Don’t poke the bear.
A nervous Kevin Walters has warned Queensland not to sledge NSW X-factor Andrew Fifita in their bid to keep their remarkable State of Origin dynasty alive in game three at a soldout Suncorp Stadium.
But Walters has backed the Maroons’ defence to stop the barnstorming Cronulla prop and “put some pride back in the jersey” on Wednesday night when they return to the scene of Fifita’s greatest triumph just six weeks ago – NSW’s record 28-4 Origin I win.
In one of the most-anticipated deciders in Origin history, the ageing Maroons – with Johnathan Thurston sidelined – are looking to claim their 11th series in 12 years in what might be the final Queensland games for greats Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk.
The long-suffering Blues are only in sight of their second series triumph in 12 years.
Walters warned Queensland they would face what he rated the best NSW team in 10 years.
And he feared game-one hero Fifita could be the difference again, as he warned the Maroons not to “wake the giant”.
After his opening game heroics, Fifita was kept in check in Queensland’s come-from-behind 18-16 Origin II triumph and later complained of a vicious on-field sledge from Maroons lock Josh McGuire.
“We don’t need to wake the giant, do we?” Walters said of sledging Fifita.
“What happens on the field stays on the field but he will be a big handful tomorrow night.”
However, Fifita is expected to file McGuire’s choice words away when he is unleashed as NSW try to clinch their first series decider since 2005.
“We all left here bitterly disappointed about the result of game one. It was our biggest loss (at Suncorp Stadium),” Walters said.
“In game three, defence will again be the big issue against probably the best NSW team we have seen in the last 10 years.
“We will try to address that first with our defence and put a bit of pride back in the jersey.”
Queensland have dominated Origin deciders, winning 12 – including the past six – compared to NSW’s four with two draws.
But second-year Queensland coach Walters wasn’t taking anything for granted after NSW confirmed skipper Boyd Cordner (calf) would play.
It ensures NSW will field the same 17 for the entire series for the first time since NSW’s 1996 whitewash.
“We are not naive about how tough it is going to be,” Walters said.
“Boyd’s been a great leader for them this series. We were always planning on him playing.
“NSW won game one convincingly; we snuck in game two. Now two great teams will go at it tomorrow night – that’s what Origin is all about.”
Laurie Daley can become just the second Blues’ coach to win more than one series with victory on Wednesday.
“We understand the potency of the NSW side. Six weeks ago, they put the cleaners through us (in game one) – we have to be respectful of that,” Walters said.
