Maroons have a special bond: Slater

Queensland fullback Billy Slater says the Maroons don't need to win four State of
Origin series in a row to feel like they've created an everlasting bond.
With the Maroons on the brink of a record fourth successive series win, Slater says
the players already feel part of something special regardless of whether they win or
lose this year's title.
"The guys who have played over the last four years already have a pretty special
bond," said Slater.
"We've got a chance to do something and make history but we're not going out to do
that. We're going out to win the football game and if that happens, well, that's
great.
"But the special bond, I think it's already there. I don't think we need to win four
series in a row to have that."
In fact it seems that the Maroons are the only ones not discussing the remarkable
piece of history that awaits them with just one more victory.
"We don't really talk about it or anything like that. Obviously we're just so
focussed on the now," said veteran prop Petero Civoniceva.
"All the talk has been around whether we can make it four series wins in a row but
it's something we as a group haven't really spoken about ... we've got a job to do."
That job means securing the series next week in Sydney, then possibly celebrating it
in style with another win at Brisbane.
And while they'd love nothing more than ramming home their dominance with a 3-nil
series sweep, Queensland's first since 1995, they're only focussed on game two.
"I think that is a little bit cocky if we thought we were going to win 3-nil," said
Slater.
"Our priority is getting our processes right to win this football. We are by no
means thinking about the third game or anything like that.
"We want to perform well in this second game and hopefully win the series. Three-nil
has not even come into our minds."
Despite going winless in their first 11 visits to ANZ Stadium, the Sydney ground no
longer holds any concerns for the Queenslanders as they won two of their past three
visits - both wins securing them the series titles in 2007 and 2008.
"A couple of years ago all the talk was when we came down here that we couldn't win
here and we haven't won here for so long," he said.
"I suppose getting a couple of wins up down here relieves that pressure."
Civoniceva meanwhile has warned his teammates to expect a tougher NSW side next
week, fearing the Maroons face defeat if they allow the Blues to play like they did
in the second half of Origin I.
"There were some lapses in concentration there that we just can't afford to do in
this game," said Civoniceva.
"The first half we definitely showed each other what needs to be done in terms of
shutting them down but there were stages there late in sets we probably clocked off
and if we do that again we're going to come away losers at the end of the day."