What's at stake in Origin game three?

Bragging rights are at stake when New South Wales take on Queensland for game three of the Origin series. If you don’t think this is what the series is about, then you are probably from Melbourne.

Game three may just be the closest we have come in seven years to stick it to the state that has given us Bob Katter. It’s time to reclaim our state pride.

Will Greg Inglis ever be no one in Queensland. Inglis is arguably the best athlete in the league, but he is not the first choice for Queensland when it comes to his preferred position.

On Wednesday, he will get a chance to prove why he should bear the number-one on his jersey instead of Billy Slater, who is the go-to fullback for Queensland and Australia.

In all honesty, this may be the only time Inglis will ever get to be number one, as chances are that Billy the kid will hold onto the position as long as he is healthy.

But maybe, just maybe, if Inglis can come up with an out-of-this-world performance come Wednesday, it may spark a legitimate debate about who is entitled to the number-one jersey going forward.

Somewhere in Sydney, Dave Taylor, one of my favourite NRL player, will watch the game bitterly as he contemplates about the reason he didn’t get picked for game three.

As a New South Welshman, I can’t believe they dropped him. If Queensland loses on Wednesday, this may prove to be a costly mistake.

Mitchell Pearce is 23 years old and he is by far the best young playmaker in the game.

If Junior can rise up to the occasion on Wednesday, then he is going to be penciled in as the starting NSW halfback for the next decade.

He can also start building his case to become the number seven for the Kangaroos in five years’ time.

If his kicking game lets him down again on Wednesday, then Sticky will be pressured to consider Peter Wallace for next year’s Origin. It is truly a make or break for the young halfback.

Then there’s Robbie Farah. Surely by now everyone has heard about his tragic news.

The past couple of weeks have been tough on him and his team and it is only natural to give him time to grieve.

However, if I were a Tigers fan, I would really worry about my captain and the season.

In this league, losing is a habit. If NSW loses game three and Farah’s game looks to be affected, his confidence will certainly take a hit.

Questions will be asked and doubts will be cast about whether he can play at the level he was at before. Otherwise, the Tigers can look set to write off their season.

When Farah began, petrol cost 70 cents a litre. It just shows how long the man has been around; it’s been a long time since the joke actually made any sense.

It will be interesting to see how fired up the players will be. I hate to see a deserving player not getting the happy ending but then again, it has been six years and I am desperate for a win.

Jennings got sin binned in game one for throwing a punch and the referees got to taste the wrath of the fans.

They won’t be in a hurry to break up the fight on Wednesday. If the over/under of punches thrown during the game is set at five you will definitely take the over, right.

I was trying to think of a player I wanted to see get knocked out, then I realised most of the dickheads are in the NSW team. Awkward.

Last but not least, I can’t wait to see how the referees manage to stuff this one up. And no, I’m not bitter at all.