NRL Podcast: Soward warns NSW not to believe the hype

A new coach, a new group of players, a new approach. This is meant to be a bright new era for New South Wales.

Brad Fittler has started fresh – and Freddy's baby Blues are firm favourites take out the 2018 Holden State of Origin series.

"These poor 11 debutants and poor six blokes that have been there for series losses – and Brad Fittler – have got a swipe at nothing," Jamie Soward told the NRL Podcast.

"They're expected to win, but if they don't win, Queensland have done it again."

Kevin Walters has sworn in a few of new faces too – but it's the old 'cool' heads missing, that has put the mighty Maroons' Origin dominance undertreat.

"It's a free hit at glory for Queensland," Soward said.

"If New South Wales win then there's no (Johnathan) Thurston, no (Cooper) Cronk, no (Cameron) Smith.

"If Queensland win, well we've (NSW) done it again."

It's a line Soward repeated on the latest edition of the NRL Podcast.

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The former NSW five-eighth hasn't bought into the hype that the inexperienced Blues are at all invincible.

"Life after those guys looks pretty good," Soward said.

"Munster is one of the form players in the (NRL) competition, Ben Hunt's side (St George Illawarra) is leading the competition, and then you've got Andrew McCullough who has been an understudy to Cameron Smith.

"I think the Queenslanders will be fine without them."

Soward also discussed Fittler's 'different' approach to coaching, what Billy Slater's retirement from representative rugby league will do to inspire Queensland and reveals what life is like as a debutant in an Origin camp.