Who replaces Snake, Merritt ready?

Down and out ... Brett Stewart is expected to miss Origin I. Source: Robb Cox / AAP

Brett Stewart will miss the State of Origin opener with a back injury - so who will take his place?

Guest host Mark Gottlieb joins Christian Jantzen and Gerard Middleton to examine who is going to fill the void left by Stewart in game one.

The boys examine whether Nathan Merritt is ready to step up for the Blues, and ask, how would Sir Alex Ferguson have fared if he coached in the NRL?

Plus they'll preview all the round nine action in the NRL including the Monday Night Football blockbuster between Manly and the Roosters.

To hear the full discussion, subscribe free to the weekly rugby league podcast – There's Always Next Week – which you'll find on iTunes: http://bit.ly/11QaDoE