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Queensland<\/a> legend Darren Lockyer<\/a> \ufeffbelieves there is "no doubt" the Spencer Leniu<\/a> issue would have been raised in camp prior to the State of Origin opener.<\/p>\n The firebrand NSW Blues<\/a> \ufeffprop was involved in a well-publicised spat with Johnathan Thurston<\/a> earlier this year stemming from last year's racism saga, when Leniu was handed a long suspension for calling Ezra Mam a "monkey" during a game.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Dally M leaderboard paints grim picture for Queensland<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \ufeffREAD MORE:<\/strong> 'Friendliest' Origin build-up spells disaster for Maroons<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Stepson of AFL champion among mid-season draft hopefuls<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Leniu will be the centre of attention on Wednesday night in front of 50,000 diehard fans at Suncorp Stadium.<\/p>\n A Brisbane newspaper headline on Tuesday urged the Maroons to "smash this Blues grub", throwing a match on the fire that was no doubt already burning north of the Tweed.<\/p>\n Billy Slater denied that going after Leniu had been spoken about with his players<\/a>, even questioning what all the fuss was about in his pre-game press conference.<\/p>\n When asked about the newspaper headline and the simmering Leniu feud the Queensland coach replied, "what situation is that?".<\/p>\n But speaking on Wide World of Sports' QLDER<\/em>, one of the Maroons selectors cast doubt on Slater's denial.<\/p>\n "I reckon that would have been addressed at some point in the camp," Lockyer said.<\/p>\n "Origin motivates you naturally – but as a coach, if you can prod a few players and get them fired up, you do it.<\/p>\n "I've got no doubt there would have been a conversation within the group like 'hey boys, let's try and prove a point here and get stuck into him'."<\/p>\n Watch the 2025 State of Origin series exclusively live and free on Nine and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Leniu made his Origin debut last year and was enormous off the bench for the Blues as they came from behind to claim the series 2-1.<\/p>\n This year, Queensland will welcome back \ufeffTino Fa'asuamaleaui<\/a> in a major boost to their front-row stocks, while Cameron Munster<\/a> is set to return at five-eighth.<\/p>\n Lockyer was also quizzed about the tame build-up to the \ufeffseries and acknowledged that Slater and Blues coach Laurie Daley<\/a> would have been "instructing" their stars to keep a lid on things.<\/p>\n "Definitely as we've evolved, there's less shots fired – back in the day, there were plenty of characters in either team that would be willing to fire up the opposition," he said.<\/p>\n "I think that both coaches would be instructing players not to say anything to motivate the opposition.<\/p>\n "It is what it is these days, but I'm sure there are plenty of Queenslanders who don't need any motivation anyway."\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Johnathan](\"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/92489f00-cbea-4d7d-b211-0b415d29b282-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Spencer](\"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/38a7243d-e17a-42a8-93ad-c30a20fb096a-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Maroon's](\"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pickerimage-32.jpg\")
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