If Brett White learnt anything in his NSW debut last year it was to keep his mouth shut beforehand.

White made himself an easy target for Queensland before his debut in Origin I last year after a verbal slanging match with Maroons veteran Petero Civoniceva from a club game spilled into the rep arena.

He and Civoniceva had traded barbs about their Melbourne and Brisbane rivalry and the then 25-year-old White was warned to expect a hostile reception in his first Origin appearance at Suncorp Stadium.

Queensland delivered on their promise with a swinging forearm from Tonie Carroll spreading White's nose across his face in the early minutes, the blood still running at fulltime.

White, now 26 and heading into this third match for NSW, isn't prepared to provide any ammunition for the Maroons ahead of next week's series opener at ANZ Stadium.

"It was a massive learning experience for me last year," White said.

"I learnt a lot about footy and about how to handle yourself and hopefully I'm better for the experience.

"This year going into it I just have to keep my head low and concentrate on footy and worry about getting the job done."

While White may have been a little gun-shy last year - the Blues lost both games in which he played as their forwards were out-muscled by Queensland - he is more confident in 2008.

That confidence will largely stem from his relationship with fellow front rower Ben Cross. White's former Melbourne premiership-winning teammate set to make his debut next week.

Cross and White led the Storm to last year's NRL triumph and with club coach Craig Bellamy now in control of NSW the Cooma junior feels more comfortable in the sky blue.

"It's good (having Cross in the side), I had a few years alongside him at Melbourne," said White.

"It's a confidence thing as well, we play off each other really well and it's great to be alongside the big man again."

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