Maroons need big change in attitude, not personnel

There shouldn't be that many changes to Queensland's team for the State of Origin decider in Sydney but there does need to be a big change in attitude.

The big readjustment needs to be in the Maroons' heads after that 38-6 loss in Perth. Cameron Munster said after the game that the hunger and desire from Game One wasn't there.

It was there at Suncorp Stadium for the series opener - Queensland's attitude was tremendous. They hung in early and then came home with a great second half highlighted by real grit and determination. The Maroons need to rediscover that.

The Blues are in the box seat, with the momentum now in their direction. The Maroons won the first match and it was a great win, but the way NSW bounced back on Sunday night means they have their tails up.

That has set right Queensland back on their bums and they now must start from scratch with the way they look at everything. They have so much to look at from Origin II, but unfortunately, it was all poor.

As Kevin Walters mentioned, it went sour from the opening kick-off. You need those to be deep and for tacklers to nail the ball runners inside their own 10m line. The Blues were outside the quarter line and on their way.

I know how much Kevin wants this series. He wears his heart on his sleeve, but he has got a lot of work to do. Not just him, but the whole group of players who get picked for the decider and the support staff.

Kevin's job is not on the line. He won his first two series at the helm, but there are other careers in Origin at risk with another loss.

When the Maroons come into camp in Brisbane on Monday I am sure Kevin will stamp his authority and outline exactly what he wants from the week.

The team has already seen that he was upset by the Perth performance and 99 per cent of players will take that loss on the chin and put their hands up and say "we'll turn it around".

I'd expect the team to start training maybe a day earlier than usual and I am sure those sessions will go up a notch so they get it right on the night.

It is make or break, so Kevin will have them focused. The longer camp will give Kevin time to work on things and make the necessary adjustments.

The starting props for Queensland didn't fire in Perth but I expect Dylan Napa and Josh Papalii to retain their spots.

Napa and Papalii need to realise that they can take it to NSW and dominate from the start. Napa has shown what he can do in the past but he's not quite there at the moment.

Papalii showcased what he is made of in Game Three last year, and again at Suncorp Stadium this year. They have to be dominant early so that Kalyn Ponga and Munster can strut their stuff.

Joe Ofahengaue played in the winning team at Suncorp Stadium and I'd expect he will come back into the side. You know what you are going to get from Joe and it is going to be 100 per cent.

Christian Welch was 18th man in Perth and I'd say an Origin debut is just around the corner for him. He was right in the frame for Game One until he got injured. That would mean Jarrod Wallace and Tim Glasby are looking over their shoulders.

I can't envisage too many other changes for Queensland . We just don't have the depth in the forwards, whereas the Blues have a plethora of players. There are still a lot of guys that aren't in the side now but who have played before.

I can think straight away of Matt Prior, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and James Tamou. Aaron Woods is close to returning for the Sharks, and he is another who has been there and done that.

Brad Fittler made seven changes to his team for Perth but they were outstanding players that have shone before at Origin level – guys like James Maloney, Tom Trbojevic and Wade Graham.

Trbojevic isn’t a regular centre but he showed he can play anywhere in the outside backs.

The Maroons backline is as good as they can field. There is no-one that you would take out.

Queensland does miss Valentine Holmes a great deal. He's scored eight tries in just five Origin games.

His enthusiasm was infectious and his scoots out of dummy half from starts to sets gave the forwards momentum. He could play anywhere in the backline but he, unfortunately, isn’t an option.