Blues unmoved by Qld sledging: Maloney

Sledging won't be an issue for Blues players in the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night, says James Maloney.

James Maloney of the NSW Blues during Game 1

NSW five-eighth James Maloney insists the Blues won't bite on any sledges. (AAP)

NSW five-eighth James Maloney insists the Blues won't bite on any sledges from Queensland in Wednesday's State of Origin decider.

It took NSW prop Andrew Fifita less than an hour after their loss in game two to light the fuse for Origin III when he vowed to use the Maroons' trash talk as motivation in Brisbane.

Queensland enforcer Josh McGuire is believed to be the chief culprit, however Maloney dismissed the idea the on-field chatter would be an issue at Suncorp Stadium.

"I haven't read much of it, so I don't really know what's been said or what it is. But it's part and parcel of footy. Things go on and it is what it is," Maloney said in Kingscliff on Sunday.

Fifita has been under the Origin spotlight since his man-of-the-match performance in game one that drew comparisons to Origin great Arthur Beetson.

The Maroons subdued Fifita in game two before the Cronulla star last week took to social media to hit out at an alleged racist post by a Brisbane pub.

Fifita has been shielded by Blues officials in camp in Kingscliff this week, but Maloney is adamant his clubmate is in the right frame of mind to bust out again against the Maroons.

"I play with him week in, week out, know what he's capable of, and know how important it is for him to play well. It means a lot to him and he'll have a big one," Maloney said.

Maloney had a running battle with Queensland fullback Billy Slater in Sydney that was ignited when the Blues five-eighth was penalised for tackling the Storm star off the ball.

The Cronulla star was reluctant to discuss the incident.

"We just happened to run into each other," Maloney said.


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Source: AAP



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