NSW coach Brad Fittler admits his team faces a challenge to come down from the highs of winning the State of Origin series to pull off their first whitewash in 18 years.
Fittler will put celebrations to the side on Monday when he names his team for the July 11 dead rubber at Suncorp Stadium, with an unchanged line-up expected.
NSW’s performances in the opening two games have made them the toast of rugby league in the past week, with the tide of Origin turning after two gutsy displays in Melbourne and Sydney.
All of a sudden the Maroons will undoubtedly have more to play for on their home patch.
Billy Slater’s farewell shapes as an obvious motivation, while even Queensland could only manage one 3-0 result, in 2009, during their 12 years of domination.
Fittler was the captain the last time the Blues achieved the feat, in 2000, as one of just seven sides in the history to complete the sweep.
“I don’t know why they are so hard,” Fittler told Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“I think pride plays a big part in it. Especially going home like Queensland are, they wouldn’t be in this position too many times.
“And then obviously the winners have got to come down. That’s a big thing to deal with for our team.
“Our mindset and egos and getting it in place and finding a reason why we should do it.”
Fittler has already begun planning for the clash, with the squad set to enter camp in Sydney on Monday before they fly to Brisbane at the start of next week.
Monday’s selection announcement will likely mean the Blues’ record batch of Origin rookies have passed the ultimate test and held their spot for all three games of the series.
As of Sunday morning, each of NSW’s 17 were expected to be fit with Boyd Cordner (concussion) and Tyson Frizell (rested) the only players not to back up in the NRL this weekend.
It means Reagan Campell-Gillard’s fractured jaw before Game II will likely be the only forced change in the NSW squad throughout the series, with the remaining 10 rookies who entered the series retaining their spots.
It represents a significant shift of past Origin squads made up largely of debutants, who with the exception of Queensland in 1995 have shuffled through combinations and players as the series went on.
“We’re talking about players and watching all the games again,” Fittler said.
“Going through that ride of who is injured and who is not. A few of them are a little bit busted and weighing up the 10-day break now, which is fantastic.
“Most players should recover, I’d say.”
Probable NSW side: James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Latrell Mitchell, James Roberts, Josh Ado-Carr, James Maloney, Nathan Cleary, David Klemmer, Damien Cook, Matt Prior, Boyd Cordner (capt), Tyson Frizell, Jack de Belin. Interchange: Paul Vaughan, Jake Trbojevic, Angus Crichton, Tyrone Peachey.
