Skipper says still loads to play for

MAROONS skipper Cameron Smith has declared he has no plans to exit the Origin arena as he chases the “most satisfying” win of his career.

Smith will make a record 42nd appearance for Queensland in the blockbuster decider against NSW at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow.

The 34-year-old hooker has presided over four series wins since assuming the captaincy from Darren Lockyer in 2012.

But with Queensland suffering a crippling injury toll, and losing Game One 28-4, Smith said none would be sweeter than if the Maroons could pull off a remarkable comeback win.

“It’d be the most satisfying, I reckon, given the injuries we’ve had and the personnel that are unavailable,” he said.

“(Greg) Inglis and (Matt) Scott (for the series), Darius (Boyd) for this game, JT (Johnathan Thurston) for two of the games.

“There’s a lot of guys there with a lot of talent and a lot of experience at this level.

“It would be a huge effort. Even if those guys were available it would still be a huge effort needed to beat NSW.

“But we’re not at all getting ahead of ourselves and thinking about how good it would be to win the series.

“We know there’s a lot of hard work in front of us to be at that point at the 80th minute to be ahead on the scoreboard.

“Our focus is purely on our last session and then making sure that we deliver an 80minute performance, because we haven’t done that thus far this series.

Smith has been the longestserving Maroon in Origin history, making his debut in Game Three of 2003 and only missing one match since.

The Maroons are going through a transitional period in which Thurston has played his final Origin game and Storm duo Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater are yet to commit beyond this year.