Kiwis better than State of Origin

Aaron Woods of the Blues is tackled during game three of the State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues. Photo / Getty Images.

State of Origin has lost something.

It might be hearsay, but it ain't what it was - and the current Kiwis team has helped to put it in sharp perspective.

Origin remains a magnificent spectacle but it is no longer the pinnacle of rugby league.

The 2015 series has been enjoyable and entertaining, but it doesn't top test football anymore.

It often used to, especially during spells of the 1990s and early 2000s. International league was the highest honour but nothing was bigger, stronger or faster than Origin.

Not any more. The current New Zealand side has taken the sport to a new level. Just look at the evidence.

Players like Corey Parker, Nate Myles and Sam Thaiday were brilliant as part of a dominant Queensland pack on Wednesday night, and deserve all the plaudits they are receiving. But that trio have had minimal impact on the last few occasions they have faced the Kiwis.

Michael Jennings is a NSW superstar, but has done little in the recent trans-tasman clashes, as has Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis.

Origin is wonderful theatre. It's a test of endurance, grit and skill that has few parallels with any annual sporting contest in the world.

But does anybody seriously believe that the current Kiwis team couldn't match that standard, especially with the luxury of an extensive build-up and all of the resources poured into each team?

Neither Queensland nor NSW - as was demonstrated in the last three three trans-tasman tests - currently have the kind of forwards that can live with the Kiwis pack in full flight.

Does anybody really think that Ben Matulino, Issac Luke and Jesse Bromwich couldn't cope with any front row combination that was selected by either Origin team?

And what about the ball running impact of Martin Taupau and Jason Taumalolo, while Simon Mannering is a prototype Origin specimen. And that's without mentioning Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor, Sam Moa or Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

Then there is the extreme talents of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at fullback while Shaun Johnson and Kieran Foran match up well against any of the current state half combinations.

Test football hasn't always been comparable to Origin but it is at the moment, and probably surpasses it.