour him with a victory for the Blues next Thursday.
"We have two of Australia's best chasers in Mackenna and Palawa King headlining the Blues team, and I'm confident we can wrestle back the Origin shield and take it back to where it belongs in New South Wales."
The Group 3 Origin Sprint and Origin Distance will again be run for $150,000 each, while the Listed Origin two-dog Match Race has a $60,000 purse on offer.
