League: Inglis key to Queensland's hopes

Cameron Smith says Greg Inglis needs more ball. Photo / Getty Images

Rarely do Queensland captains reveal their game plan before a must-win State of Origin league clash, but Cameron Smith admits it is obvious that their strike weapon Greg Inglis needs more ball.

Especially after Smith rated Inglis arguably the game's most dangerous ball carrier.

But it seems Queensland are still figuring out a way to do it as they look to keep alive hopes of an eighth straight Origin series win tomorrow night in Brisbane.

Inglis has been a revelation as South Sydney fullback but admitted he felt like a "headless chook" as a Queensland centre in their 14-6 Origin One loss to New South Wales.

Inglis averages more than 168m an NRL game wearing the Rabbitohs No1 jersey but made just 57m from 10 runs as a Maroons three-quarter in Sydney.

It had prompted the likes of ex-NSW centre Mark Gasnier to call for Inglis to be named on the wing in order to get more involved in kick returns and receive more quality ball at Suncorp Stadium.

Inglis still couldn't budge incumbent Queensland No1 Billy Slater for Origin Two - now the Maroons must use it to their advantage, Smith said.

"There's no secret to us wanting GI to get more ball. He's the most dangerous ball-carrier in the game, maybe even the game has seen," Smith said. "In game one I think he touched the ball 11 times. We need him to probably double that, give him more opportunity."

Inglis said he would strike up a contingency plan "to get the hands on the ball more" with coach Mal Meninga. But he didn't think where he played proved the difference in NSW's first game win.

"I thought we stuck to our game plan in game one. We just didn't play the best we could have," he said.

Smith said fit-again pivot Johnathan Thurston was Queensland's other priority. Thurston struggled after aggravating a groin complaint which he brought into game one and also seemed preoccupied by the imminent birth of his first child. AAP