Few know more than Kevin Walters just how hard a State of Origin decider is to win.
And the Queensland coach admits he is nervous ahead of Wednesday night's Origin III at a sold out Suncorp Stadium.
The stage is set for one of the most anticipated deciders as the Maroons look to extend their remarkable dynasty in what may be the final Origin for Queensland's Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk.
Walters is no stranger to a crunch Origin - he played five deciders in his 20 game Origin playing career from 1989-99.
Overall he had two wins and two losses before ending his career with a 10-10 result that drew the 1999 series.
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But even he admitted to some nerves as Queensland looked to seal their 11th series win in 12 years.
"When you are up at the coach's box you don't miss tackles or drop the ball as much as I did as a player," he said.
"But I am going to be nervous. It is a big occasion.
"But I can't think of a better group of 17 representing Queensland than what we have right now."
Asked about his record in series deciders as a player, the former Maroons pivot said: "I was in a couple but not with much luck.
"Origins are hard to win especially with the series on the line.
"Game three will be a very tight game that goes the full 80 minutes."
Victory will also ensure Walters becomes just the third Queensland coach behind Arthur Beetson (1982-83) and Mal Meninga (2006 and 2007) to win his first two series.
Walters simply wanted Queensland to atone for their record 28-4 game one loss in front of a shellshocked Suncorp Stadium.
"We all left here bitterly disappointed about the result, it was the biggest loss (at Suncorp Stadium)," Walters said.
"We will try to address that first with our defence and put a bit of pride back in the jersey.
"We are really excited but not naive about how tough it is going to be.
"NSW won game one convincingly, we snuck in game two. Two great teams will go at it (on Wednesday night) that's what Origin is all about."
For the record, Queensland have won 12 deciders - including the last six - compared to NSW's four.
The Blues haven't won a decider since 2005 or a game three in Queensland since 2009.
