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Queensland coach Kevin Walters has played down suggestions from the Maroons camp that they will target Jarryd Hayne, who is making his State of Origin return after a three-year absence.
Hayne has been named in New South Wales' centres for Wednesday night's Origin I at Lang Park in what will be his first appearance for the Blues since helping them secure a drought-breaking series victory in 2014.
A season with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL and a brief stint with Fiji's rugby sevens squad kept Hayne occupied before he returned to the NRL last year with Gold Coast, but he has not set the world on fire in the eyes of many observers since re-joining the 13-man code.
Hayne has also only played a handful of matches in the centres for the Titans this season, which led Maroons captain Cameron Smith to speculate his side might focus their attack down the left edge where the 29-year-old will be positioned in defence.
Blues coach Laurie Daley subsequently challenged the Maroons to "have a crack" at Hayne, but Walters chose a more diplomatic approach than Smith when outlining what the home side will have in store.
"We're very respectful of Jarryd Hayne and his capabilities," Walters said at the Maroons' final training session at Lang Park on Tuesday.
"The last time New South Wales won a series he was part of it all, so I think for us to be thinking that way was a little bit foolish.
"We've got a lot of respect for what he can do and we will try and keep him quiet as best we can but we know he's going to have some sort of impact."
Daley has labelled Hayne a "big game player", an assertion with which Walters agrees and this is why he is wary of the threat the two-time Dally M medallist poses in attack for the Blues.
Walters highlighted his point by reflecting on Hayne's Origin debut in 2007, when the then-19-year-old scored a spectacular kick and chase try after forcing a turnover from the Maroons on the halfway line.
"I remember Jarryd's first game of Origin here, scoring that try," he said.
"I think he was 18 or 19 years old. Right then we knew what a special player he was always going to be. He's back on the big stage now and he will be doing his best for New South Wales."
Maroons unfazed by Blues' 'slow' barbs
Walters has shown little interest in Daley's concerns that the Maroons would purposely slow down the ruck to blunt the Blues' attack on Wednesday night.
Daley used his pre-Origin I media conference on the Gold Coast to send an obvious hint to referees Matt Cecchin and Gerard Sutton that he believes the Maroons will use similar tactics in the ruck to what they employed in last year's series triumph.
"The games were slow last year compared to usual Origin games. I hope it's different this year," Daley said.
"You just want them to referee the same as they do in the NRL. That's all we've asked."
Walters claims he is not reading much into Daley's comments.
"I think that's just Laurie, just doing his stuff and doing his best for New South Wales," he said.
"Game One is traditionally a tough game, very physical, not a lot between both sides and that will be the case again this year if you look at the teams on paper.
"We've got some big bodies in there and we've got to try and slow them down somehow."
Walters says his squad has reached Origin eve with no fitness or health concerns, with winger Corey Oates having recovered from a stomach virus.
Topics: state-of-origin, rugby-league, sport, nrl, brisbane-4000, robina-4226, sydney-2000