Origin 3

Glenn Stewart out, Beau Scott in and Trent Merrin cut from the squad. Tony Williams is back on the bench. Brett Morris in and Aku Uate dropped. Billy Slater out, Dave Taylor out, Dane Nielson to the centres and GI to Fullback. Ben Te'o moves onto the bench to make his debut. Ash Harrison out and Corey Parker back into the side.

I expected some minor changes for both sides due to injury but not due to form. So much for loyalty, that goes for both sides. Dave Taylor is a classic example. Queensland would tell you how 'loyal' they are and stick with him despite his below average game in Sydney. They are feeling the pressure, believe me when I say that.

I can't work out the decision to drop Trent Merrin. 2 years in a row he has been good enough for the first two games of the series and suddenly dropped for the decider. While he hasn't been brilliant, Ricky Stuart has not been let down by him. He has been a mile better than his team mates Ben Creagh and Beau Scott at club level so he should feel a bit jaded.

All of my cynicism aside, I simply cannot wait for these two sides to get in on. It took a perfect 40 minutes from the Maroons last year to defeat the Blues. I don't think it will happen again. If the Blues weather the storm in the early exchanges they have the speed out wide and the impact off the bench to get the job done.

Tony Williams with a 30 minute burst in the back end of each halves will be a nightmare for QLD based on what we saw against the Roosters. Big plus for the side.

Everyone is talking up the Blues and they have looked the goods this series. QLD won't have a bar of that. They will lift at 'Lang Park' and if the Blues win, they will deserve it.

If NSW hesitate, they lose. If they think twice, QLD will make them pay.

REMEMBER: THERE IS NO FINISH LINE IN ORIGIN !

ORIGIN IS A SCARY PLACE TO BE ! The stakes can't get any higher than this.  It is a scary arena to play on but they are buoyed by the challenge. The challenge to be State of Origin Champions will drive these men to come up with efforts they didn't even realise they were capable of. It's a case of high risk = high reward.

BATTLES ARE WON IN THE HEARTS OF MEN ! Everyone knows Rugby League is a tough game, the 34 men taking part in the game on Wednesday know it better then anyone. Individual brilliance won't get NSW or QLD home, picking your mate up off the deck and pushing forward to the next tackle, taking that courage run to get your side out of trouble will get the job done. 1%'ers will decide interstate supremacy.

NSW will win the series.

Around The Grounds.

Here are a few shots I have taken from the past couple of days. Origin Wednesday was simply the greatest experience I have ever had as a Rugby League fan. I earge any sports fan to put it on your bucket list. The only disappiontment was the next morning when I discovered there was no tickets available for Game 3 in Brisbane. That will be the next thing to tick off the list.

The return to WIN Stadium on Friday night was another good experience. I got there early so i could get down to ground level and get a really good look at the new grandstand. WIN Stadium is one of the most pictureesque grounds in the NRL. It was a place growing up that I always wanted to play at. Being located right on the beach in the heart of Wollongong says it all. Would love to see the Steelers become a stand alone team once more but I won't hold my breath.

Sunday afternoon at Leichhardt Oval. Just a fantastic place to watch the Tigers go round. Arriving early, the anticipation from the locals is unreal. They are lined up at the gates nice and early to secure the best spot on the hill. Home owners in the surrounding streets fire up the BBQ and earn some money selling a few sausage sanga's to the fans on the way to the ground. Grandstand on one side, hill on the other with a bar and food kiosk. Thats what a footy ground should be (take note teams who play at ANZ). Meeting Tigers legend Ellery Hanley was another great experience. A really nice bloke who just loves his Rugby League.

It turned into being a very emotional day. The Grand Final loss in '89 every Balmain boy cried when Canberra stole the Premiership from the Tigers. Robbie Farah's Mother Sonia passed away just hours before kick off and believe me, it rocked the team and you could see it during the moment of silence. Benji Marshall was shedding tears during the moment of silence before kick off. Beau Ryan spoke pre-game to the team about pulling together to support Farah through such a difficult time. Any rumors about a rift between the players earlier in the year is way off the mark, you only had to watch the game today and listen to the press conferences post match to realise the bond between this group of men.

I am really starting to warm to the Bulldogs as a genuine threat to win the Premiership. The style of game Des Hasler has implemented is a testament to how good he is as a football coach. With big game experience as a coach, expect Canterbury to be there at the pointy end when the whips are cracking.

Brisbane need to get past Origin and we will get an accurate gauge on their form. If they produce close to their best in September, they are a hard side to contain.

It will be interesting to see how Melbourne cope without Billy Slater. Gareth Widdop is a very good fullback in his own right but how will this effect the overall balance of the team? A big chance for chasing teams to get into minor premiership contention.

Souths are going along nicely. Will get some big games back in a month or so and they can build for September football from there. Greg Inglis will have an enormous say in how far this team goes.

Cronulla have the mental toughness that every coach wants from their side. No Gallen yesterday and they were still able to fight back against the Warriors and come away with the two points. Not 100% convinced they can genuinely challenge for their maiden premiership but they will be a really tough side to beat.

Origin 2

Its on again and we keep hearing about seven straight series being on the line. Sydney will host Game 2 and if you thought Game 1 was good, business is about to pick up.

Tim who? some of you are saying. He is a big bloke from the foot of the mountains and his job will be easy. Run hard and tackle his guts out. He doesn't need to do any thing fancy, leave that to the other blokes.

Paul Gallen back at lock and Luke Lewis back to the bench with Watmough there for this game is a big plus. There is more starch and impact coming from the interchange. This was an area that was lacking in Game 1 and with the performances of  James Tamou and debutante Tim Grant in recent weeks it has allowed Ricky Stuart to tinker with the balance of his football side. Its still a very dangerous football side at the end of the day.

Watmough is the big plus for the Blues. He is taylor-made for the style of play Stuart is trying to get his side to play. Fast footwork at the line, good leg drive and physicality. Don't be fooled by the number 11 jersey he wears for the Sea-Eagles each week, he is as fast as most centres in the competition. Watch Game 3 of 2009 and you will see the devastating entity that is 'Choc Watmough'

I still need to see something from Ben Creagh for his selection to be justified. He is a good club footballer but coming into his tenth Origin game he hasn't really left me thinking that he had a really good game. Solid in all of his games without being spectacular would be a good way to sum up his Origin career. Back pedalling from Justin Hodges a few years back has left him with a reputation that he is soft.

Im glad that injury has been the only real reason for change in the side. Wholesale change wasn't necessary and Buhrer's selection wasn't needed this time round due to Farah being capable of playing 80 minutes. That saves up 2 interchanges to keep the forwards fresh and that enhances the quality that they will be able to produce. If Farah does need a spell Luke Lewis or Greg Bird can come in and pass the ball from dummy half.

Going to be a great game and I can't wait for it. Im sure you are all thinking the same so UP THE BLUES!!!