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We will be farewelling at least three Origin ‘bad guys’ tonight, in what looms as perhaps the best Origin finale ever.
The three guys wearing the black hats are Maroons veterans Justin Hodges and Corey Parker, and NSW skipper Paul Gallen.
STATE OF ORIGIN LIVE SCORES – GAME 3
None of this trio ever would figure on my Christmas card list. But next year, when they are gone, I will miss them. Big time.
More 2015 State of Origin:
» State of Origin news
» State of Origin fixtures
» State of Origin teams
» State of Origin 2015: Game 3 preview
» Why NSW will win Game 3
» Why the Maroons will win Game 3
Centre Hodges has been there for 13 years, 22 games, and perhaps 187 sledges of anyone in a blue jumper. Love or loathe him, this guy has been truly great for the Maroons.
Back-rower Parker began playing for Queensland when his hair was sandy brown. Now that hair is silver, but he’s still a bloody good player with a phenomenal ability to pop a pass.
Does anyone respect him? Well, Blues’ enforcer David Klemmer clearly does not, and you can lay bets there will be dramas between the pair tonight. Bring those on.
Paul Gallen. The most despised man in Queensland. He probably loves that monicker. And it has been hard won.
There has got to be zero chance that Gallen’s injury-battered body will make it to the 2016 Origin series. Good luck tonight Gal, but it will be the press or TV commentary box for you at this time next year.
Gallen’s body is pretty much gone, and he’ll be battling to finish this club season, let alone another for his beloved Cronulla Sharks. But he has been there when NSW needed his brand of steel. On his watch, the tide has been turning from maroon to a distinct blue-ish hue.
I have never been a huge fan of Gallen’s limited football skills, yet I have always marvelled at his incredible motor and toughness. He is the epitome of an Origin player. Unquestionably one of NSW’s most effective, ever.
The baton changes are obvious. Origin veterans have to move on. But if two Queensland mainstays depart, it must be good for the NSW Blues who have been waiting impatiently for the Maroons to wither away.
So, we are going to watch at least three Origin stars depart the scene tonight, but who wins the game?
I say Queensland by eight. The Maroons halves are lightyears ahead of their Blues equivalents on the score of skill and spontaneity.
There will be a fierce forward battle from go to whoa, but Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk are the Origin superstars, while the Mitchell Pearce-Trent Hodkinson combination is make-shift and just not up to it.
Gazing into my crystal ball, I see NSW enjoying the better of the first half on the strength of their young and mobile forward pack. But in the second, the Maroons will hit back and lay the necessary platform for Cronk and Thurston.
I’m tipping perhaps the most physical forwards battle ever, but it will all boil down to the numbers 6 and 7.
Extra time or otherwise, Queensland just win. They have cannons while NSW will be relying on water pistols.
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