Queensland star Nate Myles insists the Maroons are disappointed that Blues hitman Greg Bird has been rubbed out for the entire State of Origin series.
Bird's eight-game suspension from Sunday's trans-Tasman Test leaves NSW coach Laurie Daley without one of his most experienced and intimidating players.
It's just the latest problem for Daley, who is facing major form issues in the halves and injury concerns including skipper Paul Gallen as the Blues prepare to defend the Origin crown it took so long to wrest from Queensland.
Everything points to the all-star Maroons veterans reasserting their dominance in 2015, but Myles says they don't want to do it against a weakened Blues team.
"For anyone in the Queensland side, if Queensland want to win, they want to win beating the best team," Myles said.
"The best team for NSW has Greg (Bird) in it, so it's disappointing in that regard, for sure."
NSW ORIGIN BLUES:
NSW Origin heroes absent for Origin I
JARRYD HAYNE - Last year's Dally M medallist and the Blues' Origin inspiration has quit rugby league to chance his arm at a career in America's NFL.
BRETT MORRIS - Entered Origin folklore with a try-saving tackle in last year's series opener on Darius Boyd despite a dislocated shoulder. Has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since early April.
GREG BIRD - Ultra competitive and NSW through and through. Bird's toughness and desire to win will be missed by the Blues following an eight-game ban for a dangerous throw ruling him out of the entire series.
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