Queensland have wrapped up this year's State of Origin series, but New South Wales will be hoping to avoid the whitewash when the two sides face off in Game 3 on Wednesday night.
So, will a reshuffled Blues squad be enough, or will the Maroons power to a 3-0 series victory?
Below are The Sporting News team's predictions and best bets for Origin Game 3.
MORE: State of Origin - Game 3 key battles
Cody Walker to steer NSW Blues to home win
- Joshua Mayne
The Maroons have the better team on paper, but whitewashes are easier said than done.
Importantly, the Blues have won three of the past five showdowns in Sydney, and need to take full advantage of the atmosphere to trump a talented Queensland side.
Cody Walker plays with fire in his belly at all times, so expect him to show up as he returns to the Origin arena.
His tenacity and link-up play on the left edge will be exactly what New South Wales needs as they look to end the series on a positive note in front of their home fans.
BEST BET: NSW Blues to win ($2.25)
VALUE BET: Cody Walker to win Man Of The Match ($8.00)
SAME GAME MULTI: NSW Blues +3.5, Cody Walker ATS, second half highest-scoring half ($9.00)
A bloodbath not seen since the Red Wedding
- Chris Danks
Despite the well-trodden fact that clean sweeps are rarer than an incident-free offseason (the Maroons nabbed the lone sweep - with Billy Slater winning Man of the Match in Game 3 - since 2000 with a 2010 masterclass) there's a real chance the Blues get done by a fair margin in Game 3.
History will say that's foolish: the Blues have won three of their last four at home and are 20-10 overall at Accor. Historically, it's not going to be a blowout, with only one of the last 10 ending in a margin of 6+.
The Maroons are out to create history, though. They haven't taken a celebratory lap of the local discotheques in the week prior, as has happened in previous years: they'll win and win big.
The Maroons will be hurt by the loss of Reece Walsh and Tom Flegler. The Blues will be hurt more by a light bench on a dewy track and a new left edge of Cody Walker and Bradman Best defending what has been a focal point of Queensland's attack.
BEST BET: Queensland to win 13+
VALUE BET: Josh Addo-Carr first tryscorer
SAME GAME MULTI: Queensland to win, Murray Tualagi ATS, Hamiso Tibuai-Fidow ATS ($7.25)
Fresh faces to shine despite NSW Blues defeat
- Liam O'Loughlin
NSW have been well behind the eight-ball throughout the opening two games, with their sub-par attack and shaky defence costing them in Adelaide and Brisbane.
With the series no longer on the line, Brad Fittler has made a host of changes to his side, with Keaon Koloamatangi and Bradman Best both set to make their Origin debuts.
Another fresh face in the side is South Sydney playmaker Cody Walker, who has been named to start in the No.6 jumper and will bring immediate class and spark to the Blues.
While the hosts will be hard-pressed to turn things around against a red-hot Queensland outfit, I'm tipping Walker and Koloamatangi to make an impact and bring their club form to the representative arena.
BEST BET: QLD Maroons 1-12 ($2.90)
VALUE BET: Keaon Koloamatangi anytime tryscorer ($4.75)
SAME GAME MULTI: Cody Walker ATS, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow ATS, Under 40.5 points ($26.00)
