Mitchell Pearce during State of Origin Game 1, NSW v QLD at ANZ Stadium. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited
NO one has summed up the Origin series so far better than National coach, Tim Sheens.
While all of us have had an opinion on the differences between Game I and II, Sheens put it succinctly on NRL 360 last week, "In both games it's been a case of one team just wanting to win, versus another who absolutely needs to win."
So true.
In Game I NSW exploded out of the tunnel, certain in the knowledge that they absolutely needed to win.
Going to Brisbane a game down would be nothing short of catastrophic.
Queensland on the other hand were like an old boxing champion, happy to lose the first few rounds with the belief they'd deliver the knockout when needed.
They never got into the fight 1-0 NSW.
In Game II the story is the opposite, NSW arrive with a natural desire to win but in the back of their minds they know it's not essential, at worst, a home decider awaits.
For Queensland, it's definite, they absolutely need to win and the ferocity of their opening 20 minutes highlights that.
In Game II from the opening Maroons run you could see the change of mindset, the fear of losing had returned to their preparation and sharpened their resolve.
If this match were a heavyweight title fight, the referee would've stopped it at the 20-minute mark.
One-all.
Tim Sheens' insight on NRL 360 highlighted that in State of Origin just being "up for the contest", isn't enough.
Physically and emotionally, a team and the individuals need to be sky high. That's very difficult to do. You have only so many of those games in you.
To get there, the contest has to mean a lot more than just wanting to win.
Mal Meninga stated in his Queensland newspaper column, that after seventh series win that the job doesn't get any easier.
I can imagine for Mal, the job of finding ways to keep this champion squad focused and hungry would in fact get increasingly more difficult.
That's why in the same column he challenged his players, "Is the desperation still there? Is doing the one percenters, which are the difference between victory and defeat still important to us?"
What makes Origin deciders so special is that I guarantee both teams will turn up to ANZ Stadium with more than just the "want to win".
So if both teams turn up with the necessary desperation it will come down to focus, confidence and execution under extreme pressure.
Let's narrow the contest right down.
Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith versus Mitchell Pearce, James Maloney and Robbie Farah.
The key men who control the tempo, the direction, the creativity and the kicking games will decide this.
In society these days we try to hide brutal realities of life.
At school there's no pass or fail, in junior sport you still get a ribbon if you finish last in the race, but thankfully Mitchell Pearce is fully aware of the truth of his situation.
This for Mitchell, is a career defining contest. After Wednesday night his career will in one way or another be different.
Guide the Blues to victory and Pearce will feel emancipated from the critics and the pressure that has weighed on him in recent years.
In defeat, in his own words, will most probably mean the end of his Origin career, as coaches look elsewhere for the man who can lead NSW into an era of dominance.
No one needs to win this contest more than Pearce.
Maybe Tim Sheens' comment that the "Absolute need of victory" is the key to a great Origin performance, tells us that on Wednesday night we will see the Mitchell Pearce we have been waiting for. Let's hope so...
