Fans turn out for Maroons... in NSW Cameron Smith and the Queensland players sign autographs at a Maroons fan day in Sydney yesterday. Beautiful one day, perfect the next ... even in NSW. As if winning seven consecutive Origin series isn't painful enough, the Maroons rubbed more salt into the wound when they were mobbed by Sydneysiders at a fan day at Fox Studios yesterday. An estimated 1000 Sydney-based Maroons fans braved rain and freezing conditions to greet their heroes - twice the crowd that attended the Blues' fan day on their own turf during the week. Festooned in Maroon, the throng went berserk when the team bus rolled in as fan-day host, Origin great Wendell Sailor, led a chant of "Queensland, Queensland." Maroons coach Mal Meninga, who signed as many autographs as current stars Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston, was blown away by the reception in enemy territory. "What a fantastic turnout," he told his Maroons disciples. Luckily the weather held off for us, but we do appreciate you guys coming out, you have made the boys feel welcome here in NSW. We had our fan day in Bundaberg on Tuesday and it was a great reception, similar to the numbers here, so it's great to have this reception in Sydney and be welcomed by so many Queenslanders. Sailor said he was stunned by the turnout given the event was nearly cancelled because of heavy rain in Sydney yesterday morning. "I can't believe so many Maroons fans would turn up in Sydney," said the former Queensland winger. I got here an hour beforehand and there was already a huge line of people. This is the first year we've had a Queensland fan day in Sydney but after seeing this, I think it will be a regular event. Meninga said the Maroons faced an uphill battle at ANZ Stadium, where Queensland have won just four of 19 clashes since the inaugural Origin clash at the venue in 1999. "We've played at ANZ Stadium before, we understand it's difficult to win away from home at Origin level," he said. NSW have got the jump on us the past few years so it's important we get off to a good start. Origin I is really important, winning the first game will certainly help our cause. We've put in the training and we have moves and plays we think are important to play at ANZ Stadium and we've worked pretty hard on those all week.