New captain Cameron Smith warns Queensland’s champion side will be punished if they rest on their record of six straight series wins against a NSW side loaded with strike players and hungry to end Origin rugby league’s best streak.
“The big dangers for us are being complacent and being comfortable with what we’ve done in the past,” said Smith, who will line up for his 25th Origin match since 2003.
“Why we’ve done so well in the past is we’ve trained hard and we’ve prepared well and not worried about what we’ve done in previous years,” added the Melbourne Storm skipper who has captained Queensland previously when Darren Lockyer was injured.
“It would be easy to kick back and put the feet up and relax and think `we’ve won six in a row, we’ll just run out and it will happen for us’ because it won’t happen like that at all.
“NSW have picked a side that’s got a lot of points in them and they look dangerous all across the park.”
Smith said it was a “huge honour” to lead Queensland, something he’d dreamed of as kid playing in his Brisbane backyard.
“The last time I had that opportunity was in 2008 when Locky (Darren Lockyer) was injured,” he said.
“Now it’s a permanent role similar to earlier in the year when I led the Kangaroos (after Lockyer’s retirement).”
Coach Mal Meninga presented a 19-man squad at a dinner for 400 guests at Suncorp Stadium on Monday night.
While normally focussed on his own men, Meninga acknowledged NSW would be dangers even with four rookies plus and Manly’s explosive Tony Williams who goes into the clash on May 23 without having played for nine weeks.
Meninga was also taking no notice of the recent poor form of Penrith’s Michael Jennings who was picked for the Blues from reserve grade.
“Regardless of what team they picked, they were going to play well,” said Meninga who has had 24 hours to digest his opposition.
“They’ll be committed, they’ll be enthusiastic with four debutants and they’ll be there to win.
Meninga, who ran foul of of the NSW Judiciary for highly controversial comments he made after last year’s series win, said he was not surprised the Blues’ Manly forward Glenn Stewart escaped suspension for his high shot on Brisbane’s Corey Norman at the weekend.
“I’m not surprised, it’s Origin time,” he smiled.