Last hurrah for Bellamy, Barrett

State of Origin III is about NSW's future, say Blues helmsmen Craig Bellamy and
Trent Barrett, but it's one that almost certainly won't feature the current coach or
captain.
Wednesday night's dead rubber is looming as the last hurrah for Bellamy and
first-time skipper Barrett, but both say it is a crucial step in NSW eventually
ending their record losing streak to Queensland.
Bellamy has admitted he is at long odds to extend his three years with the Blues,
while Barrett has given the clearest indication yet he will retire at season's end.
The pair will oversee a NSW outfit with four players making their debuts as the
Blues desperately try to put some of the pieces in place to rebuild their shattered
Origin dream.
Bellamy says the NSW spine of fullback Jarryd Hayne, halfback Mitchell Pearce and
hooker Michael Ennis is the frame around which future Blues sides can be built.
"It doesn't take long for momentum to swing at times," Bellamy told reporters on
Tuesday.
"I know it's been a little while this last period but the positive thing out of this
series for us is we've got a spine in place there now that can be there for a fair
while.
"You'd like to think that Jarryd, Mitchell and Michael could be there for a while
and NSW can build a team around those guys.
"Those guys get another chance to play another game at this level together so that's
important."
It's a feeling shared by Barrett, who is adamant NSW need to build some
Queensland-like camaraderie to end a downward spiral that currently stands at five
series losses.
"It's important that we play well tomorrow for that reason, so that we don't feel
the need that we have to go searching for Origin players," Barrett said.
"We've got them here, we've just got to get our game on and win tomorrow night.
"If we don't win we need to play very well and come very close.
"It just makes so much of a difference coming into game one next year with a similar
squad, your combinations are there, your friendships are there, you don't waste two
or three days in camp getting to know blokes and it gives you a head start."
Bellamy has refused to confirm he will step down after the ANZ Stadium clash, or
comment on a report he offered his resignation after the 34-6 game two demolition.
But the Melbourne boss, who this year has already endured the stripping of the two
premierships he won with the Storm, did concede he wished sometimes he'd never been
asked to coach the Blues.
"Especially after the last couple of games, but a couple of days you get over it and
then you review what happened and you're excited, you have another plan and off you
go again," he said.
"It hasn't been a pleasure all of the time but it's certainly been an honour."
Barrett can retire as an incumbent Blues captain, a decision he said could come as
early as Thursday.
"This will probably be it," the 32-year-old said.
"I've always said I didn't want to play that one year too long and I wanted to
finish still as a good player.
"This gives me an opportunity to do that."