Junior Paulo has declared NSW's rescue mission to Brisbane one of their most significant State of Origin games in recent memory as Brad Fittler's coaching job hangs in the balance.
Having taken charge in 2018, Fittler is the Blues' longest continuously serving coach but a loss in Game II on June 21 will leave him with as many series defeats as victories.
It comes after NSW were favourites with the bookmakers for every game between 2020 and 2022, but won only one of those series.
The Blues again lost in Game I this year despite Queensland coming in as outsiders and Fittler has already acknowledged his job is hinging on levelling the series at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
The coach gave all but two of the current Blues team their Origin debuts and Paulo said the time was right now for NSW to repay the favour.
"Freddy's had the faith in us over the past couple of years," he told AAP.
"We've got to understand how important this game is not just for us but also knowing the circumstances around it.
"There is always going to be criticism around anyone, around the players, the coaching staff. This game means a lot to not only just the players but us collectively as a group.
"This is going to be one of the biggest games for NSW in recent years."
Paulo believed salvaging the series, and Fittler's job, would mean finding a level of ruthlessness that eluded them at Adelaide Oval last month.
"We've got to be able to execute the moments because you only get a few in Origin," he said.
"You've got to be able to go out there with the mentality that you're going to chase the game and not stand back and watch it unfold."
James Tedesco has been NSW's captain for more than half of Fittler's tenure and acknowledged the pressure on him would reach boiling point with another loss.
"If we don't perform, then that's what happens, particularly in the biggest games of rugby league," he told AAP.
"But you don't want to think about the negatives."
Giving Josh Addo-Carr his debut was one of the first selection decisions Fittler made when he took over from Laurie Daley as NSW's coach.
The winger earned a Blues recall this year after falling out of Fittler's favour in 2022 and did not believe the coach would lose the support of the playing group even if he was unable to inspire victory in Brisbane.
"He's a wonderful coach, I think he's a wonderful person. We're lucky to have him," Addo-Carr told AAP.
"I just love how he brings all the boys together.
"We're just focused on what we need to do for the game and all the outside noise doesn't really matter to us."
