Queensland Maroons a pale imitation of past State of Origin teams | NRL

For once, it's nice to be able to sit back and watch the Maroons and everyone else north of the border squirm a little bit after what they have copped from the Blues in this current Origin series.

I don't know how everyone else in NSW is feeling but for mine, it's pretty satisfying that it's finally our turn to really rub it in their faces because they have certainly taken great joy over the years in doing it to us.

Queensland always talk about picking and sticking and all-for-one and one-for-all. It's amazing how all that goes out the window though when you lose.

The Maroons are dealing with some really big issues. Don't get me wrong, this is a great NSW squad, laced with power and skill. The inclusion of Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell after they both missed last year's series defeat has been significant. Both have been out of this world in the opening two games.

But as good as the Blues have been, it has to be said the Maroons have been really poor.

After getting a hiding in game one, I expected a real positive reaction from them in a must-win game on their home turf in Brisbane. But the positive reaction lasted all of 15 minutes.

That's all they gave - 15 minutes. After that, they just hoisted the white flag because it became all too hard for them. They hardly ever looked like scoring, they had no answers, were in total disarray with the footy and were a pale imitation of past Queensland sides.

Wayne Bennett came in last season and performed a minor miracle as Queensland won the series against all the odds. Maybe he could see the writing on the wall though because he politely said no when he was asked to go again this season.

Smart man Wayne because I doubt even his magic dust would have made a difference in this series.

Nathan Cleary's injury should open the door for Mitchell Moses to be given an opportunity at the next level.

Coach Freddy Fittler could parachute either Mitchell Pearce or Adam Reynolds into the position and they would do a really good job. But I just think the opportunity is there for Moses to be given a shot.

He's been really good for the Eels this season and I'm not sure there is too much up-side in going back to players who have been there before.

As for Cleary, it's obviously a blow for Penrith, a big blow for NSW and possibly a blow for Australia at the end of the year as well.

He would no doubt have been in the World Cup squad but if he is going to soldier on and try and get through the year with the injury, you would think he is going to have to have surgery as soon as the season finishes.

The good thing for Penrith is they are in the position where they don't need to rush him back now that he has decided to rehab the shoulder.

They can spend six or seven weeks if they decide to or even longer if they want to get him right and ready to go for the finals. They've already got enough points and I reckon as long as they finish in the top four, they are going to be very hard to beat with Cleary back and their top side on the paddock.

That's the position they are in and I'd be taking every possible precaution with him to get that shoulder as strong as possible because the last thing they want is for him to come back too early and dislocate it again.

He'll have restrictions when he does come back with what he can do with it and he'll need to try and protect it as much as possible but thankfully, it's not season-ending, which was the fear and Penrith will just have to cover for him as best they can until he returns.

WARRIORS v DRAGONS

The Warriors have some players missing here and I like the look of the Dragons in this one and even more so if a guy like Tariq Sims can bring his outstanding Origin form back to club level. Ben Hunt's been playing well and provided they are switched on, I think they'll get the job done. My tip: Dragons

PANTHERS v EELS

It will be tight and I'm looking forward to the clash between Moses and Jarome Luai. Luai has to step up in Cleary's absence and run the show alongside Matt Burton and at home, I still think the Panthers can get up. My tip: Panthers

BULLDOGS v SEA EAGLES

You'd nearly put your house on Manly in this one. Even if the Bulldogs put up another brave performance, the Eagles will just have too much firepower from the usual suspects. My tip: Manly

RAIDERS v TITANS

I doubt the Titans are going to enjoy a freezing cold Canberra late afternoon game and I'm expecting the Raiders to show plenty of fight to prove their season is not already dead and buried. My tip: Raiders

KNIGHTS v COWBOYS

With Kalyn Ponga back and Pearce there to run the show alongside Jake Clifford, the Knights all of a sudden look a different side and the rest of their players will take plenty of confidence out of the return of their big guns. With coach Todd Payten watching on from isolation in Townsville, the Cowboys will be up against it. My tip: Knights

BRONCOS v SHARKS

I like the Moylan-Johnson combination for the Sharks and I'm expecting them to maintain the rage against the inconsistent Broncos in Brisbane. My tip: Sharks

TIGERS v RABBITOHS

It's pretty simple - if the Rabbitohs' attacking game is on, they will just have too many points in them for the Tigers. My tip: Souths