There may be talk of a mini-transition in the Queensland State of Origin camp but Maroons chairman of selectors Des Morris says their same old backs-to-the-wall mentality should clinch them next week’s decider.
Fresh faces Will Chambers and Justin O’Neill may be invited into the Origin III camp to help blood them ahead of the likely post-2013 Origin retirement of veteran backs Brent Tate and Justin Hodges.
It follows coach Mal Meninga’s bold call to ditch the loyalty card and inject debutants Daly Cherry-Evans and Josh Papalii into their must win game two clash – which Queensland duly claimed 26-6 at Suncorp Stadium.
Morris says their tried and tested on-field approach will be the key as they vie for an eighth straight Origin series against a NSW outfit with “a few doubts”.
For only the third time in their dominant run since 2006, Queensland will aim to clinch the series in Sydney in front of the baying Blues crowd – yet Morris sounds quietly confident.
“Winning in Sydney is certainly a challenge,” he told AAP.
“But our blokes have been able to do it before. We are last-start winners, so confidence should be up.
“NSW have a few doubts, have a few injuries.
“I am pretty confident that if our guys play to the best of their ability then they will get the job done.
“And that is what they have been able to do in the last seven years – when they have had to step up, they have.
“You can’t ask for any more than that.”
Their approach may be the same but more new faces are expected to enjoy the Maroons experience soon.
Chambers, O’Neill along with Ben Barba and Newcastle flyer Dane Gagai are among those expected to be invited to hang out with the Queensland squad at Camp Maroon as part of Meninga’s grand plan to keep their production line – and Origin dominance – motoring along.
“In the last year Ben Te’o, Matt Gillett, Papalii and Cherry-Evans have played for Queensland, so slowly there has been a turnover,” Morris said.
“We are aware of it (transition) but we don’t have to force it on them.
“Tate and Hodges have indicated it is their last season and we will wait to see what happens there but there are young blokes who have been in the squad, like O’Neill and Barba in the past.
“We are well aware of what we have got.
“You don’t want to change a winning combination but we have been comfortable with the guys that we have been able to bring in the last couple of years.
“And a lot of them have plenty of footy left in them yet.”

