The 2018 Holden State of Origin series reaches its climax at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night as NSW go in search of their first clean sweep since 2000. Read what the NRL.com experts think will happen.
Steve Renouf (Maroons legend)
Coach Kevin Walters has rung the changes and in Billy Slater's last game I expect a revamped starting pack and DCE to lead Queensland to victory on home soil. Maroons by 4
Jamie Soward (former Blues five-eighth)
Blues to win on a fast track in a surprisingly low-scoring game. Blues by 8
Michael Chammas (NRL.com chief reporter)
The emotion of Billy Slater's swan song, in combination with the expected complacency that comes with NSW having already claimed the series, will ensure this is a tight game. But there's too much strike for Queensland to withstand for 80 minutes. Blues by 2
Paul Suttor (NRL.com editor)
The Queenslanders look rattled and their pack appears to be outmuscled but playing on home turf will propel them to a narrow upset. Maroons by 1
Alicia Newton (NRL.com reporter)
History suggests points flow more in dead rubbers and such has been the quirkiness of Brad Fittler's Blues campaign, redemption will be made complete with a big win on opposition turf and a whitewash. Blues by 14
Peter Jolly (NRL.com reporter)
It'll be a clean sweep for the Blues in 2018. Under Freddy Fittler he'll have them up to knock over the Queenslanders on their home soil. Blues by 12
Neil Cadigan (NRL.com reporter)
Queensland won't be far off the mark again and the inclusion of Corey Oates and Daly Cherry-Evans gives them better go-forward from the back and a better kicking game. It is at Suncorp and few teams have won 3-0 but NSW have a more settled team of in-form players and will just get the job done. Blues by 4
Mary K (Ladies Who League)
It will be a clean sweep for the Blues on Wednesday with the Maroons flailing and also missing a key player in Greg Inglis. Not even the Suncorp crowd will be enough to get the Maroons home. Blues by 16
Margie McDonald (NRL.com senior reporter)
Daly Cherry-Evans' organisational skills will definitely help but Queensland having two players more recognised as locks than front-rowers – Jai Arrow and Josh Papalii – starting as props doesn't feel right to me. NSW with minimal change in positions and minimal damage to players should be too good. Blues by 12
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Dan Walsh (NRL.com reporter)
The Blues speedsters out wide will see plenty of open pasture now with the series won, and they've just got too much firepower for a disjointed Queensland side to contain. Blues by 8
Andrew Marmont (NRL.com reporter)
Queensland will try hard but the Blues aren't going to let this opportunity slip. Brad Fittler is a winner and won't accept anything but a 3-0 whitewash. Blues by 12
Chris Kennedy (NRL.com reporter)
With the series no longer on the line I'm expecting a more open and attacking game with the confident and settled Blues to run away with it. Blues by 16
Zac Bailey (NRL.com reporter)
NSW will wrap up their first clean sweep since 2000. Brad Fittler was captain then and he will show his Baby Blues how to party – 'Freddy' style. Blues by 10
Andrew Voss (Fox Sports commentator)
I think the Blues can achieve a rare clean sweep. I may have tipped Queensland but the loss of Inglis and Ponga, swayed me back to Fittler's men. Damien Cook to finish as man of the match and player of the series. Blues by 2
Katie Brown (NRL.com video reporter)
Queensland's stand-in skipper Billy Slater deserves a winning send-off in his final rep game. All 17 Maroons will go that extra mile and expect Slater to produce a man of the match performance. Maroons by 12
Steve Turner (former NSW winger)
The Blues have benefited from minimal distraction and team changes throughout the series which provides stability and continuity to team structures, morale and a winning formula. They will sweep the series. Blues by 10.
Brad Walter (NRL.com senior reporter)
With most of the NSW players having never experienced an Origin loss, self-belief in the team is sky high and the players want to capitalise on their rare chance of a clean sweep. Blues by 6
Joel Gould (NRL.com reporter)
Billy Slater's final match in Maroon colours will be the catalyst for the side to play their best game of the series with Jai Arrow and Josh Papalii to add grunt up front and Daly Cherry-Evans' organising ability to get Queensland home. Maroons by 4
Blues look to chase Origin whitewash history
Hayley Byrnes (NRL.com reporter)
Billy Slater's farewell - a night to remember or one to forget? Have the Blues already won the game in their heads? On form it's the Blues and there's also bound to be far more attack than defence from both sides. Blues by 8
David Piepers (Big League editor)
Blues to start fast, literally, through Josh Addo-Carr and Latrell Mitchell. Maroons will come back hard for Billy but it won't be enough. Blues by 4
Scott Hazlewood (NRL.com reporter)
New South Wales have had a much more settled training camp leading into the third game and history beckons for them to become just the fourth Blues side to complete a series whitewash. Blues by 6
Dylan Morris (NRL.com reporter)
Billy Slater will have a huge final game and get the representative send-off the champion fullback deserves. Maroons by 6