Biggest test for pair of leaders
QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters and his skipper Greg Inglis have declared tomorrow night’s showdown with NSW as the biggest challenge they have had to face.
Walters’ side arrived in Sydney last night with their backs against the wall as they try to save this year’s Origin series in front of a hostile, enemy crowd.
They lost to NSW in Game One but are this year lacking the sort of experience that helped them keep the series alive when they were in the same situation last year.
There is no Johnathan Thurston to kick a winning goal, no Cameron Smith to boost the forward pack.
Inglis, who took over the captaincy from Smith ahead of Game One, said that guiding an under- siege Queensland team to a win in Sydney tomorrow is going to be his toughest test in the Origin arena.
“This will probably be my biggest game that I’ll ever play in the Queensland jersey,” he said. “I’m going in as captain and it’s 1- 0 down.
“It’s challenging like every Origin game but I’m not going to approach it any differently than the way I have in the last 30 Origins I’ve played.
“I just need my team to understand how important this game is and really go out there and play well.”
Inglis also vowed to maintain the rage he showed in Game One when he was Queensland’s best player.
He played with plenty of aggression and tried to set an example for his teammates, but his efforts weren’t enough to snatch a victory.
“I said from the start I would lead from the front and lead with my actions and I’m not going to go away from that,” he said.
Walters has been through some of the team’s hardest days. He’s had to drop the likes of Darius Boyd, Sam Thaiday and Nate Myles.
He’s coaching without Smith, Thurston and Cooper Cronk in the team.
He knows it’s never been harder than this.