Maroonwash

Ah yes, it's that time of the year. Time for the Mighty Maroons from Queensland to show those pesky cockroaches who the best state is. Time for both sets of fans cheer on their team in the decid.... errr hang on. What's that? Queensland have already won the series? Well why the hell are we going around again?

I'll tell you why... MAROONWASH! Queensland are out to win the series 3-0 and inflict the ultimate humiliation on the pensioners, powder puffs and marshmallows (oh, and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, the only player who doesn't fall into the aforementioned categories) from New South Wales. And achieve it they will. I'm fully expecting Queensland to celebrate their record 4th consecutive series victory in the most emphatic of ways.

Some will say that this result was inevitable, and that NSW never stood a chance against the might of one of the greatest Queensland sides ever assembled. Excuses. The real fact is the NSW selectors have failed right from the outset. Game I, and despite being the better performed of the halves, Terry Campese is dropped for failing to lead NSW to victory. This despite the fact NSW selectors promised they were looking to the future and would show faith in the 17 selected regardless of the result.

In fact, the NSW selectors have shown so little faith in their initial squad that at the end of the series they will have used 30 players. That's an average of 6 changes per game. Some faith. The worst part of this though was that they dropped some players while others - playing just as badly - seem untouchable. Kurt Gidley remains at fullback despite being absolutely awful. Don't get me started on the selections of Josh Perry and Brett White.

I've yet to mention the practice of NSW selecting injured players. By all reports, 5 or 6 players were unable to train right up to Origin II. Peter Wallace actually played injured, and failed miserably. Despite that, they are destined to repeat the same mistake with Kurt Gidley tonight also due to play injured, having not trained all week.

It's enough to make me almost feel sorry for NSW supporters... until I remember that they are NSW supporters, that is. So for those cockroaches amongst us, read it and weep:

2006 - Queensland 2-1
2007 - Queensland 2-1
2008 - Queensland 2-1
2009 - Queensland 3-0

skeepe's prediction: Queensland 42-16 New South Wales, FTS: Greg Inglis MOTM: Johnathon Thurston