NSW rugby league coach Phil Gould said Andrew Johns would captain the team in game one of the State of Origin series, and that there were no problems between the pair.

On Wednesday Johns virtually dared NSW selectors not to pick him for the opening game against Queensland.

Gould had earlier said he was concerned at the lack of form of his NSW hopefuls and publicly criticised Johns' football in the early part of the season.

But on Saturday Gould said he was surprised about the speculation of problems between them.

"No, (no problems) not from my side anyway, and I don't think from Joey's side either," Gould told 2SM's Saturday Sport Network.

"I'm a little surprised about all this actually."

Gould said Johns's reaction after the meeting of the 25-man squad in Sydney meant nothing.

"Joey's reaction didn't mean anything to me at all ... I've known Joey for a fair while, I know what he's like and I wouldn't have expected anything different.

"I'm not fazed by it one little bit."

Gould said Johns would captain the team in game one.

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