Former Maroons forward Billy ‘Queenslander’ Moore. Photo / Getty Images
COOLUM - The Blues must win the opening game tonight or resign themselves to a record-extending fifth successive State of Origin league series loss.
That's the warning from Billy "Queenslander" Moore.
The former Maroons forward says if the Blues can't capitalise on the injury absence of Queensland hooker Cameron Smith
while playing at home they can forget about the 2010 series.
"I think it's imperative if they want to win the series, they must win in Sydney, they really have no choice," Moore said.
"NSW are putting all their chips on the table for game one, it's at their home ground, they'll have 85,000 lunatics there supporting them.
"If they can't beat Queensland without Smith, how can they then turn it around at Suncorp Stadium [in game two] with Smith back in the team?"
Moore said Smith was a vital component of the squad which won the past four series for Queensland and his absence would inevitably be felt.
"You don't have to draw a very long bow to realise why Queensland have set the record while he's been the number nine," said Moore.
"[Replacement] Matt Ballin is a fantastic kid who'll do the state proud. But Cameron Smith is a once-in-a-generation player and they're pretty big boots to fill."
Moore, who played 17 Origins for Queensland during the 1990s, is best known for his "Queenslander" call to arms coming out of the tunnel during the 1995 series, which the Maroons won 3-0 against the odds.
He believes that even though Queensland's backline is close to the best in 30 years - up there with the 1988-89 sides featuring Wally Lewis and Allan Langer - they'll miss the combinations Smith has developed with Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer and also clubmates Greg Inglis and Billy Slater.
However, he was wary of the Blues, saying it appeared coach Craig Bellamy had picked a side to play a certain style against Queensland.
"He's got an amazing track record for what he's done at NRL level, a bit like his mentor, Wayne Bennett.
"Wayne took a few goes to crack it for his first series win in 1988, I think he had three unsuccessful years."
Moore said if NSW wanted to play the aggression card they wouldn't have left out players like Paul Gallen and Greg Bird.
- AAP
