State of Origin 2023: 13 reasons Game 3 dead rubber is so significant

Retirements, NRL collateral damage, history - the State of Origin dead rubber will cause a ripple effect that could make or break representative careers and crush 2023 premiership dreams.

Don’t let anyone tell you State of Origin dead rubber means nothing.

From Freddy and Teddy’s fight for survival to the unlikely Maroons warrior on track to become the player of the series.

There’s also why Rabbitohs fans should be equally nervous about Cody Walker’s Origin return. And can Mitchell Moses mount a legitimate case to take over Nathan Cleary’s NSW No.7 jumper long-term?

There’s plenty of stake in Wednesday night’s final game of the Origin series as Billy Slater’s Queenslanders look to clinch the first clean sweep since 2010.

Here are 13 key reasons why the State of Origin dead rubber really matters.

1. FREDDY’S FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL

For everyone who thinks Brad Fittler will just ride off into the sunset on his Harley regardless of the result, don’t be fooled. There is a serious push from within the NSW hierarchy to keep Freddy in the job next year, and a win in Origin III could just about guarantee that extension. But defeat will make it incredibly hard to justify given the Blues have lost three of the past four series.

2. TEDDY’S LAST STAND?

Win or lose, there is strong mail skipper James Tedesco will consider standing down from rep footy after this game with pressure mounting from Dylan Edwards, Latrell Mitchell and Scott Drinkwater. If this is to be Teddy’s final Origin (in the match where he overtakes Danny Buderus’ record of 21 consecutive appearances), every NSW fan would love to see the champion fullback go out a winner.

Don’t let anyone tell you State of Origin dead rubber means nothing.

3. BILLY’S SHOT AT HISTORY

Billy Slater arrived on the Origin scene like a bolt of lightning with that famous chip-and-chase try way back in 2004. Now, 19 years on, the Queensland coach has a chance to create more history with what would be an equally famous three-nil whitewash to cap off back-to-back series triumphs.

4. WILL DCE CALL HIS ORIGIN RETIREMENT?

It’s hard to believe a player who started his Origin career as such a polarising figure, even among Queensland fans, will now overtake the legendary Allan Langer for most consecutive appearances as the Maroons starting halfback in Daly Cherry-Evans’ 16th game in a row wearing the No.7 jumper. At 34, some also think this could be DCE’s last Origin. While there’s no question he’s playing good enough to keep going, what a way it would be to go out - on the back of captaining three series victories.

5. WHY BUNNIES FANS SHOULD BE NERVOUS

South Sydney fans have every right to be extremely nervous about how Cody Walker handles his Origin return. While plenty thought Walker deserved to start the series ahead of Jarome Luai, his recall for the dead rubber also has the potential to make or break the Rabbitohs’ run to September. A blinder could set Walker alight and give him confidence to own the big end of season games. The flip side is a less than memorable performance could leave more mental scars.

6. COOKIE’S CHANCE FOR PAYBACK

Damien Cook is another who has everything to play for given how shabbily he has been treated in the rep arena of late. Remember, Cook was snubbed by the Kangaroos for last year’s World Cup, overlooked by the Blues for game one and then had to play almost all of game two in the centres after replacing the injured Tom Trbojevic. But now Souths’ explosive dummy half is back where he belongs, you can bet he will go out and play like his Origin survival depends on it.

Will Daly Cherry-Evans hang up his rep boots? Picture: NRL Imagery

7. MOSES CAN MOUNT PRESSURE ON CLEARY

If Mitchell Moses goes out and shoots the lights out alongside Walker, it will make for a legitimate debate next year that this should remain the NSW starting halves. At the very least it would put huge pressure on Nathan Cleary to win back his spot given Cleary’s underwhelming performance in the game one loss in Adelaide.

8. HOW WILL BIG RED HANDLE ORIGIN DEBUT?

Even long-suffering NSW fans would grudgingly concede to be looking forward to seeing how the Canberra Raiders’ big red wildcard Corey Horsburgh goes in his Origin debut. One way or another, you just know it’s going to be entertaining.

What’s on Horsburgh’s side is that Slater has not pulled the wrong rein once on his selections throughout this entire series.

9. IS RCG REALLY MADE FOR ORIGIN?

When Fittler was asked why Reagan Campbell-Gillard was dumped last year, the Blues coach came up with a peculiar response that the Parramatta prop didn’t suit his style of play. Well, RCG hasn’t changed the way he plays, but the Blues obviously have after this time dropping fellow Eels enforcer Junior Paulo to bring back Campbell-Gillard. What can’t be disputed is RCG never takes a backward step and will have plenty of motivation to prove his game is made for Origin.

10. WILL BRADMAN REPAY FREDDY’S FAITH?

There was no more controversial selection than Newcastle’s blockbusting centre Bradman best who absolutely no one predicted was in the frame for a call up here, even allowing for injuries to Latrell Mitchell, Turbo and Campbell Graham. But now Best gets his chance to repay Freddy’s faith. If he aims up, the 21-year-old could have a long Origin career ahead of him, or will he end up another of Freddy’s one-hit wonders?

11. A STATE’S PRIDE AT STAKE

Almost every NSW fan you talk to has just about had a gutful of the Blues getting belted, as much as the constant chopping and changing in respect to Freddy’s selections. But the beauty of Origin is that it only ever takes one win, even in a dead rubber, and it automatically provides just enough hope to turn up cheering again next year.

12. WHO WILL BE MAN OF THE SERIES?

For all the big names on show throughout this Origin campaign, who would have thought hard working bench prop Lindsay Collins would even be in the debate for the Wally Lewis Medal as man of the series?

But if you want to put a finger on the biggest difference between the Maroons and Blues so far, Collins is the best example of the no nonsense culture driving this new Queensland generation. It’s also why, despite playing off the interchange bench, he is now one of the front runners for Origin’s most prestigious individual honour along with DCE, Cameron Munster and game one man of the match, Reuben Cotter.

13. WHAT MAGIC CAN MUNSTER MUSTER?

It’s unbelievable that Cameron Munster was so sick in the build up to Origin II that Slater feared his star five-eighth might not play.

Yet the game’s best big match player still went out and had a blinder when judged second best on ground after chalking up 15 runs for 120m. That was the most runs of any Queensland player and just behind Collins (127) for most metres.

God help the Blues if Munster is 100 per cent this time around.

The Greatest State of Origin Editions

The Greatest State of Origin Editions

Originally published as State of Origin 2023: 13 reasons Game 3 dead rubber is so significant