This might have been the friendliest, and least eventful, build up to a State of Origin series ever.
And if history tells us anything, it could well be playing into the hands of New South Wales as the Blues plot another Suncorp Stadium ambush.
Queensland famously thrives on being under attack.
READ MORE: ‘Shouldn’t have any bearing’: The curious case of Terrell May
READ MORE: Gould whacks Sexton’s agent while Mahoney request confirmed
READ MORE: ‘Struggling’ star among six most under pressure in Origin
Backs against the wall, everyone hates us, let’s stick it right up ’em!
It is 30 years since Paul Vautin led his famed Neville Nobodies – including an 18-year-old Ben Ikin – to a stunning 3-0 sweep.
The 2020 Maroons were called the worst Origin squad ever assembled – a jibe from one Sydney-based media outlet which, to be fair, was pretty much spot on.
Queensland coach Billy Slater. Getty
But Wayne Bennett somehow coached that squad of battlers to a series victory. Because of course he did – it’s what the Maroons do.
This year they are underdogs once again, at least according to bookmakers.
But the adversity isn’t there.
There have been no reports of injury or illness leaked from Queensland camp. No one has labelled them the worst squad of players ever compiled in rugby league history.
Watch the 2025 State of Origin series exclusively live and free on Nine and 9Now.
The closest the Maroons have come to being under attack this week is “Backdoor” Benny Elias taking a pop at the captain Daly Cherry-Evans for lunching with referee Ashley Klein.
Credit to the legendary hooker for at least trying to light the fuse and create some headlines.
Queensland players and coaches have refused to publicly mention the name Spencer Leniu – although no doubt they will be chanting it behind closed doors, intent on reaping revenge for the firebrand forward’s verbal attack on Johnathan Thurston almost two months ago.
If there is any animosity at all between the two camps, it’s being kept very quiet.
Maroons coach Billy Slater could not have been more glowing in his assessment of the opposition when Today host Karl Stefanovic attempted to bait him into a slanging match on Tuesday morning.
“You’ve got to respect your opposition. They are a quality team,” Slater said.
“You’ve got Payne Haas and Stephen Crichton who have had disrupted preparations… but everyone is a professional these days, and especially those two guys. If they take the field they will be at their best.
Spencer Leniu will be public enemy No.1 in Queensland. Getty
“I’ve got great respect for the whole coaching staff, and the support staff of NSW. I know them personally.”
It appears to be a new approach from Slater, who in past series has been a little prickly with media.
Last year Queensland went to war with Blues coach Michael Maguire over his “glass houses” quip after NSW rookie Joseph Suaalii took Reece Walsh’s head off in game one.
The Maroons won game one – thanks in part to NSW playing with 12 men.
But when the series got heated after that, the Blues won games two and three – including a stunner at Suncorp – to clinch the shield.
It’s likely Slater is opting not to engage in any brouhaha this year for fear of the same happening again. Both camps are trying to fly under the radar – but will the new approach succeed or backfire?
The biggest story of the week has been Stephen Crichton limping off Blues training on Monday.
NSW legend and former coaching adviser Greg Alexander on Monday claimed he wasn’t even aware an Origin game was being played this week.
“When you said Origin was on this Wednesday, I had completely forgot,” Alexander told his SEN co-host Andrew Voss.
“I’d forgotten about it.”
The NRL will be hoping Brandy is alone in failing to remember the series kicks off on Wednesday night.
But administrators at the Moore Park HQ might also be praying for someone – anyone – to spark some life into the series opener.
Coach Billy Slater chats with his assistant Josh Hannay during a training session. Getty
Blues skipper Isaah Yeo was given the chance – several times – by journalists on Tuesday. He chuckled and said it’s not his go to say anything mean.
Leniu and Latrell Mitchell – two of the more interesting characters in either Origin camp this year – are on media bans and so haven’t said a thing.
NSW debutant Max King might be the nicest man in State of Origin history if his interview with 9News on Sunday is anything to go by.
No doubt there will be fireworks come kick-off on Wednesday night and all the niceties will be shoved to the side.
But it will be intriguing to see if this new Queensland charm offensive pays off for Slater’s Maroons.
