NSW coach Craig Bellamy believes this year's painful series loss will serve as an important step in the Blues' State of Origin recovery plan, with several players either failing or passing rugby league's toughest examination.
NSW has used 30 players across three games, swinging wildly from generation next to generation past in dumping younger players from games one and two for older, more senior campaigners in Wednesday night's game three in Brisbane.
While from the outside it seems a scatter-gun approach, Bellamy insists some good has come from using so many players during a fourth straight series defeat to the rampant Queenslanders.
Peter Wallace, Brent Kite and Robbie Farah have come and gone while the likes of Anthony Watmough and Jarryd Hayne have confirmed they belong at Origin level.
"I don't make any apologies for that because we're just trying to do our best each game and pick what we think is the best for each game," Bellamy said of the selection process.
"I thought some important steps were taken last year but that really hasn't worked out for us this year."
"Hopefully throughout this series we're aware of who's Origin calibre and who's not."
"We'll be a bit wiser for that next year."
Bellamy, while praising Queensland, doesn't buy into the argument that the Maroons are simply too good all over the park for NSW to get anywhere near them.
He reasons the Blues have matched them for large periods of a game without dominating.
"They are a wonderful team. Winning four series in a row confirms that they are," Bellamy said of Queensland.
"There's no doubting that and no-one's arguing that but I think we've got a pretty talented team here."
"We just need to get a few things right and be consistent."
"I don't think we've been that far away from them, just a couple of tweaks here and there."
Bellamy promised Blues supporters nothing will be left in the tank as NSW attempts to salvage something from the wreckage at Suncorp Stadium.
"I don't know whether the result's that important - it's our performance, that's what's important," he said.
"We just need a good, strong performance for 80 minutes."
"If we can get that I will be really happy and the result will look after itself."
"We aren't leaving this arena without one, good 80-minute performance."
"That's our focus for the night."
And after the dust has settled on the series finale, Bellamy will decide whether he wants a third term at the helm.
He said: "I will think about it at the appropriate time."
"I've been focused on this game and trying to get everyone ready to play well tomorrow night."
Skipper Kurt Gidley has backed Bellamy's retention, declaring: "He's copped some unwanted criticism because in the end the players have to take a lot of responsibility out of the last two games."
"I love 'Belly' as a coach. I like how passionate he is about the team and the way he gets his point across when he's talking to the players."
"I think he's a great coach and I’d love to see him back."