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Home / Sport / League / NRL

Origin: Will decider be Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater's Maroons swan song?

AAP
12 Jul, 2017 07:17 AM2 mins to read

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Cooper Cronk celebrates with Billy Slater and Cameron Smith. Photo / photosport.nz

Cooper Cronk celebrates with Billy Slater and Cameron Smith. Photo / photosport.nz

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Their futures may still be undecided but Queensland coach Kevin Walters wants Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk to play tonight's State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium like it is their last game.

Slater, 34, is a confirmed starter after Walters cleared the veteran fullback of a rolled ankle suffered at training on Sunday.

However, Walters said neither Slater or Cronk had indicated whether this would be their final game in Maroon.

-Follow all the action from tonight's game on nzherald.co.nz's live blog

Off contract Slater is yet to decide whether to re-sign for another season ahead of his 29th Origin after a successful comeback from two shoulder reconstructions this year.

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And Cronk, 33, is unsure of his playing future after announcing he will leave NRL club Melbourne and join his fiancee in Sydney in 2018.

But Walters believed it was "irrelevant" whether this would be the pair's Origin swan song.

He simply wanted them to bring their best tonight as the Maroons look to keep their dynasty alive.

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-Follow all the action from tonight's game on nzherald.co.nz's live blog or catch live commentary on Radio Sport from 10.10pm

Walters said Queensland would need Slater and fellow "Big Three" members Cronk and skipper Cameron Smith to shine if the Maroons were to clinch their 11th series win in 12 years.

"They haven't given any indication to anyone really," he said.

"That's irrelevant. We just need them to be at their best to win. They know what is going on but we just want the best out of them tomorrow night and worry about that next year."

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A controversial game one omission, Slater reclaimed his Queensland No 1 jersey for the first time in two years in Origin II to help inspire a come from behind 18-16 win in Sydney.

"I think Billy made a big difference in game two and we need that difference again for Queensland to get home," Walters said.

"I think Cooper Cronk can add to that as well regardless of whether it is their last game for Queensland."

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