Paul Vautin believes serious questions must be asked of the Maroons' preparation ahead of their series-defining loss to NSW in Game Two, with the Queensland icon claiming they appeared gassed after 10 minutes.
The Maroons started the match strongly, forcing the Blues to play through perhaps their toughest period of the series in the opening exchanges at Suncorp Stadium.
It was a rude awakening for Brad Fittler's Blues who had trounced the Queenslanders 50-6 over a fortnight ago, signalling a much tougher night ahead in Brisbane.
But after weathering the early war of attrition, the Blues' breakneck speed-of-play unravelled the Queenslanders en route to a 26-0 thumping, and series victory.
While Maroons legend and selector Billy Slater said the capitulation was indicative of a "lack of creativity and direction", Vautin had his finger hovering over the crisis button, calling out a number of red flags apparent in the Queensland system.
"We were gone after 10 minutes. So, it makes you wonder why were they fatigued after 10 minutes? It makes you wonder what happened during the week, whether they trained too hard, I'm not sure," Vautin told Nine's post-match coverage.
"We are a slow and sluggish team. I really believe we just don't have enough pace.
"I mean, there was no punch at the line. People were jog-trotting into the line. It was very, very disappointing. Quite deflating to sit there and watch what they produced tonight."
Vautin's assessment is a sobering reality for Queenslanders, particularly in light of the relatively slim stocks currently available for selection.
Precocious 18-year-old fullback Reece Walsh and hooker Harry Grant were unavailable for selection through injury, forcing the Maroons to fashion Valentine Holmes, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans, Andrew McCullough and Ben Hunt into a spine.
It proved costly, with the combination failing to yield a single point at Suncorp Stadium – the first time that had happened in Origin history – leading Vautin to call on Queensland to find some solutions, and fast.
"I'm not sure where they go to. I don't know they have a whole lot more other players to pick from. But I hope Reece Walsh gets another chance," Vautin said.
"They lack spark, that's what it is, spark. We're lacking centres. Poor Kurt Capwell he got a bath again tonight, he tried hard, really hard. But up against the best player in the game in Turbo? Honestly, carved him.
"We need to find some centres from somewhere or make some."
Origin III will be held on July 14 as Queensland desperately look to avoid a series whitewash.
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