NRL: Ballin replaces injured Smith at hooker

WOLLONGONG - New South Wales playmaker Brett Kimmorley says Queensland will lose little with the withdrawal of hooker Cameron Smith for Wednesday night's State of Origin clash at ANZ Stadium.

The Maroons have suffered what most consider to be a massive blow, with Melbourne captain Smith pulling out with an injured elbow.

He has been replaced by Manly hooker Matt Ballin, who will make his Origin debut.

"They're probably different players," Blues halfback Kimmorley said yesterday.

"Matty Ballin will come in and probably try and put his style of football on how he plays for Manly, it's probably a little bit different to how Cameron plays for Melbourne, but I don't think you can say they're a weaker side.

"A guy that comes in excited, enthusiastic, jumping at the gun to get a chance to play, that's all the reason he needs to play football."

Smith has been a major part of Queensland's stability over four straight series wins, developing a combination with halfback Johnathan Thurston and five-eighth Darren Lockyer at Origin and test level.

New South Wales could now conceivably have the upper hand in that department as clubmates Kimmorley and Michael Ennis don the No 7 and No 9 jerseys respectively.

"For the last few years they've been the same side, they've been pretty injury-free for about three or four seasons," Kimmorley said of the Maroons.

The Blues left their camp in Wollongong yesterday to set up base in Sydney before training at Parramatta Stadium in the afternoon.

- AAP