Rugby league great and Queensland assistant Cameron Smith believes the Maroons’ biggest challenge ahead of Game II is complacency.
Having won Game I as underdogs in Sydney (16-10), Smith is desperate to ensure he and coach Billy Slater’s team don’t go into the next game with their guard down.
As a veteran of Origin with 42 record appearances for Queensland, Smith has found himself in the position this Maroons side finds themselves in on multiple occasions, and he hopes the lessons he learned can help the team narrow their focus.
“I’ve been part of these matches where you win Game I, you go into Game II knowing that Game III is in Brisbane and that you’re going home,” Smith said on SENQ’s Pat and Heals.
“It (the biggest challenge) is trying to get that out of your mind thinking, ‘Well, we’re 1-0 up, if it doesn’t go the right way for us in Game II we’re going back home and playing in front of our home fans’.
“The ‘We’ll be okay’, you have to erase that out of your mind.
“Your sole focus needs to be on what we need to do better in Game II over in Perth.”
With all of their energy concentrated on claiming the best-of-three series in Perth, Smith says the team knows they have to improve on their winning Game I performance if they’re to claim Game II.
“It’s where can we improve from Game I?,” Smith said of the Maroons’ mindset.
“Maintain those things that you did really well, but we need to get better.
“We know for a fact that the Blues will be much better.”
Game II of the State of Origin series is set for Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday June 26.