Perplexed former Queensland winger Wendell Sailor has torn apart the odd mental tactics of Kevin Walters, saying the Maroons coach's methods are likely to backfire and unsettle the state's inexperienced players.
Heading into his fourth campaign as Queensland coach after a State of Origin series loss for the first time, Walters has bemused the rugby league world by banning the words "NSW" and "Blues" in Maroons camp.
The idea is supposedly meant to galvanise the team and have them focus only on their own performance in Origin I.
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The wacky plan was devised by the so-called "coach whisperer" Bradley Charles Stubbs, whom Walters paid $5500 for an hour-long mind coaching session in preparation for this series.
While Stubbs has enjoyed success with his self-taught techniques – including helping Roosters mentor Trent Robinson when the Roosters won the title last year – Sailor isn't sold on his involvement with Walters.
And he noted a worryingly stark change in his previous Broncos teammate's personality in the past week, with the usually knockabout bloke suddenly becoming all fire and intensity.
"For me, I don't really understand why he needs a 'coach whisperer'," Sailor told Triple M's Saturday Footy.
"I understand as a coach you go outside the circle, outside the square sometimes to get information or help, which a lot of great coaches have done over the years.
"But just for me, when I see that I'm uneasy. I'm backing Kevvie to the hilt because of the team and that, but to me it just didn't seem like Kevvie.
"He was our captain in the 2000 grand final, always had massive respect for Kevvie. And even now, I know he's the man that everyone's looking at at the moment.
"He just didn't look comfortable."
Sailor believes Walters' rule against speaking about NSW will inadvertently lead to more focus on the Blues, especially among his more youthful troops.
"A young guy like [debutant] Joe Ofahengaue and then you've got Cam Munster [four Origin caps] and they're trying not to say NSW and Blues," said Sailor, who played 14 matches for Queensland.
"Mate, when I was growing up, if we beat the Blues the next day you couldn't wait to get to school and talk about it.
"And you know what, the more I think you subconsciously go, 'Don't mention the Blues, don't mention NSW', those young guys become a bit uncomfortable."
He used golf as an example of the unintended impact the strategy could have.
"First tee, you know there's water on the right, you go, 'Okay, you want to go down the left-hand side here – don't get it in the water, don't get it in the water'. You're thinking about it," Sailor said.
"You can see those interviews, those guys should just be talking about their passion growing up, what they know about Origin.
"Obviously, it's going to be Queensland watching Darren Lockyer, JT [Johnathan Thurston] and that, but all of a sudden you've got these mind games they're playing.
"If Kevvie wanted to do that, I reckon go and do it and hide your little coach whisperer on the side – but then implementing it into the whole Queensland system?
"If he wins this series, good luck to him. But he's put a fair bit of pressure on himself."