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Maroons driven by fear of failure ahead of series decider against Blues

Queensland coach Mal Meninga says the fear of being in the side that surrenders the State of Origin shield will prevent any complacency ahead of Wednesday night's series decider.

Not since 2005 have the Maroons tasted a series defeat, with the likes of Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Sam Thaiday, Billy Slater and Justin Hodges having grown accustomed to that winning feeling.

Meninga says with each passing series the Maroons are inevitably inching closer to defeat, but no-one wants to be responsible for handing the Origin shield back to New South
Wales"Certainly when you get in the back end of your career fear of failure is a determining factor to get yourself motivated personally," Meninga said ahead of Tuesday's captain's run at the Olympic stadium.

QLD Coach. Meninga (Bradley Kanaris, file photo: Getty Images).
"Then you've got the young ones, they want to prove themselves, that's another motivating force."

The Maroons have lost on their past three visits to the Olympic stadium, including this year's series opener when they went down 14-6.

Meninga says the loss of Paul Gallen to a foot injury was a blow to the Blues, but he anticipates other members stepping up to fill the breach left by the absent skipper.

"Even though Paul Gallen is out, their leader, they're a formidable footy side here," Meninga said.

"We also understand that we haven't won here the last couple of years. We have to play to our potential to get the result we're after.

"I'm anticipating the Blues will come at us hard and fast and we'll be coming at them hard and fast."

AAP
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