Corey Parker’s plea for respect from his NSW counterparts has become a running joke at the Blues’ Coffs Harbour base ahead of State Of Origin III.

Queensland forward Parker said David Klemmer should have afforded the Maroons more respect in the latter stages of NSW’s game two win at the MCG last month.

Klemmer’s stand-out effort and in-your-face response to Parker has made him Public Enemy No.1 in Queensland ahead of Wednesday’s Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.

But south of the border, Parker’s comment, which continues to invite ridicule, is a regular source of conversation, said Klemmer’s good friend and Blues teammate Aaron Woods.

“A lot of people have come up in the street and asked Klem about it, but he just laughs it off,” Woods said on Saturday.

“I don’t think he cares at all, he just loves playing rugby league. He hasn’t bought into any of the hype or anything, we have just been chilling in our rooms and been having a good time. He can’t wait for next Wednesday.

Blues back-rower Beau Scott raised an eyebrow when asked what he thought about Parker’s onfield request for respect.

“Respect is given throughout the game, and I think it has to be earned through actions on the field, rather than asking for it,” Scott said.

When questioned whether he had ever asked anyone for respect, Scott simply offered: “No”.

Plenty of talk in Queensland has centred around the targeting of Klemmer in the decider, but the Canterbury enforcer isn’t concerned, according to Woods.

“It’s up to him to do what they can do … loves it the big dog,” Woods said.

“It is such a big game coming up, there has been a lot of talk about it but he has just flushed it out the back he just doesn’t care.

Scott said: “Klem is not reading into it too much, I don’t think he really cares about it at all, I am looking forward to running out there with him on Wednesday night. “He has the experienced players around him to get him to calm down and let him know what is expected.”