For the past six years, Mal Meninga has enjoyed a chauffeur-driven journey through State of Origin.

Very rarely have the wheel nuts looked wobbly.

Nothing much has gone wrong and there's been no real drama to speak of.

But there are signs the big man is starting to crack under the pressure of having to deliver a seventh straight series victory.

On Sunday, Meninga angrily withdrew two players from pre-arranged media interviews.

He also banned photographers and TV cameras from shooting Queensland's opposed session against the Queensland Residents.

Apparently the Maroons coach is upset over how the Billy Slater injury situation was covered by the media.

He's also sick of questions being raised over Johnathan Thurston's fitness.

He now faces a fresh drama after the man he cut - Dave Taylor - rubbed his face in it by turning in a five-star performance for Souths on Sunday.

You can see the Mal-function headlines from here.

Meninga is jumping at shadows that aren't there if he thinks the media is plotting against him.

His blame game, allegedly, extends as far as social media.

When you are worried about what they're saying about you on Twitter, you're on the way to losing the plot.

Leave that sort of stuff to Shane Warne.

There's no doubt Meninga has never been more up against it than he is at the moment.

Aside from the Slater and Thurston issues, there's been much debate over Taylor's omission and more to come.

Former Queensland player Ben Ikin suggested NSW had shown a lack of loyalty in dumping Akuila Uate from the decider.

It's something Queensland would never do, of course.

Until they did it to Taylor.

The theory, according to Ikin, is that a player given a shot at redemption more often than not repays the favour with a big game.

We're still waiting to hear from Ikin following Taylor's axing, but the decision to let the giant forward go is a sign the famous Queensland solidarity is cracking ever so slightly.

NSW won't say it publicly, but they've taken notice.

They are increasing in confidence as each day passes, convinced they are at least Queensland's equal.

It's a belief they haven't had for the past six years.

The way he's acting, it seems Meninga is now also among the believers.

Join the conversation with former Origin stars Anthony Minichiello and Matt Ballin on FANGO during the game. The pair will be there for some friendly banter in what is arguably the biggest Origin clash in a decade. Get involved.

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