THE CHASE FOR EIGHT: Darren Lockyer's keys to unlocking more Origin glory

QUEENSLAND tonight launch their bid for an eighth consecutive State of Origin series win. Darren Lockyer outlines the eight steps to victory.

QUEENSLAND tonight launch their bid for an eighth consecutive State of Origin series win. Darren Lockyer, who has played more Origin games than anyone, outlines the eight steps to victory in Sydney tonight.

1 PREPARATION

It's a 10-day process for the players, and for Mal Meninga and his staff it started months ago. With every Origin game there are fitness concerns and for most matches there is an off-field controversy. This year, Queensland have had both. It's a matter of how well the team addressed it on day one of the camp. Experience will have helped the Maroons move on to play well in what's going to be a in a hostile environment.

2 START WELL AND BATTLE THROUGH THE MOMENTUM SHIFTS

Queensland teams have not often started well recently, but it's rare for Origin games not to have several shifts of momentum, often dictated by penalties. In the early minutes, our team will want to lay a platform of intense football, with a good kicking game, and not give the Blues opportunities. Queensland's ability to minimise the damage when NSW have the ascendancy has over the past seven years been one of the key differences. Both sets of forwards will want to make a statement with their physicality, but it's not smart to have something pre-determined in mind.

3 THE FORWARDS

Origin forwards are among the best wrestlers in the game but the harder you run, the more chance you are to get on your front and manage a quick play-the-ball. Because an Origin game's tempo is so fast, the wrestle can become less of a factor the longer the half of football goes. The key is for the forwards to keep running in numbers so they can't gang up, three or four on the ball-carrier. When Cam Smith's head starts poking through the NSW line, it's a sign things will be opening up for our dangerous backs.

Cameron Smith

4 THE KICKING GAMES

The stats say NSW got one repeat set from a line dropout last series. Queensland's kick-chase forced 10. A lot of credit has to go to the Maroons for their line speed in defence. Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk found open territory when kicking 18 of 36 times last year. It's crucial, because a kick fielded on the full can be worth 30m because you're at them so quickly. Cam Smith is good at spotting an opportunity to kick long on the third or fourth tackle. We need our attacking sixth tackle options to remain well judged.

5 THE STORM BLUEPRINT

Mal would have seen how well Melbourne pressured James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce in their recent win over the Roosters. They were frustrated and the kicking from the Blues halves was not good. Manly put pressure on Cooper Cronk in their drawn NRL game before that, so no one is immune to the effects the chase can have on kicking games. We don't want Jarryd Hayne and Blake Ferguson getting the ball a lot of times in good field position from kicks. Ferguson can win a game but he can also make some costly mistakes.

6 THE BATTLE OF THE OFFLOADS

NSW have Greg Bird, especially, and Paul Gallen who are dangerous in creating the second-phase which can unlock an Origin arm wrestle. Trent Merrin is high in the NRL offloading stats, which are led by Queensland's Corey Parker.

Greg Inglis

7 THE GI FACTOR

Queensland will have determined ways to get the ball more into Greg Inglis' hands. Let's hope the game is played in such a way to make that possible. An early touch for Greg would be a great way to get him into the game and help him bring that confidence he has at fullback to the centre position.

8 GOALKICKING

In the NRL this year, Maloney's percentage with the tee is better than Thurston's. But JT's 61 goals in Origin football has come at a rate of 80.3 per cent, so our extra points are in good hands.