After retaining his Queensland jersey, Coen Hess says he has cleared up a misunderstanding with Paul Green over his NRL coach's claims the barnstorming backrower had not been ready for State of Origin.
Hess vowed to provide some "spark" off the bench in Wednesday night's Origin series decider at Suncorp Stadium after the Cowboys youngster held his own on debut in the Maroons' game two win in Sydney.
At just 20, Hess was able to step up for Queensland despite major concerns from Green.
The North Queensland coach had implored Maroons selectors to overlook Hess this year, saying they risked "scarring" the youngster if he was blooded too soon.
But Hess said there were no hard feelings with his Cowboys mentor as he prepared to help win Queensland's 11th series in 12 years.
"No, I knew what Greeny was trying to get at," he said.
"I think what he said was blown up by the media.
"I've had a chat with Greeny and understood what he meant.
"I respect that but I am here now."
Debate raged over whether Hess was ready after earning his Origin debut in game two despite Green's warning.
The towering forward was quickly billed as the man to stop NSW's Origin I hero, rampaging prop Andrew Fifita.
More questions were posed over the youngster's head space when the Maroons opted to slap a media ban on Hess ahead of Origin II.
But Hess said being shielded by Queensland had helped him deal with the Origin hype for the first time.
"It helped with my preparation, obviously there were a lot of outside noises," he said.
"I think being a rookie it was good to focus on the football side of things. I think it worked for me."
Hess said he never bought into the hype that surrounded his Origin debut after just 22 NRL games.
"I thought I handled it pretty well," he said.
"I don't read into the hype and that sort of stuff too much.
"It wasn't on my mind during the game or in the build-up."
Hess said he was now primed to make a major impact in game three.
"Coming off the bench, it's your responsibility to maintain what the starting pack have done," he said.
"I guess there is a responsibility there to create an impact or spark so we will be doing that."
Hess was made to sweat it out until the second half before finally running out in maroon.
It was worth the wait.
"Yeah definitely. It was everything I expected and more," he said.
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