Maroons backline will be Origin difference

Queensland great Petero Civoniceva believes the Maroons' underperforming backline will be the difference in Wednesday night's State of Origin decider.

Queensland Origin debutant Cameron Munster

Cameron Munster will play at No.6 for the Maroons in Origin III. (AAP)

Queensland may be on the verge of all-time series point scoring low but Maroons great Petero Civoniceva has still hailed their backline to be the difference in Wednesday night's State of Origin series decider in Brisbane.

The Maroons have scored just 22 points from two games to date, five short of their all-time series scoring low of 27 in 1999.

The fewest points Queensland have ever scored in a winning series was 32 over three matches in 1991.

However, Civoniceva -- Origin's most experienced prop with 33 matches --- believes the Maroons still had the firepower to seal an 11th series win in 12 years if they heeded lessons from their record 28-4 game one loss at Suncorp Stadium.

"Queensland learned a lot of lessons out of game one," Civoniceva told Broncos TV.

"(NSW prop) Andrew Fifita was tremendous through the middle.

"If we tighten up there certainly we have the points in our backline to get a win.

"I reckon it will be (decided) in the backline.

"I reckon we will match them in the forwards and with our backs there is still a lot of potency there."

Debutant Cameron Munster will replace champion five-eighth Johnathan Thurston in game three with regular bench utility Michael Morgan slotting into the centres for Darius Boyd (thumb).

Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt will also make his Origin debut off the bench.

Melbourne playmaker Munster's elevation ensures it is the first time Queensland have used three different halves in a series since 1999.

"There's big shoes to fill. JT has been everything to Queensland for so long," Civoniceva said of replacing 37 Origin veteran Thurston.

"But as a Queenslander there is nothing like playing in front of a home crowd.

"In front of a packed house with so much on the line that will help us get home for sure.

"I reckon Queensland by 12."

Munster's selection at pivot ensures an all-Melbourne Queensland spine also featuring hooker Cameron Smith, halfback Cooper Cronk and fullback Billy Slater.

It is the second time in history since Brisbane dominated the 1994 Maroons that an Origin team has had a one club spine.


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Source: AAP



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