When NSW State of Origin coach Ricky Stuart was asked before game one what five-eighth Jamie Soward had been like in camp, his answer was simple: "He's helped me."

It surprised some - Soward was on debut after being overlooked during two stellar seasons with St George Illawarra, and he and Stuart had history.

The Blues boss had made it clear when he was coaching Soward's former club the Sydney Roosters that he didn't rate the young playmaker.

Now he rates his input into the game plan for the biggest match of the year so far, and the 26-year-old has revealed just how he helped.

"Ricky's pretty clever himself, he'd already devised a plan," Soward said.

"I think it was just a few things I'd seen.

"I like watching the footy so there'd been a few things I'd picked up on and I knew would be able to help us in game one and I thought it did in some aspects."

Origin I under his belt, Soward has this time been picking over the video to help devise the Blues' strategy for game two at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night.

"I watched the game on fast forward, I picked out the crucial plays," Soward said.

"I didn't watch the whole game, I don't watch when we lose.

"I know that sounds bad but I watched the crucial parts where I thought we needed to be better and obviously the back end of the game when we led 12-10, that was the crucial point."

Soward's advice to Stuart? The Blues, and the No.6 in particular, need to be more patient in attack.

"We were patient at the wrong end of the field, we were patient in defence, we kept turning up for each other, we saved set after set after set," Soward said.

"Then when we got down there I didn't put myself in the right position to get the ball kicking on the last.

"I put my hand up for that but we've fixed that up for game two."

Continuing to show the benefits of two-and-a-half years under master man manager Wayne Bennett at the Dragons, Soward has no doubt he will succeed on the game's toughest stage.

"If I didn't believe in myself I wouldn't be playing NRL so I believe in myself no matter what the situation," he said.

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