Not only that, they had Queensland just where they wanted them – as clear favourites – and what’s more, the Blues were armed with plenty of ammunition to fire up the state-versus-state rivalry that everyone loves this time of year.

The first target was easy and by rights, Queensland centre Israel Folau should be a nervous wreck.

The “defector” should be sweating bullets after being hammered in all the pre-match hoopla for signing up with AFL and than being paraded as the Greater Western Sydney poster boy, all during league’s showcase series.

Likewise the Queensland Rugby League who, after performing a Nadia Comaneci style backflip for picking him after saying they wouldn’t, should be shell-shocked after prolonged attack from those south of the border.

When it comes to heaping on the hype, few do it better than the NSW media but no, instead of a rattled Queensland team under siege, the Maroons are positively beaming going into this game.

As they prepared to batten down the hatches for the media barrage, NSW imploded.

So instead of copping the headlines, Queensland has hardly rated a mention in the past few days.

Of all the things that could have gone wrong, having a player walk out from camp had to be the last thing on the NSW list of possibilities.

Yes, Manly forward Phil Daly did a famous runner from camp one year but his circumstances were far different and it hardly created the media storm that has raged since the weekend.

I’m not about to bang on about the actual incident that lead to Timana Tahu’s departure; plenty has been said and written already.

The thing I can’t quite believe is how the Blues find new ways to shoot themselves in the foot when it comes to preparing for these games.

If they can find a way out of this, it will be a minor miracle.

Coach Craig Bellamy has quite a job to unite a fractured squad for tonight’s series defining match.

Of course he’s had plenty of practice this season dealing with enormous issues at club level but this provides a test like no other.

He could provide the masterstroke in this sordid episode but words will only carry the team so far.

It’s time for action NSW, stand tall and be counted because another loss is too hard to imagine.