The series might be decided, but there are no dead rubbers in Origin, and you can expect a battle next Wednesday night... well, wherever they decide to play the game. Let's say, for now... Newcastle.
Queensland rang the most changes, with Kalyn Ponga coming back into their side and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow named to debut in the centres. For the first time this year, New South Wales had to shake things up as well: Mitchell Moses is in for Blues.
That means winners and losers galore, even before a ball has been kicked. Here they are!
Winner: Queensland
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Look, this series has been a smash up for the Maroons, and that has largely been because of the Blues halves. Sure, it's easy to see the flashy stuff that Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell get up to, but the Penrith duo of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai haven't lost a single game this year in the NRL or Origin, so them both missing out is a huge win for the Maroons.
The game being played in Newcastle could entice a more partisan crowd to come out for what is likely the only Origin they'll ever get, but let's be real: it's not going to be 80,000 fans in Sydney.
Loser: Newcastle
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Yes, it might be great that Newcastle are probably going to host this year's Game 3, but realistically, they'd probably rather win a few games of NRL. Bearing that in mind, Kalyn Ponga getting picked when he's barely back from a lengthy injury is hardly good news for the Knights, and presumably, the vast majority who would attend a Newcastle-based Origin game are also Knights fans. Daniel Saifiti is injured for the Blues too, which doesn't bode well for the Novocastrians' run to the Finals.
Winner: Tom Trbojevic
Tommy T wins all the time at the moment - the Sea Eagles have lost once since he recovered from taking second a pre-season 100m race with a punter down Manly Corso - and his eyes will be lighting up at the prospect of facing Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow next Wednesday night.
The Cowboys centre is probably best off as a fullback, where he doesn't have to defend in the line, and the idea that QLD will run him directly against the single hottest attacking player in the world is bonkers.
Loser: Ronaldo Mulitalo
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He's actually a winner, because he doesn't have to play for this Queensland team. Not that it will cheer him up: the Sharkies winger was denied his attempt to get an exemption to achieve his lifelong dream of playing for the Maroons. Turns out that to play for Queensland, you have to be from Queensland. Who knew?
Now, like Homer Simpson, he can adjust his lifelong dreams to "achieving his many goals", and hope that one of them is appearing for one of New Zealand, Samoa or the United States, who he is actually eligible to represent.
Featured Image Credit: NRLTopics: Rugby League, nrl, Australia