Despite sounding more salesman than State of Origin supremo, Queensland mentor Kevin Walters has stood by his use of a 'Coach Whisperer' declaring: "I haven't lost the plot".
An animated Walters denied he was putting on an act before at one stage trying to cut off questions about his mind coach Bradley Charles Stubbs ahead of Wednesday's Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium.
But the Maroons mentor said he would continue to use Stubbs this season despite critics having a field day over Walters adopting his "Expect to Win" approach.
Walters is leading a new-look Queensland side that is trying to reclaim the Origin title for just the second time in 14 years.
They are entering a new era after Billy Slater and Greg Inglis joined future Immortals Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk in representative retirement.
However, the bulk of the match eve press conference centred on someone who won't even be at the venue on Wednesday night - the colourful Stubbs.
Walters had raised eyebrows by adopting Stubbs' left field philosophy this year, ditching Queensland's traditional underdog tag and declaring the Maroons "will win" Origin I.
Walters copped most flak for threatening fines for Queensland players who mentioned NSW in the media in the lead-up, following Stubbs' key rule that the opposition must never be uttered by name.
And an unusually bubbly Walters refused to back down when he faced bemused reporters on Tuesday.
Told that Sydney critics had accused him of losing the plot, Walters said: "No, I haven't lost the plot.
"My wife thinks I have sometimes. (But) it is not an act.
"I've been like this all my life. Being around these players gives you energy and you have to have that energy for us to be successful - we will be successful."
While lampooned, Stubbs has been credited with helping Sydney Roosters and South Sydney claim NRL titles and worked with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and former Sydney FC mentor Graham Arnold.
Walters initially embraced questions about Stubbs.
"He has a good history and a great record working with coaches, he's been great for us," he said.
But Walters lost patience when the queries refused to go away.
Asked what Stubbs had taught him, Walters said: "That's for us and no one else to find out about, look we will talk about the game.
"That might do us. I am just about done there boys."
It only prompted a TV reporter to brazenly ask if Stubbs was a "snake oil salesman".
"Let's keep it professional. My association with Bradley has been very professional, and he's been great for us and we will see the results tomorrow night," Walters said.
But asked if he would continue to use Stubbs, Walters said: "Yeah, there's no reason why we can't."
Indeed Walters would not budge from Stubbs' stance, refusing to name NSW throughout the 15 minute press conference.
"We appreciate what the other side can do, we're not silly," he said.
"But we know what we can do and we will be really proud of this team."
