It's common in sport. People love declaring the death of things. When Jack Dempsey retired in 1927, people gave boxing the last rites. It's been on borrowed time ever since right?

It's difficult not to be taken in by the degree of ease with which NSW claimed this year's Origin series.

76-6 is fair margin, with plenty willing to call Paul Green's side the worst Maroons team ever. Given the previous 'worst Maroons ever' won a series, it's a pretty tough standard to meet.

The last time Origin was supposedly dead at the hands of NSW was in 2005, when Andrew Johns' wizardry took the Blues to a third straight series win. Queensland had no one coming through. Cameron Smith, Jonathan Thurston, Billy Slater were seemingly part of an uninspiring rookie class. Go figure.

Kickoff isn't suggesting there's any players of that calibre in the making for Queensland currently. What we are saying, barring the rare anomaly bound to happen in a team sport (like last year or Fatty's no-names in 1995) Origin series' are almost always won by the more talented team.

It's a myth perpetuated north of the border that the Blues "always have more talent." In fact, during Queensland's more than decade-long run of dominance, the only less talented team to win a series was the 2014 Blues.

In truth, talent is a pendulum that swings back and forth and is currently resting on the side of NSW. History demonstrates it'll swing back at some point.

What has emerged this series is the real existential threat to the Origin concept. It's not runs of dominance or blowout scores, it's a head-in-the sand attitude to Origin eligibility.

It's a fact that players of Polynesian heritage now make up 50 per cent of the NRL. In Origin III in 2013, the last of Queensland's unbroken eight straight, there were three players of Polynesian heritage (Josh Papalii, Ben Te'o and Andrew Fifita).

In game three on Sunday night, there were 13. It would have been 14 had Ronaldo Mulitalo not been ruled out due to eligibility issues before the game.

It includes the two breakout stars of the Blues campaign, Jarome Luai and Brian To'o, who've both stated a desire to play for Samoa at International level this season. Reports are Josh Papalii has sounded out Mal Meninga about doing the same thing.

Read more: Indigenous stars guiding Tyrell Sloan through NRL journey

Meninga has shared his view that Origin players must be available for Australian Test selection. He's also, quite rightly, described that view as a "selfish" one. It's a blinkered view simply not attuned to demographic realities.

Luai and To'o are both Sydney-born and Mt Druitt-raised. They meet every eligibility criteria you can place on a Blues jumper. It's frankly absurd that a desire to also represent their national heritage at International level should simply wipe that away.

State of Origin is about where you grew up. Test football is about heritage. There's no reason the two should be placed in opposition.

It's Test football, but asking them to make that choice is like putting the likes of Latrell Mitchell or Josh Addo-Carr in a position where they have to choose between representing NSW or the Indigenous All-Stars.

They can quite rightly do both, why shouldn't players of Polynesian heritage? Given their performances, is anyone questioning Luai or To'o's commitment to the blue jumper right now?

People who suggest Origin is, or should be, a selection trial for the Australian Test team are living well in the past. It hasn't been a genuine Australian Test selection exercise for more than a decade. The two are no longer intrinsically linked.

In reality, modern Origin is the NRL's fattest cash cow, one it wants to milk dry, even if it does cannibalise its own competition and the international game.

Tonga and Samoa's desired move up to 'Tier 1' Test status relies on the ability to select players born-and-raised in Australia (therefore NSW or Queensland).

Rugby league is now truly a multicultural game. That fact demands a far more nuanced and considered approach to Origin eligibility than what is currently a literal box-ticking exercise.

As a concept, State of 'Origin' was designed to free players of forced allegiances. All these years later, it's set up in a way that demands them. Like the old interstate games that it replaced, Origin must adapt or die.