KEV’S CREW ONLY HALFWAY THERE
QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters has put the basket-case Blues on notice by declaring the Maroons will wrap up the series in Origin II after beating NSW with a “five out of 10” performance in Game One.
As NSW reel from seven changes, Queensland’s confidence is soaring with Walters saying the Maroons only scratched the surface of their ability in the series opener and still beat the Blues at Suncorp Stadium.
Now Walters is going for the jugular, with the Maroons coach warning NSW counterpart Brad Fittler his playmaking spine will only get better in the historic return bout at Perth’s 60,000-seat Optus Stadium on Sunday night.
Queensland showed great resolve to win Game One 18-14 but Walters fired a fresh salvo at the besieged Blues, insisting his Maroons can be twice as good in the west to reclaim the shield.
“We expect to win Game Two,” Walters said.
“After reviewing the game, I would probably give us a five out of 10, or maybe a six if I am being kind.
“The players are aware of this, they know there will be some improvements and we expect them to improve over the week.
“That is why we are here (in Perth), we have come over early to get ourselves mentally and physically prepared for the game of our lives.
“We expected to win Game One and our thoughts haven’t changed to get the job done in Game Two.”
Walters is adamant his awesome foursome of Kalyn Ponga, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans and Ben Hunt will terrorise the Blues and consign NSW to a dead rubber in Origin III in Sydney on July 10.
Asked to explain why he gave Queensland’s Game One performance such a mediocre rating, Walters pointed to his new spine.
“Firstly, we look at our attack, it was the first game our spine has played together,” he said.