Homeground advantage?

What advantage?

Queensland captain Cameron Smith insists NSW won’t be quaking in their boots at the thought of keeping the State of Origin series alive by winning game two at Suncorp Stadium.

Smith said the Maroons were satisfied with the gutsy 6-4 Origin I triumph but would not be taking anything for granted in the June 22 second clash despite notching a record 52-6 win the last time they played at the venue.

“I wouldn’t call it an advantage,” he said.

“It is nice to be 1-0 up but going back to Brisbane is not going to help us win the match.

“Ask any player and they love playing at Suncorp.

“They (NSW) will be there ready to play and they will be better than they were (in game one).

“If we think playing at home will get us a victory we will get embarrassed.”

Still, most punters would be backing Queensland to seal a remarkable 10th series win in 11 years at their homeground.

Statistics certainly support yet another Maroons triumph.

Since the introduction of the three game Origin system in 1982, the team that has won the opening game has gone on to lift the trophy 25 times from 34 series.

Fourteen of Queensland’s 19 overall series wins have come after winning game one.

Queensland coach Kevin Walters said the tight game one victory typified the qualities of the great Maroons side he had inherited.

Walters has taken over the reins from Mal Meninga who led the Maroons to their decade of dominance.

“I am so happy for this group of players,” he said.

“They keep getting challenges thrown at them and somehow they keep coming up with wins.

“Origin gets harder and harder every year.

“It wasn’t a flashy game, it was brutal and physical.

“It’s hard to explain but it’s a privilege to work with these guys.”