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Queensland Maroon's Skipper Cameron Smith during State of Origin. Source: Philip Hillyard / News Limited
CAMERON Smith has urged Queensland to maintain the rage as the Maroons skipper prepares to record another milestone in the State of Origin decider.
Barring injury, the Maroons will name an unchanged side on Tuesday for Origin III, with selectors satisfied with the squad that thumped NSW 26-6 to square the series in Game Two.
For Smith, the decider carries personal incentive. When he runs onto Sydney's ANZ Stadium, he will become the first hooker in Origin's 33-year history to chalk-up 30 interstate games.
Underlining Smith's feat, two of the game's greatest rakes, Queensland icon Steve Walters and NSW schemer Danny Buderus, played 14 and 21 Origin games respectively.
The Queensland captain claimed man-of-the-match honours in Origin II and he issued a call-to-arms ahead of the decider, warning the Maroons had to improve to clinch an eighth consecutive crown.
"We need to make sure we don't slacken off in Sydney. We need to maintain the hunger," Smith said yesterday.
"I don't see us making any changes... fingers crossed that all the boys get through this weekend's games with no injuries.
"It would be nice to keep the same side, we had a really good balance and everyone performed really well.
"There wasn't a player that didn't play well so we need to build on that game.
"We know already we have to play better than what we did in Brisbane to win this match. The Maroons have a dismal record at Homebush, having won just five of 20 matches at the ground since 1999.
The Blues outplayed Queensland across the park to clinch the series opener, but Smith insists the 14-6 loss at ANZ Stadium never eroded their self-belief.
"It's a big challenge for us to go to Sydney and try and get a win," he said.
"The Blues will be better at home, there's no doubt about, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.
"We never lost the belief, we walked off ANZ Stadium knowing we didn't play well and the Blues played extremely well. We just didn't help ourselves with the way we started, our attitude was poor and we lacked energy.
"We looked at a couple of things in game two with our preparation and we rectified that. Hopefully it stays that way for the decider.
"Smith says he isn't concerned about the prospect of being the Queensland skipper that surrenders the Origin crown.
"Not really, I understand the pressure that is on the whole team," he said.
"I remember last year when I took over the captaincy full-time, a few media guys asked me how would I feel to be the first captain to lose.
"I dealt with that fairly early. I knew it would go one of two ways, either I was going to be series-winning captain or the first to lose since 'Locky' (Darren Lockyer) retired.
"I have won two series as captain, I won in 2008 and obviously last year, so personally I am happy with the contribution I have made to the side."
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