Johnathan Thurston has passed on the advice he first received from Darren Lockyer and revealed his great State of Origin regret as Queensland chase their first 3-0 win in 13 years.
Billy Slater’s men have already claimed the series thanks to impressive victories in Adelaide and Brisbane.
But the Maroons assistant coach and former great has ensured the current crop don’t enter Wednesday’s third clash in Sydney with complacency, delivering an uncharacteristically serious address in camp this week.
“People remember clean sweeps,” Thurston told reporters on Saturday of what he had passed onto the team.
“They’re incredibly hard to do; that’s why there has only been a handful over the 40-odd years.”
Indeed, Queensland have just four and the Blues three since three-game series began in 1982, Thurston part of the most recent in 2010.
That result came after the Maroons had led 2-0 in the 2009 series and lost the third game 28-16, a campaign Thurston admits still eats away at him.
“Yep, there’s some decisions that I made in those camps that I regret,” Thurston, who played 37 times for Queensland, said.
“That’s what I spoke about to the boys.
“We got another opportunity in 2010 and, learning from those mistakes, we got the sweep.
“I always remember what Locky said to me, that is that people remember clean sweeps and that’s certainly one of the greatest memories I’ve got in the Maroons jersey.
“They’re very rare; these boys haven’t been in this position before and are looking forward to the challenge.”
Thurston said back-rower Jeremiah Nanai trained strongly on Saturday, showing no signs of the hip complaint that had him grimacing on Thursday.
He said former teammate Daly Cherry Evans, poised to pass Allan Langer when he plays a record 16th consecutive game at No.7, was “probably in career-best form”.
“He’s going in the record books … he’s right up there with the best,” Thurston said.
“He’s had to face a lot of adversity as well; when he came into the team he was playing in the middle, tackling the big boys, people forget about that.
“Wouldn’t see me doing that, but that’s what he does for the team … didn’t drop his lip, got on with his game.
“It’s one hell of a resume he’s got, but he’s not resting on his laurels or worrying about this past.”
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