Maroons threaten more of it

IN an ominous warning to NSW, Queensland coach Kevin Walters has rated the Maroons’ stirring State of Origin I win as only a “five or maybe six out of 10”.

But a fired-up Walters was confident the Blues would see Queensland at their best in Sunday’s game two in Perth.

The Maroons have the chance to reclaim the Origin trophy and seal their 12th series in 14 years with a game-two victory after a come from behind series-opening win.

Queensland reeled in an 8-0 halftime deficit to clinch an 18-14 Origin I triumph at Suncorp Stadium.

It was impressive stuff, but Walters reckoned the Blues hadn’t seen anything yet.

Walters stuck with his bullish game-one approach, again repeating his mantra that the Maroons “expect to win” after making just two injury enforced changes to his 17 compared to NSW’s seven new faces.

“After reviewing the game I would probably give it a five or six out of 10 if I am being kind,” Walters said of the series opener. And the players are aware of this. They know there will be some improvements.

“We expect to improve. We expect to win game two.”

Walters copped flack for adopting the “Expect to Win” philosophy of coach whisperer Bradley Charles Stubbs before game one.

He appeared to silence his critics when Queensland earned first blood. But Walters is not satisfied yet, saying the best was yet to come from their new-look spine.

Walters warned halfback and skipper Daly CherryEvans, hooker Ben Hunt and fullback Kalyn Ponga would click in game two.

Asked why he was so harsh with his Origin I rating, Walters said: “Firstly, we look at our attack. It was the first game our spine has played together. “DCE [Cherry-Evans] had five weeks out [with ankle injury] before he played his first Origin game — he can be better.

“For Kalyn Ponga it was his first game in the Origin arena [starting at fullback] — he will learn a lot from that experience.