League: Smith 'crucial' to Queensland success

Queensland warn that new skipper Cameron Smith will be as cool under pressure as his predecessor Darren Lockyer. Photo / Getty Images.

Queensland warn that new skipper Cameron Smith will be as cool under pressure as his predecessor Darren Lockyer, who orchestrated many of the Maroons' greatest State of Origin triumphs and escapes.

If NSW were banking on rattling Queensland now that Lockyer is safely out of the way in retirement, they may need to think again.

Veteran prop Petero Civoniceva says coolness in the heat of battle makes Smith the ideal man to make decisions at the critical moments when the 2012 Origin series gets underway in Melbourne on Wednesday.

"I've always been astounded, even when Cam first came into Origin, how calm he was under pressure," said Civoniceva, who played almost all of his 30 Origins under Lockyer.

Smith has risen to the different challenges posed at hooker from Danny Buderus, Michael Ennis and next week's opponent Robbie Farah, since playing the first of his 24 Origins as a 20-year-old in 2003.

"He didn't miss a beat in the lead up to his debut, I thought he might be nervous but that sums up Cam," said Civoniceva.

"He has that calmness and you need that from your leader.

"Like Darren, he's crucial to our success."

The thing that separates Smith from other hookers is his ability to make so many good decisions under pressure.

"You see that with Cam every week when he's playing for the Storm," said Civoniceva.

"When other guys are tired and making wrong decisions, you have someone like him who is very level-headed, who can find clarity in those moments when there is a lot of fatigue out on the field, and that's what you need from your skipper."

Meanwhile, Justin Hodges is taking a very different approach in discussing Blues centre rival Michael Jennings than he did before Jennings' Origin debut in 2008.

Then he questioned Jennings' defensive skills.

But on Thursday, with Jennings under pressure to perform and justify his selection by coach Ricky Stuart after being dumped to reserve grade by his NRL club, Hodges was talking him up as a dangerous opponent.

"He's got a lot of things to prove to everyone but Jenno is a quiet bloke, he won't say much, he'll come out and let his footy do the talking," said Hodges.

"Jenno is a class player, Ricky (Stuart) has shown a lot of faith in picking him and he will try and play well next Wednesday night to thank him.

"I'll have to be on my game and I'll have to get up on him early and try and shut him down.

"He's got great speed, something I don't have, and his footwork late is very good."

Asked about his niggling comments a few years ago, Hodges said: "We have matured a bit since back then and we are great mates off the field, but on it we have a job to do.

"He has his own problems and so do I, I will worry about myself."

One problem Hodges doesn't have is the foot injury which forced him to miss playing for Brisbane last week.

"I came into camp on Monday still a little bit sore but it's improved heaps the last few days," he said. "I'm feeling 100 per cent."

Canberra forward Dave Shillington joined his Queensland teammates in training at Melbourne's Xavier College on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday's session with a virus.

-AAP