The Blues' most damaging forward Andrew Fifita has been the subject of abuse on and off the field in recent weeks, but some good has come from it. Let's deal with the on-field stuff first. No one wants to confirm what was said to Fifita when this picture was taken following Queensland's win in game two, but from what I've been told, Josh McGuire said words to the effect of "we knew you were shit" and "you are just shit c---s".

Nobody has more to gain out of a Blues win in the Origin decider than Mitchell Pearce ... or more to lose.

No one knows what exactly will transpire at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night but you can be almost sure of one thing: at some point of the night the spotlight will fall directly on Jarryd Hayne.

The Blues would prefer the front-rower to take retribution against the Queensland lock rather than go public about McGuire's barbs.

You know why Laurie Daley and his NSW players now love preparing for a State of Origin match at Kingscliff? Because it's paradise up here.

Teammates say Fifita is trying to engineer a way to ensure he can once again be a match-winner at Suncorp Stadium next week.

Nathan Peats' week in State of Origin camp has begun in joyous fashion, now he hopes it can finish that way as well.

NSW could be left with an entirely new team hierarchy after this State of Origin series, with uncertainty around not only the future of Laurie Daley but that of the coach's adviser Peter Sterling.

Michael Morgan is making a habit of coming up with huge plays in even bigger games. Now the Maroons centre, who will play alongside new five-eighth Cameron Munster, explains why he's so confident to chance his arm under pressure.

Ever since Andrew Fifita criticised The Star after the Blues' game-two loss to Queensland, the NSWRL has been edgy about upsetting their major sponsor.

He was the mystery massage therapist whose presence at the Wests Tigers led to the demise of coach Jason Taylor and he now looms as an asset for the Blues.

Blues advisor Peter Sterling has implored Mitchell Pearce to make himself heard if NSW's plans threaten to fly off course again next Wednesday night.

The Panthers won't rush the NSW Rugby League to make a decision on whether Laurie Daley needs to draft Trent Merrin into camp as a replacement for his wounded back-rowers despite wanting to avert the same 11th-hour scramble which angered the Bulldogs last year.

Brett Morris' role in the drought-breaking 2014 series for NSW should never be discounted but there were mixed feelings after missing two games with injury.

While the goodbyes will centre on Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk could pull on a Queensland jersey for the final time on Wednesday night as he continues to ponder his future in the game.

Both Peats and roommate Andrew Fifita are due to become fathers again in the next week.

Jarryd Hayne says NRL players are 10 to 15 years behind the NFL in demanding a fair pay deal from their governing body.

Walters has made a habit of getting feedback from his senior players ahead of games but Smith said it stopped well short of picking individuals players.

Feel free to thank Matthew Johns if Munster, one of two new faces in the Maroons side for the decider, has a blinder in Brisbane next week.