NSW winger Akuila Uate determined to hit top form in State of Origin II

AKUILA Uate is not used to dealing with frustration. This year has brought unforeseen plateaus; first at club and then Origin level.

AKUILA Uate is not used to dealing with frustration.

His stocks haven't stopped booming since he burst on to the scene four years ago.

But 2012 has brought unforeseen plateaus; first at club and then Origin level.

While Blues camp provided a reprieve from the desperate soul-searching in Newcastle, Uate has still been forced to confront the angst of conceding two tries in game one.

His Knights teammate Darius Boyd sneaked past his right shoulder on both occasions, with Queensland's inside men targeting Uate's fresh right-edge combination with Josh Morris.

Uate knows he and Morris must improve their defensive communication ahead of tomorrow night's do-or-die encounter at ANZ Stadium.

Maroons dynamo Greg Inglis will again pose problems - either with the ball or via decoys that baited NSW's inside defence prior to both Boyd tries.

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"We've got to work on it," Uate said.

"GI is a big talent and his ability with the ball is amazing.

"We've just got to hold our own ground and not give him any space to run."

Standing behind the goal-posts as Queensland celebrated, Uate concentrated hard on putting both lapses behind him.And he's not watched any replays until coach Ricky Stuart worked the video into overdrive last week.

"I'll listen to Sticky and the coaches," he said.

"I get frustrated. I just had to wipe it straight away and start all over again.

"If I held on to it for the rest of the game it wouldn't help the team."

On that score, Uate did an admirable job.

Despite being concussed for several minutes by an accidental collision with Cameron Smith's elbow, he still made 143m from 16 hit-ups and posted his second Origin try.

He suffered headaches after the match - but the pain was nothing compared to what is being endured in Newcastle.

"I feel the same as anyone," he said.

"It's a bit frustrating. All we need to do is work as a team and we'll get through it. We need to get behind Wayne (Bennett) and support him.

"Wayne is doing everything he can to help us prepare for the games.

"It's hard to explain. (Against Brisbane) we came back and we were down by two points. I think the penalties and discipline are getting us.

"I'm not going to be a coach, but we get away from our game plan."

Uate is at least more expansive than Boyd, who reverted to his infamous one-liners when asked about the Knights this week.

His only response: "I'm concentrating on Origin, I'm here to play for Queensland."

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