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Queensland great and assistant coach Cameron Smith has called out rivals NSW Blues ahead of Origin III, questioning their decision to make seven changes to their squad, after the series has already been decided.
The Maroons won the first two games convincingly, forcing Blues coach Brad Fittler to make some major calls in the hope of taking out the final game.
But, Smith has voiced his opinion on the bold selection calls, including the addition of 34-year-old five-eighth Cody Walker, questioning whether NSW has their future in mind.
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“You are probably looking at a couple of them [the changes] and thinking ‘why weren’t these changes made after Game I, when the series was still alive’,” Smith told SEN.
“Are they picking this team for the future or are they picking this team just to win?”
It comes after NSW coach Brad Fittler hit back at the critics over the latest Origin snubbing of Nicho Hynes, which Smith said wasn’t done with the future of the Blues’ team in mind.
“If you were looking for the future, you would have thought Nicho Hynes would be in the football side,” Smith said.
Smith added that despite his belief that this side is the Blues’ strongest so far, he remains confused as to why NSW selectors made their bravest calls after the series had been decided.
“When you look at this football side and actually break it down, I would say it is probably their most dangerous football side,” Smith said.
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“But it’s been a little bit confusing the selections that they’ve made, particularly across game two and game three.”
Queensland is hoping to win the series 3-0, for the first time in 13 years.
The Maroons head to Sydney to face the Blues in Origin III on July 12 at Accor Stadium.
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