Set Of Six: Reasons State Of Origin III Still Matters Even Though Technically It's A Dead Rubber

Jamie Wall is still going to stay up late for Wednesday night’s State of Origin game 3 even though the series has already been decided. Here’s why.

Historically, State of Origin has been a showcase of the best Australian league had to offer, with a ton of exciting on-field violence thrown in for good measure. That was until 2006, when it turned into being all about the best Queensland had to offer, and acts violence finally started being actively discouraged.

Apart from a blip in 2014, each of the last 11 series have gone the Maroons way. This year has been no different, with Johnathan Thurston and co. not even bothering to make it interesting by winning the first two games.

So, with the series a dead rubber, is there any reason to get excited about Wednesday night’s third Origin match? Here’s six:

1. James Tedesco: The Blues have finally picked one of the NRL’s most exciting players, which may lead to a sensational debut. He’s certainly got the numbers to back up his selection, having scored 42 tries already in his five seasons of first grade.

2. Greg Inglis: He is due. No one has summed up the workmanlike way the Maroons have gone about their business this year than GI. The man whose fend can be classed as a deadly weapon may explode into lethal form.

3. Paul Gallen: The New South Wales hard man will want to go out with a bang – ‘bang’ being the operative word. If things start to go sour for New South Wales in his last ever rep game, Gallen may opt to simply fight his way into the sunset.

4. Corey Parker: The goal-kicking silver fox is another battler calling it quits after this series, meaning there’ll be no visible grey hair next year (unless Wally Lewis gets a shock recall).

5. Jarryd Hayne?!: Speaking of shock recalls – Jarryd Hayne isn’t doing anything this week. Given that Origin eligibility rules are as about as farcical as the current Australian political landscape, the Blues might as well try and pick him. He’s already inspired former NSW teammate Matt Cooper to contemplate coming out of retirement, albeit via a tweet which thoroughly disregards the basic rules of the English language.

6. [Ray Warren voice] RUGBY LEAGUE: It’ll just be nice to see some footy – the NRL gave, count them, eight teams the weekend off just gone. So far the highlight has been a cat who got on the pitch.