State of Origin 2024 Man of the Series Tips - Who will win the Wally Lewis Medal?

Ryan Tucker

Editor

Last updated: 29 May 2024

Ryan Tucker 29 May 2024

Share this article

New South Wales Blues vs Queensland Maroons predictions for the 2024 State of Origin
Wally Lewis Medal awarded to State of Origin's best player
Reece Walsh is a top pick for QLD, Cameron McInnes is tipped for NSW

Expired

Reece Walsh set to have an influential series. (Getty Images)

Wally Lewis Medal Tips & Predictions

Craig Fitzgibbon won the 2004 Wally Lewis Medal in its inaugural year as the award to the player of the State of Origin series. Who will win the award in 2024?

Since 2004, it has been a medal dominated by the Queensland team who have had commanding success over the Blues over the past 20 years.

Over the past two seasons it has been awarded to two workhorses of the game and two men that will feature once again for the Queensland Maroons, Patrick Carrigan (2022) and Reuben Cotter (2023).

The effort needed to be the Man of the Series is set at a super-human level after Cotter in 2023. The Mackay junior averaged 45.33 Tackles per game in last year’s series, along with 109.33 Run Metres from 37 Hit Ups.

Who has the potential to win the 2024 Wally Lewis Medal?

Queensland - Reece Walsh (Fullback)

It may be premature in the Brisbane and Queensland fullback’s Origin career to win such a prestigious award that is going to require a massive performance in each of the three matches in this series.

However, it is time for Walsh to take that step and become the superstar that his potential suggests and this could very well be the series to do it.

The stage is set for the Nerang junior to step right into the limelight of Origin with the absence of five-eight Cameron Munster missing from the series. Walsh is being coached by arguably the best-ever fullback to play the game, Billy Slater, who won the Wally Lewis Medal back in 2018.

If anyone can get the most out of Walsh it is Billy the Kid and he will need his No. 1 to be the spark that Munster has left behind and break this series open with his unpredictable ability to run through holes and set up tries for his backs.

If Walsh can cross multiple times but more importantly be the link between his halves and the outside backs, we will see the youngest Wally Lewis Medalist be crowned.

New South Wales - Cameron McInnes (Lock)

Cameron McInnes will make his debut for the Blues at lock in 2024 and is arguably the best selection that new coach Michael Maguire has made, taking a tip from his opponents.

As mentioned above, Origin requires workers and there is probably no one in the NRL that works as hard as Cam McInnes does for the Sharks week in and week out. He is a wholehearted team man that puts his teammates first and his body and smile last.

McInnes is exactly what it means to play Origin and should have been in the NSW side a long time ago.

The Blues are going to need efforts like his if they are going to stand a chance and break the two-year drought against the Queenslanders. The inspiration that the Botany Ram provides could spark NSW to an underdog victory.

Verdict

2024 State of Origin

Reece Walsh is the QLD pick for the Wally Lewis Medal.

Cam McInnes is the NSW pick for the Wally Lewis Medal.

Reece Walsh

Wally Lewis Medal

@5/1 - 1 Unit

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Bet at bet365

Cam McInnes

Wally Lewis Medal

@40/1 - 1 Unit

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Bet at bet365