Injured Queensland captain Darren Lockyer said he didn't expect to be picked for the State of Origin series decider in Sydney next month after the combination selectors feared couldn't work, did.

Initially overlooked Scott Prince paired wonderfully with Johnathan Thurston in the halves, setting the Maroons' much vaunted backline alight as rookie winger Darius Boyd enjoyed the spoils with two first half tries.

When selectors ignored Prince for game one in Sydney they said it was because they doubted he and Thurston could play side by side because they were dominant players.

"Princey's preparation wasn't perfect but he did a great job and I think the team looked much better with him being there," Lockyer said.

While he didn't completely rule out Origin III he said it was very unlikely he'd be back.

"It's very unlikely and you don't change combinations like that after those sort of wins," he said.

Queensland coach Mal Meninga welcomed his heroes into the dressing room with the words: "the job is only half done, but soak it all up".

"It was the perfect footy game," said Meninga, who came up with the answers after NSW coach Craig Bellamy had all the cards in Sydney.

Dressed in a team suit and tie instead of the familiar Maroon No.6 jumper he has worn 27 times, Lockyer said he was very happy with Boyd's debut .

"Nothing much really phases Darius," said Lockyer, whose pre-game advice to the 20 year-old was to enjoy his big night.

"He did his job and more and I'm really happy for him.

The young winger, who battled pre-game nerves, dedicated his two tries to his grandmother Delphine Boyd who watched the game on television at her Gold Coast home.

"I can't wait to ring her," said Boyd, still coming to grips with his debut in front of 52,416 "redneck" Queenslanders who loved every second of the thrashing.

Thurston, who was under tremendous pressure after coping a lot of criticism for his performance in Sydney, turned in a blinder but finished the game with a soft tissue shoulder injury.

It was initially thought the injury was not serious.

Thurston equalled the Queensland record of kicking seven Origin goals, achieved by Meninga on debut in 1980.

Lockyer could not say enough about the performance of man-of-the-match Greg Inglis who at time was almost unstoppable in open space.

Inglis was hurting badly after criticism of his game against Mark Gasnier in Sydney.

The 21 year-old more than settled the score using his big right fend to dump Gasnier on the way to setting up Boyd's first try.

"It just shows the character of him, he's only young," Lockyer said.

"I think he made a bit of a statement through the week, he was going to turn things around and he did.

"He's real talent that's for sure and some of the things he did tonight were special.

"He's 21 and has won the Churchill Medal and put performances in at that level, hopefully he' be around for a long time.

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