Valentine Holmes has promised Queensland fans they will see “a different team” take to the field in the decider and one that will be looking to confront the Blues head on.
Queensland will take a backs-to-the-wall mentality into Game Three after they were beaten to the punch in the first half of their 38-18 loss at the MCG.
“I think just across the whole park, it probably wasn't our standard out there, especially the first half,” Holmes said.
“We've had an honest review about that and we've spoken about it and it's time to put in to action and training. I thought we did that really well and still got another couple of sessions to go.
“You'll see a different team Wednesday, I can tell you that.
“Obviously, the Blues just played really well; they wanted it more, they needed to win to make it a decider.
Holmes gives Maroons early lead
“I'm not saying that we didn't want it or we didn't want to win, but there's only going to be one winner and they played really well.
“They scrapped better, they tackled better, they wrestled better, so we know that now and we'll be ready to go.”
Holmes had a tough night at centre in Game Two with the Blues directing plenty of traffic his way and has been moved to the left wing to partner with centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
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The Dolphins fullback trained strongly in the Queensland’s opposed session against Wynnum Manly Seagulls on Thursday, despite missing the past two NRL matches for his club with an AC injury he picked up in the first half at the MCG.
“I didn't even realise he was injured, to be honest, I thought that was just resting last week, but he obviously looked good inside me (at training)," Holmes said.
"He's still fast, very agile and very good with the ball, so pretty confident he'll be there.”
On his own move out to the wing, Holmes was confident he could do a good job, having performed there previously at every level of the game.
“I feel good … I feel like every time I've gone on the wing, we've played pretty well and I've happened to score a 'meat pie' or something,” Holmes said of his positional switch.
“When Bill [Slater] called, he still hadn't made his mind up with me, whether he was playing me centre or wing; he just said, ‘just be ready, you’re back in’.
“Obviously we had injuries, with Xavier [Coates] and Murray [Taulagi], so the wing position opened up and I think he probably knows I can play a wing, it's not a foreign position for myself.
“I've done it for Australia, I've done it for Cowboys and Sharks and Maroons.
“It's probably my second favourite position."
While the squad had plenty of incentive internally to put in a better performance in the decider, Holmes said the support of a home crowd at Suncorp Stadium was another motivating factor.
“I'll take it in, I love it. I love the Suncorp crowd,” Holmes said.
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“It’s one of the best stadiums to play in in general, but when you're playing an Origin decider, there's probably no better feeling to run out with 50-odd-thousand backing you.
“It'd be intimidating for the other team but they can use that energy as well. It definitely would go towards more towards us, it's lovely to hear.”
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