So much has changed for the Blues in the space of 12 months. There's a new coach, injuries across the field, and form issues for plenty of guys who took part in the Blues' victorious dead rubber last year.
Despite all of that, there's a wealth of talent available across the park - but who makes the cut?
Fullback: James Tedesco
When we were doing this exercise 12 months ago, there were a fair few people out there that had Tedesco out of the side for the excellent Dylan Edwards - and while the Penrith fullback has had another excellent start to the year in 2024 and may well win the Dally M, this spot remains in the hands of the skipper until further notice.
There was some talk of him being a 'legacy pick' in 2023 but that quickly dissipated when he backed up a solid series for the Blues with some excellent footy for the Roosters in the games since.
Wing: Brian To'o
As close to a sure pick as there is. Not much needs to be said about To'o, whose yardage runs are so important to everything that both the Blues and Panthers want to do coming out of their own end - not to mention everything else he does so well.
Centre: Stephen Crichton
The reigning Dally M centre of the year has been a mainstay in the team for the past two seasons and has done nothing to lose his spot - helping reinvigorate a massively-improved Canterbury backline so far in 2024.
Centre: Zac Lomax
Latrell Mitchell said in interviews a couple of weeks' ago that he was considering making himself unavailable for the Blues, and with Bradman Best injured, it really came down to either Lomax or Kotoni Staggs for the other centre spot - and the latter was ruled out with a broken rib on Tuesday.
Given I would have selected Lomax on the wing had Best been fit, and he is equally capable of playing further infield, I've given him the nod here - but both are fine choices.
Wing: Joseph Sua'ali'i
Probably the toughest choice with Josh Addo-Carr another fine selection, but the Wallabies-bound Sua'ali'i hasn't let his impending code switch impact his form, meshing well with Dom Young on that potent right-hand side for the Roosters, and being among the top outside backs in categories such as try assists, offloads, post-contact metres and running metres.
There is an argument for not picking someone who won't be there next year, but I don't really see it. It's a three-game series with a week of camp beforehand, and you're playing to win every year; not to put someone in the team for the future.
Five-eighth: Cody Walker
The Rabbitohs are having the season from hell, but Walker has been trying everything he can to get them going and is the only player on the team that has looked like creating anything in attack. Walker was man of the match in the Blues' win in game three last year and the awful form of his club team shouldn't be used as a stick to beat him with.
Walker is still an elite playmaker, and with several other contenders sidelined with injury, this is a no-brainer.
Halfback: Nicho Hynes
Fresh off another brilliant showing on Saturday night against the Roosters, the best player on the current NRL ladder leaders will get his chance to shine in sky blue as the dominant playmaker with Nathan Cleary ruled out.
Hynes only got 12 minutes at Origin level last year, but has kept his head down and continued to dominate for the Sharks.
Prop: Payne Haas
What needs to be said here? Haas is the best prop in the world and is capable of just about anything asked of him. His ability to play bulk minutes allows the Blues to utilise a more mobile bench full of strike power (more on that later) and Haas will remain the first name on the sheet for any hypothetical New South Wales team for years to come.
Hooker: Api Koroisau
Much like Walker for Souths, Koroisau has been slogging his guts out for a Tigers team that has really relied on pieces of individual brilliance to score points this year. Blayke Brailey has been in career-best form and guys like Reece Robson and Wayde Egan have shown flashes, but Koroisau is the best option the Blues have until further notice.
Prop: Junior Paulo
Front row is really the only position that the Blues aren't completely stacked with slam dunk selections in, but Paulo has done the job before and has continued to play solid minutes each week in a struggling Parramatta side.
Second row: Liam Martin
This will be the fourth season of Martin's Origin career, and he absolutely deserves to hold down his spot for 2024.
Second row: Hudson Young
Angus Crichton has played well for the Roosters recently and could definitely be in the mix, but injuries to Tyson Frizell and the poor form of Keaon Koloamatangi have opened this spot in the team right up, and Canberra's firebrand gets the nod -- his debut for the Blues last year was tough but he bounced back well in game two before being dropped for the decider.
Lock: Isaah Yeo
One of the best forwards in the game for several years now, Yeo would be in the team in some capacity regardless, but with an injury to Cam Murray he is the clear No.13 in this team.
BENCH
Interchange: Matt Burton
Burton is capable of playing multiple positions in the backline and could even, if asked, come on and play the sort of roaming role that Michael Morgan popularised at Origin level a few years ago.
With Haas and Yeo taking up plenty of minutes between them, there's more room for the Blues to get a bit more dynamic and outside the box with one of their bench spots, and with Burton you get halves cover as well as x-factor.
Interchange: Haumole Olakau'atu
He could easily start, but the Manly star's ability to play either on his favoured edge or in the middle if needed will suit what the Blues need.
Undoubtedly capable of playing a full game as he does most weeks for the Sea Eagles, his mix of size, speed and power can be equally valuable as a bench option.
Interchange: Daniel Saifiti
He was a safe pair of hands for the Blues between 2019 and 2021 before falling out of favour, but has been back to his best in recent weeks for the Knights and is a perfect prop option off the bench.
Interchange: Cameron McInnes
McInnes has been a revelation in the dynamic middle forward role that Craig Fitzgibbon has him playing for the Sharks right now, and it's that exact type of position that he could come in and be vital for the Blues in.