Four things learnt from Queensland Maroons’ horror

“The players who took part will take some experiences from it, but no two series are ever the same,” Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans said.

“There is still a lot of desire, regardless of the result tonight we still want it more than ever.

“After a loss like that, a player's next game can't come fast enough.”

Is Cobbo ready to join the bottom line?

Valentine Holmes has been a brilliant servant of the Maroons jumper, but the North Queensland Cowboys star was completely outclassed by Latrell Mitchell and the rest of the Blues' left flank.

He could leave his almost certain choice up for debate.

Holmes missed six tackles, five in the first half when Mitchell and Brian To'o scored three tries between them, and had almost no chance to attack.

Veteran center Dane Gagai was the 18th man and could justify inclusion, but intrigue will likely surround whether Selwyn Cobbo is ready to be dropped.

“I haven't even thought about it,” Slater said, when asked if there were any changes.

Cobbo was a standout in the first game but was kept out of the side when Slater saw the painkiller injections he had been playing on and hinted at how mentally drained the 22-year-old was.

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But if Cobbo returns to Brisbane hot and in good spirits, the x-factor and physical presence he brings will need serious consideration for inclusion in a bid to stand up to Mitchell and put some aggression into the defense of the bottom line.

Holmes has made a name for himself as a winger, playing alongside Taulagi on the left at clubland, so a switch could appeal. But it would take a brave man to split the latter's combination with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, after the duo combined for another go.

Queensland's lack of size exploited – Fifita's return looming?

The absence of star midfielders Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Tom Gilbert (both ACL) and Thomas Flegler (shoulder) was severely felt in the second game.

So will David Fifita get an SOS for the decider?

At the start of the series, New South Wales' strength in the engine room somehow managed to regain momentum for a 30-minute period despite only having 12 men on the field, and with a full side in the park they made their presence felt.

Star Payne Haas silenced his doubters with 193 metres, while making 31 tackles without missing a beat, and only club-mate Pat Carrigan (154 metres) looked capable of holding up the Blues' size.

When Slater dropped a bombshell on the eve of the series axing Fifita, he suggested there were “standards” in his game that had failed to reach this point.

But there's no doubt the 115kg wrecking ball's height would add some much-needed punch to the exchange.

Fifita has snapped up 17 tackles and run for 363 meters in his two starts since the first-match selections, and given the limited minutes given to Felise Kaufusi and Kurt Capewell, the 24-year-old's comeback could make an appeal before the 'match at Suncorp Stadium.

Who will back it up?

Tabuai-Fidow's first-half shoulder injury has not only put him in serious doubt for the Dolphins this week, but the Maroons' return to Brisbane.

“I think he's been injured in AC, it was a pretty tough effort for him to get back out there, obviously he wasn't 100 per cent but he knew the team needed him,” Slater said.

“I do not know [if he will be right for game three].”

It's hard to imagine Broncos coach Kevin Walters bringing Haas back to New Zealand against the Warriors, but there's a good chance the Queensland contingent will be anxious to back up Brisbane, especially Carrigan in the absence due to injury of skipper Adam Reynolds.

Cowboys boss Todd Payten has already confirmed Nanai will not line out, but his North Queensland team-mate hooker Reece Robson was supportive after the first game despite an 80-minute performance and half the tackles in the second game after winning an early spell.

Ben Hunt, Harry Grant, Kaufusi and Capewell are likely to line up.