Queensland war horse Petero Civoniceva revealed he'd been told before Wednesday night's 28-18 win that former NSW captain and Blues selector Laurie Daley had called him too old to be playing Origin.

Daley told a pre-game function at Etihad Stadium that he thought Civoniceva - playing his 24th Origin game had "had his time".

"I think Petero has had his time. I think he has been an outstanding player but I think if NSW play correctly, both he and Steve Price can be exposed," Daley said.

Civoniceva, 32, said after the win he was "sick" of people having a go at him and Price about their age.

"We're the one's having the last laugh but it's pretty disappointing when ex-players like that who have a high standing in our game want to go and make comments like that," said Civoniceva.

"I was already motivated before the game but things like that will carry over through the rest of the series and probably go on.

"I'm pretty sick and tired of having to deal with people making comments about our age.

"If we're a liability, we still keep coming up with the results.

"Comments like that don't worry me too much, if anything they just motivate me.

"They make a big deal out of me and Pricey's (Steve Price) age and they're welcome to keep saying it but we keep winning."

Man-of-the-match Johnathan Thurston said he's happy to play behind Civoniceva and Price, who carved out close to 300m between them, until they were 50.

"The two bookends, they just keep rolling forward for us, they're great," said Thurston.

"Every year they say they're too old and they'll get exposed and that kind of stuff but they just keep turning up and doing the job for us.

"They shut everyone up."

Thurston, who has scored 80 points in his last five games, including a big haul in Australia's Test win over New Zealand last month, said he had hit a purple patch playing off the back of his forwards.

Thurston said captain Darren Lockyer's composure had settled some players who started to "panic" when NSW stormed back to within six points with 10 minutes to go.

Thurston, who usually lays on tries with bombs for giant winger Israel Folau, scored off a clever in-field kick from his 20-year-old winger.

"I said to him, 'good try assist their brother, thank you'."

The only sour note for Queensland was a knee injury to Brisbane centre Justin Hodges who damaged his medial ligament and could be sidelined for up to six weeks.

Michael Crocker and Greg Inglis finished with shoulder injuries which weren't considered too serious.

Thurston hesitated and laughed when asked if it was too soon to be talking "four in a row".

"We're not going to get too cocky and we know there's two games left," he said.

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