By Andrew Stevenson
We are in the middle, not at the end, of a Maroons dynasty, writes Andrew Stevenson.
Watch the old men when Queensland run out to do battle in the first State of Origin tomorrow night.
At 32, Darren Lockyer has given in to the call of time and shaved his head, while props Petero Civoniceva, 32, and Steve Price, 35, have bodies and faces like mallee roots; time merely hardens their features.
Lockyer has played Origin more times (27) than the whole NSW back line (18); Price (25) and Civoniceva (23) have more Origin jumpers than the entire NSW forward pack plus the four-man bench (46). All three may be playing their last Origin series - though don't bet on it. None of them is the retiring type.
But, as Queensland, with three successive victories notched on their belt, dare cast an eye towards a period of unprecedented Maroons domination, the three old men should be the least of NSW's worries. Their age and experience hides the truth about this Queensland side: in virtually all the key positions they're running on legs young enough to stretch the Maroons tide out for another five more years.
They've seemingly been around forever but Cameron Smith and Billy Slater are both only 25, while Johnathan Thurston is just 26. Centres Greg Inglis (22) and Justin Hodges (27) have already scaled the heights of rugby league, while who's to say when Israel Folau (20) will lose the incredible spring in his step? (When, or if, he does, there's every chance he'll become the game's most feared back-rower.) Not only do they win matches, they play in positions that readily provide the opportunity to do so. Smith, Thurston and Slater line up in Queensland's spine, while Hodges and Inglis are crucial vertebrae and Folau is a devastating finisher be the ball in the hand or in the air.
For almost the entire series history there's been barely a struck match between the two states. Last year's series, however, tipped the balance Queensland's way. Their run of dominance has nosed them in front and they now lead series victories (13-12), match wins (42-40) and points scored (1331-1312).
Now comes the chance to load up the scales to such an extent it will take a generation for the Blues to restore parity.
Of course, NSW might uncork a vintage crop themselves to repel the northern hordes. They might - but it would want to be a very good year to even the balance. Of the Blues' back line, perhaps only Jarryd Hayne - and then only perhaps - could expect to elbow his way into an Australian side, with fullback Kurt Gidley an able benchman. NSW have some handy forwards, including Test players Brent Kite and Anthony Laffranchi, and in hooker Robbie Farah someone with the potential to play for Australia. But the case of Smith's slow rise to the top is illustrative. Match after match he scrapped with Danny Buderus, the kid with potential against the genuine article. The end result was inevitable but it still took Smith four years to finally unseat Buderus from his Kangaroos spot. If Smith holds his form as well as Buderus kept his, Queensland will lack for nothing in the key dummy-half spot for several seasons more.
And what of Thurston? Already with 12 Origins behind him, JT has twice been the Dally M player of the year and in 2008 was player of the Origin series, reaching the pedestal previously reserved for players such as Wally Lewis, Lockyer, Allan Langer, Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns. Who would bet against him being as good as he is now - and possibly a damn sight better - by the time he turns 30?
By which time Inglis, already a winner of the Clive Churchill Medal as man of the match in an NRL grand final and executor of some of the most sublime touches seen in decades, will be 26. Picked in the centres for tomorrow night's game, Inglis could easily play five-eighth or lock as needs or age dictate, positions in which he could exert even more influence on the game.
Perhaps he'll never live up to his potential: blessed with speed and swerve and more than 100 kilograms on a 195-centimetre body, Inglis doesn't have to reach that far and he could still be the best Origin player since Lewis.
Of course they may fall over, break a leg, lose form or run away to join the circus and play rugby in France. But it's not as if the cupboard is bare. Darius Boyd, 22, made his debut last year and Queensland own the two next best halves behind their current pairing in Cooper Cronk (25) and Scott Prince (29). And Karmichael Hunt - named on the bench but a strong chance to start the game - is a grizzled veteran of only 22 years.