Queensland coach Paul Green has refused to commit to his State of Origin future as the Maroons seek to avoid NSW's first series whitewash in 21 years.
Green has endured a horror Origin debut as coach, starting with Queensland's biggest loss before copping a game two 26-0 thrashing - the first time the Maroons have been held scoreless at Suncorp Stadium.
The former North Queensland premiership-winning mentor's future has been a hot topic ahead of July 14's series finale.
Even former Maroons such as Cooper Cronk have wondered aloud whether Green should remain in 2022, with calls for Wayne Bennett to make yet another return after inspiring their against-the-odds series win last year.
Green appears to have the backing of QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher who told NRL.com that he still expected to trigger the coach's contract option that would ensure he kept the reins next season.
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But 2022 was the last thing on Green's mind on Tuesday as he refused to speculate on his next step.
"It [criticism of Green] is not surprising given the way that this series has panned out," he said.
"It's been challenging but I am definitely enjoying it but my focus is next Wednesday night, nothing further than that.
"There is an option there, but I am not worried about my future. We need to have a good performance [in game three]."
A Queensland Origin campaign wouldn't be complete without an injury or illness controversy but Green has arguably overseen unprecedented drama in 2021.
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Livewire Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga has finally returned from a groin injury that sidelined him for the first two games but Melbourne's Harry Grant has failed to overcome a hamstring complaint, giving St George Illawarra playmaker Ben Hunt the chance to wear the No.9 jersey.
The illness box has also been ticked with everything from tonsillitis to arm infections throwing a cloud over players in the first two games alone.
But the Maroons had to endure an Origin first ahead of game two with Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo ruled out on matchday due to an eligibility drama, a controversy that appears to still irk Green.
"That's for another day," Green said when asked about the NRL ruling.
"We have dealt with that. It's done and dusted now. There's no use wasting time and energy on it. We have a game next Wednesday.
"We followed the process and I think it would be fair to say the process wasn't the best."
I am not worried about my future. We need to have a good performance [in game three]
Maroons coach Paul Green
NSW hold a staggering 70-point differential after two games and are in sight of eclipsing the record 62 point difference set by the Blues in 2000 - the last year the Maroons suffered a series whitewash loss.
Green, who is not expecting any let-up from the Blues, wasn't looking for sympathy on Tuesday.
"Despite the challenges we have had I feel we have managed it as well as we can," Green said.
"I think players have bought in with what we are trying to do. We just need to perform better at the end of the day.
"We have had our challenges but I am not going to sit here and talk about that today because I will be accused of trying to deflect.
"I back my staff. I think we have handled what has been thrown at us well. We just need to get it right next Wednesday and perform well."
Asked if the Maroons were motivated to avoid a rare whitewash, Green said: "The way the series has gone so far is motivation enough [to win game three].
"We are certainly not happy with the results so far so this is our last chance to get it right.
"We were better in game two. We created some opportunities but we didn't take them.
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"We need to take the opportunities that we create. We need to be better again."
Green was quietly confident debutant speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow would help achieve that aim.
The North Queensland speedster - just 19 - faces the daunting task of lining up against Blues X-factor Tom Trbojevic in the centres.
"We probably looked at him earlier in the series. I think he is a guy with a future in the Maroons jersey so we are giving him his chance this game," Green said.
"He's got speed which we all know about, we have seen it plenty of times in the NRL.
"The other thing I like about him, every time he has come to another level he has stepped up to the mark. He will need to do that again."
