But with the impending NSW State of Origin selection, comes renewed, if tortured and tentative hope the Queensland nightmare might be over.

We’ve often wondered what NSW even stand for in the past decade. 

Monday’s team announcement will be a fascinating insight.

Robbie Farah was considered the heart and soul of the State of Origin cause, but his NRL form has been patchy, amid a truce in the Wests Tigers civil war with Jason Taylor.

A fit-again Paul Gallen is back to his enduring best, though one of the great NSW halfbacks, Peter Sterling, would leave him out.

The courage an injured Josh Morris showed, to pick himself up off the ground and run down Greg Inglis, typified the courage needed to claim the 2014 series. But Morris appears destined to miss out, unless Josh Dugan succumbs to an elbow injury.

Trent Hodkinson scored the try to seal the drought-breaking success for the Blues, but after moving to Newcastle, the Knights have proven NRL punching bags this year. Mitchell Pearce has rebuilt his life and returned to the Roosters, but the doubts remain about how he handles the Origin cauldron.

The whispers are getting louder about Adam Reynolds’ selection, especially after another impressive performance in South Sydney’s win over the Dragons on Thursday night. And Trent Merrin? Once considered the next great NSW leader, whenever the baton is handed over from Gallen, might also miss out completely.

Given NSW’s reputation for chasing the quick fix – and still hurting for last year’s embarrassing 52-6 loss in the decider – Laurie Daley has much to consider. Lost in the wash-up of the soul-crushing defeat, the 2015 group was immeasurably more capable than the 2014 team. But when it mattered, last year’s version froze in the spotlight and the 2014 class simply refused to lose. So where to now?

Farah probably keeps his spot regardless, given the heart he has shown for NSW and ability to avoid conceding cheap penalties, unlike the other viable hooker option, Michael Ennis.

Possessing a kicking game out of dummy-half is a valuable asset as well. 

Morris and Beau Scott have proven an antidote to the damaging attacking raids of Queensland’s left edge in Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis. Picking untested Origin talent in Adam Reynolds, Jack Bird, Bryce Cartwright, Tyson Frizell and Lachlan Coote or Matt Moylan presents a huge risk of prolonging the agony.

But it might also usher in a new era of success.

BLUES’ BEST

Mercury league writers pick their NSW line-ups

TIM BARROW

1 Josh Dugan, 2 Josh Mansour, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Josh Morris, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Jack Bird, 7 James Maloney, 8 Aaron Woods, 9 Robbie Farah, 10 James Tamou, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Beau Scott, 13 Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14 Trent Merrin, 15 David Klemmer, 16 Bryce Cartwright, 17 Lachlan Coote. 

MITCH JENNINGS

1 Matt Moylan, 2 Josh Mansour, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Josh Dugan, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 James Maloney, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Paul Gallen, 9 Robbie Farah, 10 Aaron Woods, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Bryce Cartwright, 13 Beau Scott. Interchange: 14 Wade Graham, 15 James Tamou, 16 David Klemmer, 17 Tyson Frizell.