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.