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MAROONS captain Cameron Smith said it was the responsibility of his forward pack to ensure Billy Slater has protection in the Origin decider and could not be singled out for grubby niggle.
Slater knows the fallout from his clash with Mitchell Pearce in Origin II ensures he's replaced Nate Myles as public enemy No.1 for next Wedneday's State of Origin decider at ANZ Stadium.
But as rugby league's teflon man, he is refusing to let mud thrown by NSW players stick as he puts Queensland's quest for eight straight series above personal feuds.
Smith said his team failed to provide Slater time and space in their Origin I loss, allowing him to be targeted.
"There's no doubt it is our responsibility as a forward pack to protect him," he said.
"They will always target him. He gets targeted in club matches.
"We can't stop that but we can help him by putting in a strong defensive effort in the middle and pressure their kickers.
"I think in Game Two we did a better job of protecting Bill because we didn't do that in Game One and we were disappointed about it.
"He got some clean catches in Origin II."
Not content with claiming Trent Merrin's "cheap shot" on Brent Tate summed up NSW's disrespect for his all-conquering team, Queensland captain Cameron Smith compared it with Danny Williams' infamous 2004 king hit that earned a record 18-week ban.
Merrin received one week for the punch in Game Two, but Smith said it reminded him of ex-Melbourne teammate Williams' sickening NRL career-ending hit on Mark O'Neill nine years ago.
"The last person who threw a punch like that in a game when the bloke wasn't looking got 16 (sic) weeks," said Smith after an unchanged Queensland 17 was named.
"It was Danny Williams and I was involved in that game.
"Punching a bloke when he is looking at the ground, that's a cheap shot if you have ever seen one.
"I guess that would be one instance of (NSW) not showing respect for the opposition.
"Slater plans to dodge the attacks that have bubbled beneath the surface since his accidental elbow drew blood from the NSW halfback.
"I'm not going to get brought into any public banter," Slater said.
"I've got a job to do for my state and I'm playing for Queensland, not myself, so it's important that I focus on my own game."
Maroons coach Mal Meninga welcomed the idea that Slater would be targeted by the Blues.
If NSW have Slater in the crosshairs, the door will open for the other stars to tear the game wide open.
Wearing the brunt of Blues' frustrations is nothing new to Queensland.
The Blues have started three fights in the past three encounters, throwing punches after incidents at the play-the-ball to incite violence.
Whether it's the weight of seven years of failure that has shortened their fuses or deliberate ploys to rattle Queensland cages, it has not worked and will not change the Maroons' focusing on winning the battle over the brawl.
"I think they're just words to try to cover what happened," lock Corey Parker said of NSW targeting Slater.
"I don't condone that sort of behaviour in the game (but) there is going to be some heat at times.
"What we saw from Game Two in terms of (Trent) Merrin on (Brent) Tate I don't think that is the right way to handle things."
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