State of Origin: Maroons promise to deploy even more attacking firepower in Melbourne

The Maroons can clinch an Origin three-peat by taking an unassailable 2-0 series lead in Melbourne and skipper Daly Cherry-Evans says his team has some surprises up their sleeves.

(L-R) Daly Cherry-Evans and Billy Slater in the rooms after Origin I.

The Maroons are plotting an MCG massacre with skipper Daly Cherry-Evans revealing plans to shock NSW with a triple tactical treat in their bid for a 3-0 series Blue Rinse.

Queensland coach Billy Slater has put the embattled Blues on notice, warning the Maroons have only scratched the surface of their attacking power in the wake of their 38-10 rout of NSW in Origin I.

Cherry-Evans outlined how the sickening high shot which led to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s send off robbed Queensland of their plan to deploy Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in a three-way blitzkrieg at Homebush.

A concussed Walsh has been ruled out of Saturday night’s clash against the Sharks, but the Broncos ace is eyeing a return for Origin II in Melbourne on June 26.

The Maroons can clinch an Origin three-peat by taking an unassailable 2-0 series lead and Cherry-Evans is relishing Queensland’s plan to unleash their Big Three at the MCG.

Slater copped criticism for having Cobbo on the bench, but Cherry-Evans said he was blown away by the sight of the trio on the field at the same time in training at Camp Maroon.

(L-R) Daly Cherry-Evans and Billy Slater in the rooms after Origin I.

“When we got into camp and started training and saw what it (Walsh, Cobbo and Tabuai-Fidow combining) looked like, it was hard not to get excited,” Cherry-Evans said.

“Billy’s only expectation is to play with Queensland spirit and play your best footy and when we did that at training, it looked very threatening.

“We didn’t get to use that style of footy with Reece, Hammer and Selwyn all on, but that’s a good thing because we have kept some stuff up our sleeve.

“We can definitely refine our attack.”

In the lead-up to Origin I, the Maroons ran a number of attacking shapes at training, including Walsh, Cobbo and the ‘Hammer’ all featuring in offensive plays.

Walsh, who is lethal for the Broncos chiming in on back-man plays out wide, was also used in a midfield role by the Maroons.

The electric Walsh worked on changes of angles around the rucks and the lethal inside support plays that have made NSW champion James Tedesco and Storm sensation Ryan Papenhuyzen so dangerous lurking in midfield.

Slater clearly believes Walsh could rip the Blues apart in midfield, complemented by Cobbo and Tabuai-Fidow’s fusion of size and speed on the edges.

“There was stuff that we didn’t get to show that we want to show in the next game,” Cherry-Evans said.

“We had an option to bring Selwyn on, but we did expect Reece to play the whole game, so any time your fullback is not there, it does create some adversity.

“If Reece plays 80 minutes (in Origin II) they will be prepared for him and know what he does, but there’s a lot of layers to our game.

“We did enough to win the game but there is so much in attack to be refined.

“There’s improvement in both sides, The quality naturally goes up each game and we’re hoping to do that in Origin II.”

Maroons coaching staff and players believe the side could have been more clinical in attack and defence, underlining the ruthless mentality of Slater in his quest for a third consecutive series win.

“We have so much to go with our footy,” Slater said.

“I thought we were so far off with our footy (in Origin I), but that’s all to come.

“I don’t think we played the way we prepared.

“There is so much more for this footy team. That’s exciting.”