NSW has promised to put the smarts back into its football in a bid to avoid another ambush in Wednesday night's State of Origin series decider at the Telstra Dome.

NSW played self-confessed "dumb football" in Origin II with the Blues one-out runners presenting easy pickings for a fired-up Queensland forward pack.

While the Blues' forwards know they must lift their intensity, skipper Danny Buderus said his side needed to ensure they played with their heads and not just their hearts.

"We've trained well and obviously we're not going to play as stupid as we did last time, we played right into their hands," Buderus said.

"It's an Origin decider, it all comes down to this. If you don't be physical and aggressive you're not going to win."

Assistant coach Royce Simmons said much of the Blues' build-up to game three had focussed on countering Queensland's aggressive defence with a myriad of dummy runners and second-phase play.

"We ran the ball one out a lot, we didn't control the ball because we ran it one out, they could really get into us and gang tackle us," Simmons said.

"It's about supporting each other. We've just got to go in numbers because Queensland we're getting plenty of numbers in the tackles.

"We've got to play a bit smarter an use more decoys and a bit more footwork at the line."

The Blues held their final training session behind closed doors and under a closed roof at Telstra Dome, giving them a distinct advantage over the Maroons who had their final run with the roof open.

It is understood coach Graham Murray is considering tinkering with his starting forward pack with debutant Paul Gallen a likely starter ahead of Steve Simpson in the second row.

Simpson starting on the bench would give Murray the luxury of having two front rowers, along with Mark O'Meley, to bring into the game after the opening 20 minute onslaught though the Blues coach kept his cards close to his chest when asked whether the side would run out as selected.

"It may do, but we haven't finalised that yet. We'll just see how we go from here to kick-off," Murray said.

One thing that does appear certain is that Mark Gasnier will play as selected at five-eighth and not in his more familiar centre position as suggested by Queensland coach Mal Meninga.

Gasnier has trained at pivot outside halfback Craig Gower throughout the Blues 10-day camp in Melbourne and Simmonds believes the presence of experienced players around him will help make his transition to five-eighth a smooth one.

"Gower's a big talker and he'll give a lot of direction. He'll take pressure off Gasnier," Simmonds said.

"The hooker (Danny Buderus) is in great form, captain of the side, people are speaking about him being the best hooker ever.

"Then you've got the halfback who likes to run the ball, then you've got a fullback who likes to get in and handle the ball so the whole lot of them will take a lot of pressure of Gas in his first game there."

"In saying that I think he'll handle the pressure anyway, he loves to run the ball himself so to me there's not going to be added pressure on him.

"The four of them are all going to take pressure off each other."

The Blues are also bracing for the possible inclusion of Willie Tonga for ill centre Josh Hannay in the Queensland line-up. Hannay is the fourth player in the Maroons camp to be struck down by a stomach virus.

"It's a late change and any late change can't be good for you side," Simmons said.

"He gives them the strike power but Josh is a big strong bloke too and he brings some other things to the football side.

"Any coach would prefer to go in with a settled side."

The Blues will wind up their preparation with a team walk on Wednesday morning.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP