Queensland coach Kevin Walters has been left incensed by a NSW snub after the Blues claimed State of Origin III.
The Maroons won the series 2-1 after victory in games one and two and as skipper Cameron Smith took the stage at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night to receive the Origin shield, the NSW side walked off on a victory lap.
NSW won game three 18-14, but the move from the Blues to ignore Smith as he reflected on the series left Maroons coach Walters upset.
"It's extremely disrespectful, I would've thought," Walters, who played 20 games for Queensland, said.
Smith claimed the man of the series medal as the Maroons claimed their 10th series win in 11 years.
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"I noticed them walking away," he said.
"I'll decide in the morning what I think of that."
Much of the talk in the lead-up to game three was that Origin has lost its edge, but it was obvious from a number of on-field incidents, including Andrew Fifita's second half sinbinning, that there is still plenty of bad blood between these two sides.
"That's been the way since the first game in 1980 hasn't it Kev?", Smith said.
Walters said the talk that Origin had lost its sting was short of the mark.
"I have been reading that Origin has lost its flavour because you can't throw a punch but that just isn't true," Walters said.
"They are tremendous athletes, it is a physical game and everyone gives as good as they get."
