Former NSW captain Paul Gallen has lobbed a grenade into the Maroons' State of Origin camp, saying it's "sickening" the way they have again been able to claim underdog status.
Already public enemy No.1 north of the border for branding Queenslanders as "two heads" before the 2014 series, Gallen has lit the fuse for more fireworks with a relentless tirade against the Maroons and their fans ahead of Wednesday night's series opener in Sydney.
Declaring how he "despises them", Gallen is furious how the Maroons have positioned themselves as underdogs.
No one has endured more Origin heartbreak in history that Gallen, who featured in 10 series defeats and won only one in 2016.
"I hate just how they think Origin's all about them, their own self-importance. It's embarrassing," Gallen told 2GB radio in Sydney.
"To hear them talk about the underdog tag and how they're underdogs and how NSW are deserving favourites, it's honestly sickening. It's disgusting.
"Like, I don't understand why they need it so much. They've won more Origin games than us. They've won more series than us ... for them to continually carry on about it, it's sickening.
"And what annoys me most is that people of the world keep buying into it. They are actually the underdogs. We are actually the favourites."
Gallen is also incensed by claims Queenslanders are more passionate about Origin because they won every series from 2006 to 2013.
"Because of what happened in that eight-year period with us, they're able to say that," he said.
"But when you've got probably six or seven future Immortals in the side, you're probably going to win most games.
"But I hate them being able to say it. You know, whenever we win, we're just happy to win and walk away and wait till next year. We don't carry on and rub it into Queensland's face.
"So I'm hoping if we win this year, I'm going to be letting every single Queenslander know about it for 12 months. Yes, every single one of them, because the crap they carry on with is ridiculous."
Bookmakers have listed the Maroons as $2.30 outsiders for game one, with the Blues at $1.65.
