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Origin III decider will be a 'different beast' at Suncorp warns Tedesco
By
AAP
NSW are flying high following their game two demolition of Queensland, but Blues captain James Tedesco knows it will be a “different beast” when his team marches onto enemy territory for the State of Origin series decider.
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The Maroons were accused of putting up the white flag in their 44-12 loss at Optus Stadium on Sunday night.
NSW ran in five tries in the second half, while Queensland were unable to score a single point after the break.
The result levelled the series at 1-1, with the decider to be played at Suncorp Stadium on July 13.
Queensland have enjoyed a remarkable success rate when the series has gone to a decider, winning eight of the past nine in such a scenario.
The Maroons’ home venue has historically been a graveyard for the Blues.
But NSW produced a stunning 26-0 win there last year on the way to wrapping up the series 2-1.
Queensland are hurting following their limp performance in Perth, and NSW are bracing for a backlash in the Suncorp Stadium decider.
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“We know it’s going to be a different beast going up there,” Tedesco said.
“(It will be a) packed Suncorp, everyone against us. But it’s a challenge we’ll look forward to.
“I think we’ll take a lot of confidence out of this game. We’ll identify some stuff we can get better at.”
NSW coach Brad Fittler moved quickly to snuff out any hint of complacency following the big win in Perth.
The Blues haven’t lost the first game in Sydney and gone on to win the series since 1994.
“It’s 1-1. As good as that was (in Perth), it’s 1-1. Simple as that,” Fittler said.
“We’re playing at Suncorp, and we’ve only won once there in (the past) four years.”
The Maroons’ second-half capitulation has attracted plenty of criticism, but skipper Daly Cherry-Evans scoffed when asked whether it was an embarrassment.
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“Gees, they’re big words … and there’s a lot of headlines that media like to put on certain performances,” Cherry-Evans said.
“But looking at my teammates, there’s not one person that didn’t try their hardest out there tonight.
“It probably looked like we lost a fair bit of concentration there for 30 minutes, but I can’t question the effort we put out there.”
Queensland are sweating on the fitness of Cameron Munster after the star five-eighth hurt his left shoulder in Perth.
