Is it over yet? Can we get on with some real footy now?
State of Origin hasn't just lost its lustre, it's actually become a blight on the rugby league calendar.
Usually the NRL fades into the background, almost becoming a gentle hum as it makes way for seven weeks of the most passionate games you'll see all season, high drama and most importantly, high quality.
It was a contest so compelling even New Zealanders would be invested in what is exclusively an Aussie thing (with the James Tamou style exceptions of course).
Right now, the NRL is just on hold. Much like the June test series for the All Blacks is for Super Rugby, everything is waiting for the game's elite to turn their attention back to their day jobs. But at least the ABs have the good grace to get theirs over and done within three weeks - which is how long Origin waits between games!
Origin has become that relative that comes to stay - it's fun to begin with, but a few weeks in you're offering to buy them a bus ticket home.
Yes, I fall on the New South Wales side of the supporter fence, but this isn't sour grapes. If we travel back in time to the start of the 2006 season, Queensland was proclaiming State of Origin would die off if the Blues were to win an unprecedented fourth series on the trot. So I don't think it's unfair to suggest that watching one team make it 10 out of 11 years as champion is a tad boring.
I'd forgive the results if we were watching gripping footy, the stuff that gets you sitting on the edge of your couch at midnight and yelling at a television.
But we're not. Not anymore.
The series started without any kind of spark. Predictable teams, no one firing a shot in anger in the build-up - the two camps created nothing but apathy.
Game one - terrible. Even Queensland supporters took their eye patch off to recognise that. The standard of footy wasn't up to reserve grade. Game two was better, but it wasn't special, certainly not worthy of the hyperbole we've come to expect - and should demand.
I have turned down dinner invitations, movie nights, trips overseas during the Origin period in the past, no way did I want to miss the best footy of the year. But right now, I could almost be swayed to jump on Netflix instead.
Give me a game between the Cowboys and Broncos any day of the week. A good - or even decent - NRL game is far superior to Origin these days.
Sure, the Warriors always go well during this period when other teams sometimes have their eye off the ball, but that's not a good enough reason to suffer an entire competition jog on the spot during June and July.
I'm not going to blame Origin for the Broncos losing their mojo over the past 2 months or the Cowboys going flat, the Sharks and Storm have plenty of Origin players and are performing. But watch how much better the NRL is in about a month's time, and ask yourself, did we as spectators gain anything from the lull created by Origin? I'm going to say nope.
I think 3 games between these two old foes has almost become overkill. Can you imagine how good one a year would be? The stakes would be sky high and so would the anticipation. It's never going to happen of course, it's too big a money spinner for the NRL.
I'll watch tonight - I'm a glutton for punishment. But I don't know what I'll get from it. Hopefully something memorable happens. Aside from statistics, what about this Origin series - or even last years, will go down in Origin folklore? Create something you'd talk about at a BBQ in a few year's time and say "remember that Mark Coyne try?" or talk about like 'that' intercept pass from Brett Kimmorley, Brett Finch's winning drop-goal after being called in at late notice.
But based on what I've seen, I won't be holding my breath.
Newshub.
