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Tedesco eyes special Origin series win

NSW skipper James Tedesco says having won two games of last year's State of Origin series in Queensland boosts his team's confidence for the 2022 decider.

JAMES TEDESCO.
JAMES TEDESCO. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

NSW captain James Tedesco doesn't need a history lesson as the Blues seek to right the wrongs of the past at Suncorp Stadium in Wednesday's State of Origin decider.

The Blues have an ugly record in winner-takes-all Origin contests, having won just one of the last nine series deciders.

Tedesco was the man who scored the winning try in that sole victory - in 2019 in Sydney - but he describes winning in Brisbane in Origin III as "a different beast".

The Blues have won just two deciders in Brisbane in the history of the three-game series.

Tedesco has the chance to join Laurie Daley (1994) and Danny Buderus (2005) as the only NSW captains to clinch the series in game three in the Maroons' backyard.

"I know it was done in 1994 and 2005 and some of those boys have come and talked to us about how it's a different beast out there," Tedesco told AAP.

"It's a great opportunity for us. It hasn't been won by NSW up there (at Suncorp) for a long time.

"I'm happy as captain in how we've gone in training.

"It's a different preparation and every game is different but I feel like we learned a lot of lessons from the first two games.

"Although we had a really good performance (in the game two win in Perth), we still know we can get better."

There was once a time when Suncorp was the graveyard of the hopes of NSW teams.

Since 1998 the Maroons have never lost back-to-back games there.

But after a 26-0 victory in game two at Suncorp last year the Blues have a chance to mark their territory north of the Tweed after playing the entirety of the 2021 series in Queensland.

It helps, too, that eight members of Brad Fittler's NSW 17-man squad won last year's grand final there with Penrith.

"Last year we won twice in Queensland," Tedesco said.

"We were confident going to Perth and then now we've got another game at Suncorp.

"I guess the big difference is that it is a decider and it's going to be loud with the atmosphere and everyone going against us.

"It's nothing new to win up in Queensland so we take a lot of confidence from last year's series and from last week's game as well."

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