The Origin careers of at least three NSW players go on the line as the Blues prepare to stop Queensland sealing a seventh straight series win next Wednesday night.
I reckon you can put a red pen through Trent Merrin, Ben Creagh and probably Todd Carney if they fail to fire and the Blues are well beaten.
Creagh is the one under most pressure.
He has played nine Origin matches without making a real impact in any of them.
Ricky Stuart has kept faith in him and the time to deliver is now.
Creagh strikes me as a good NRL footballer who just falls short of that Origin class.
I doubt he strikes fear into the hearts of the Queenslanders, especially after he turned and ran in that confrontation with wild man Justin Hodges a few years back.
He just doesn't offer enough at this level for mine.
I want to see the odd tackle bust or smart offload or bruising defence but I've seen little of that in Creagh's game when he's in the blue of NSW.
Merrin is another who needs to stand up and be counted.
This will be his fourth Origin and so far he's been MIA.
He needs to provide some impetus off the bench and either back up the platform left by the starting props or lift the side if they are down.
Aaron Woods may have been the better choice but I am willing to give Merrin one last shot.
Which leaves me with Carney.
He doesn't need me to tell him he was awful in Origin I.
Stuart said the five-eighth was overcome by nerves and it looked it.
His kicking and passing game was a poor imitation of what he's displayed at the Sharks this year and he needs to find his feet - quickly.
NSW won't win if he and Mitchell Pearce have off nights.
And Carney may not get another shot if he produces another stinker.
Creagh, Merrin and Carney should be excited by the challenge confronting them.
They need to show Stuart and the rest of us they belong in Origin.
I hope they do because I strongly believe the Blues can win game two.
I'll tell you why next week.
But before I go, let's have a quick peep at the shortened round of NRL matches.
I like the Tigers, Knights, Titans, Roosters and Warriors.
There's five from five for you.
Speak next week.
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