Skipper in mood to attack

CAMERON Smith admits he is letting Queensland down and needs to lift for the decider with the Maroons skipper mired in the worst attacking output of his 14- year Origin career.

Revered as the code’s greatest hooker, Smith has been muzzled by NSW in the first two Origin clashes, making just two runs and eight metres in 160 minutes of action in this year’s series.

In Game One at Suncorp Stadium, Smith ( above), celebrating a milestone evening as the first player in Origin history to reach 40 games, made one run for one metre in Queensland’s 28- 4 rout.

In the return bout, Smith was thwarted again by the NSW defence, which restricted him to just one run for seven metres in Queensland’s epic 18- 16 victory at ANZ Stadium.

Now, with injured champion Johnathan Thurston missing from Queensland’s playmaking spine, Smith concedes he is under pressure to be more effective out of dummy- half in the Suncorp decider.

Smith’s offensive numbers this season are the lowest of his 41- game Origin career. Incredibly, they represent a 90 per cent decrease on his average running metres at club level this season for the Storm.

“I need to do more, there’s no doubt about that,” Smith said.

“I haven’t been that happy with my involvement, I want more involvement this game, particularly with our attack.

“It’s much more difficult to get opportunities in Origin. NSW’s defence has been very good in the first two games but I’d like to run the football a bit more ( in the decider).”

Smith produced his best attacking effort of the season last Friday night in Melbourne’s 42- 12 drubbing of the Broncos.