Death, taxes and a Queensland comeback.
Tariq Sims is under no illusions the Maroons will accept their humiliating 50-6 game-one drubbing kindly as they prepare to save the State of Origin series on Sunday night.
NSW hit the paddock just down the road in Kingscliff on Tuesday to start their limited preparation to clinch the series at Suncorp Stadium.
Although confidence is high, there's not a hint of cockiness in the group who still remember how it all fell apart last year.
"There's a couple of things guaranteed in life and when Queensland lose they always bounce back and they bounce back hard," Blues second-rower Sims said.
"We're under no illusion that it's going to be an easy game, they've got some quality players, they're getting some quality players back.
"They'll want to play their best footy in front of Suncorp which is always a tough ask to go up there."
Sims' naming in the game-two team for his fourth Origin appearance will mark the first time he's played two games in a series.
The St George Illawarra star made his debut at Suncorp Stadium back in 2018 in the 18-12 loss to Queensland and knows the intensity of the crowd that awaits the Blues.
"I don't mind the noise, I love the crowd," he said.
"Townsville for me was great. That was one of those pinch-me moments, I've never seen such a maroon crowd in my life."
But the Blues are serious about making history in Origin II.
Brad Fittler has lost all three games as Blues coach at the ground and the only other time NSW has played the first two games of the series in Queensland was back in 1982.
The Max Krillich-led side won just one game that series, but 40 years later the Blues are ready to right those wrongs.
And to do that they need to forget the 44-point thrashing they handed out a fortnight ago.
"We've dealt with that game and put that behind us," Sims said.
"We can't dwell on it too much, we can only control what we can control."
Australian Associated Press
