This time, it is personal for the Queensland pack.
Skipper Greg Inglis has revealed the Maroons forwards have held a secret meeting to plan their response in Sunday’s must-win State of Origin game two in Sydney after taking the series-opening loss personally.
The Maroons pack appeared vulnerable after being out-muscled by the Blues in their 22-12 Origin I defeat in Melbourne .
Queensland coach Kevin Walters even admitted he gave prop Jarrod Wallace a “second chance” by retaining the Gold Coast workhorse for game two at ANZ Stadium.
However, Inglis said one look around their Gold Coast camp upon the team’s arrival was all it took to convince him the Maroons forwards meant business in game two.
“They know they have a challenge ahead and they do take it personally,” Inglis said of his forwards.
“When we came together on day one, they (the forwards) got together as a group.
“I don’t know what has been said in that group but I know they are looking forward to the challenge in Sydney.
“Origin is all about winning the ruck and the forward battle, it always has been.
“Us boys out wide get to look pretty but those boys get bashed up through the middle.”
Inglis backed maligned Gold Coast front-rower Wallace to hit back in his fourth Origin after copping flak for managing 43m from just five carries in game one.
“I will back Jarrod. I know he is going to be a different player. I know he has learnt from that and so has the rest of the forward group and the rest of the team,” Inglis said.
“We learned a lot from game one. That’s why we picked them because we know they are going to be better.”
Queensland are yet to confirm Wallace’s front-row partner Dylan Napa (ankle) will play and he may have to prove his fitness at Saturday’s captain’s run at ANZ Stadium.
Melbourne’s Tim Glasby is on standby.
Napa is confident of playing – and proving a point – on Sunday.
“Of course I want to go out there and prove I am deserving of my spot, ” Napa said.
“We knew what was coming with (hooker) Damien Cook and (fullback) James Tedesco out of dummy half and snooping around the ruck, we just have to fill that up in game two.”
Meanwhile, Melbourne’s Christian Welch has joined the Maroons squad in Sydney as a development player.
Queensland flew from their Gold Coast camp into Sydney on Friday.