Queensland coach Billy Slater doesn’t care the Maroons are favourites in Game II and clinch the 2023 series.

Bookmakers now have the Queenslanders ahead of the New South Wales Blues in betting that isn’t phasing Slater with his counterpart Brad Fittler under immense pressure to keep his job.

“Honestly, I know there is a bit of a myth around that – I honestly could not care less who is favourites,” Slater said.

“NSW have got injuries, they’ve got new players in their team … so do we.

“History is history and it will be what it will be. That’s not gunna make us play any better or any worse, what has happened before. I’m not thinking about confidence and I’m not thinking about wasting opportunities. We’re pushing all our energy into giving ourself the best chance to play our best footy – that’s all we can control.

“The most important part of our week comes at 8.05 tomorrow night. That’s where everything is channelled towards and as good as preparations can be, that’s the most important part of the week.

“Everything has happened well so far, but it means nothing if we don’t turn up tomorrow night and play our best football.”

QLD won Game I in Adelaide despite trailing for the majority of the match with Fittler’s tactics and bench rotations again coming under the spotlight.