Broncoman, I think you are right in that there have been many NSWmen who have played with pride for their state.
Jack, Sterling, Clyde, Mortimer,Pierce (the one that actually did his job on the field), Stuart, Elias, Daley, Wishart, Sironen, Roach, Carroll (Mark the wrestler type...just how Rocky loves his men), Harrigan, Bird, O'Donnell are some names of great players who I genuinely believe loved playing for NSW.
However, the your argument that QLD passion isn't a factor in SoO was based on three principles, which was actually one priciple and some confusion.
1. "The players performances have decided games":- Really? I can't and won't debate this, except to add some more insight; The team which scores more points decides games.........
3. "How the game pans out":- See above.
On to your main principle;
2. "Having better players have decided games".
Explain 80-84, game 2 89 QLD winning by 4 with only 12 men (and Linder playing with a fractured ankle), Shearer's try game 3 91,1995,2002?? All those series/games had QLD teams on paper far below the standard of their NSW counterparts. Fair enough, you could say the players were better than they were given credit for however that doesn't wash due to the sheer amount of "no names" who have been selected and played exceptionally for QLD over the years.
Queensland has a plethora of talent at the moment, which has never been seen in such quantity before. And no doubt this is a strong reason for our ongoing dominance at the moment. However, this wasn't always the case, for nearly 20 years we were the weaker side year in, year out, yet for the most part we managed to find a way to victory..until the 2003-2005.
I don't deny NSW have had some fantastically skilled players, who have had real passion for their NSW jersey.
However there does seem to be strong evidence that even average players plucked out of relative obscurity, perform the games of their lives when playing for QLD, yet no such NSW players have had big impact performances.
Would you at least entertain that idea Broncoman?