Queensland legend Cameron Smith says Sam Walker has answered all his critics emphatically after his man-of-the-match display at the MCG.
The 24-year-old half landed eight goals from eight attempts on Wednesday and took control of the match when the Maroons trailed 10-2, outplaying opposite number Nathan Cleary in a 44-24 win to take the State of Origin series to a decider in Brisbane.
Walker played as a solitary half in attack when five-eighth Cameron Munster was off the field for 15 minutes with an HIA -- and he stood up with class.
The naysayers who reckoned Walker was too small or too flashy for Origin have been shown up.
"There were question marks on him, mainly around his defence and whether his style of play would stand up at this level," former Maroons skipper Smith told AAP.
