Billy Slater is only at the start of his coaching career but what he’s achieved in a short space of time is truly remarkable, to turn Queensland around after last year’s flogging to win a decider against the odds.
When you put it into the context of going into the game without Cameron Munster, Felise Kaufusi and Murray Taulagi and then losing Selwyn Cobbo and Lindsay Collins in the first couple of minutes, the 22-12 win in the series decider will forever be part of Queensland Origin folklore.
It’s up there with the heroics of the famous win at the SFS in 1989 and Paul Vautin’s 3-0 clean sweep in 1995 among the greatest in Maroons history.
Billy put his hand up to coach when Queensland was in an ordinary situation because he knows how much Origin means to the state, the fans and the players.
Like Brad Fittler with NSW, he gets Origin.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
I thought he’d done well to force a decider. Winning game one was great and then after copping a shellacking in Perth, he showed tremendous tactical nous to get the deciding victory.
The response and preparation, despite a disrupted build-up, was first class because it was a backs to the wall situation when not many people gave them much hope.
Queensland’s future now looks great and we weren’t saying that 12 months ago but it’s good for the Origin concept.
The match itself was full of ferocity, a real throwback. I wrote before the game that the Maroons needed to bring the physicality and they did just that.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Their forwards really led the charge, Josh Papalii had his best game of the series, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was aggressive and Patrick Carrigan thoroughly deserved the Wally Lewis Medal.
Kalyn Ponga had his best game I’ve seen him play, Ben Hunt was superb at hooker or as the extra middle forward, Daly Cherry-Evans led from the front and maybe now he’s got his nose in front of James Tedesco to be Kangaroos captain.
Ponga returned the ball strongly and was a constant danger to the Blues whenever he took the line on.
Billy Slater and Ben Hunt celebrate. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Slater invested in the new guys in a way that reminded me of Mal Meninga when he took over in 2006 and picked a lot of guys who hadn’t been given a run at Origin level.
Tom Dearden’s effort at five-eighth was one of the best I can recall from someone wearing the No.6 jersey, Tom Gilbert was strong in attack and defence and Jeremiah Nanai, for a 19-year-old back-rower in his starting debut, was everywhere.
With Carrigan, Cobbo and Taulagi all getting their first jersey this series, there’s a crop of youngsters there that the Maroons can keep developing over the next few years.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The Maroons were behind the eight ball when they had two players off early and NSW lost one in Cameron Murray but the Suncorp Stadium crowd made up the difference.
It has been proven time and time again over the years that Origin means more to Queenslanders and their unashamed passion for their team was on show again at Suncorp Stadium.
There were shades of the old Lang Park on Wednesday night – it’s a unique stadium, quite a different environment to anywhere else and it just engenders unbelievable spirit from everyone wearing Maroon.
Dane Gagai probably showed a bit too much spirit when he ran in to punch Matt Burton and I think he was happy that he wasn’t the only one who got sent to the sin bin.
Queensland fired up from that moment early in the second half but NSW lost their way a bit.
The Blues started losing the arm wrestle and they were on the wrong end of a few of the key moments down the stretch with a couple of bad passes from Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai, plus a knock-on from Siosifa Talakai when the pressure was on.
They kept getting turned around by the Maroons’ early kicks, the ball was getting put in behind them and they were hemmed in their own end a lot in the second half. It was a tactic Cameron Smith used a lot when he would kick out of dummy-half on play three or four and it can be particularly effective at Origin level when the game is already so physically exhausting.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
NSW showed unbelievable resilience on their tryline for long periods and they contributed enormously to one of the greatest Origin games of all time.
Queensland owned the big moments. Ponga’s try was a beauty and he was set up with a nice inside ball from DCE to get the ball rolling after the restart.
Hunt’s brilliant 40/20 and effort at the end to score that last try was enormous but one of the moments that I thought was really critical was when Valentine Holmes saved the ball from going over the sideline from the line drop-out.
There were too many to list but for the most part, Queensland rose to the occasion when it mattered and that proved the difference in the end.
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DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
There was another big Ben Hunt moment, when the maroon mob pushed some Blue back over the tryline to force a drop out notice Hunt was the first there and held the player up while the gang arrive and then was hauling him backwards while the mob pushed. He had a fantastic game.
matth
Roar Guru
There were a few special ones in the 1980’s. 1983 and 84 were golden as well. Dowling off the crossbar in the mud!
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
In that Grand Final Ben had 3 clangers late in the game. The first was upending Linnet, giving away a penalty and giving NQ field position. The second was getting stripped by Feldt to give the Cowboys a full set with a minute to go starting on halfway. The third was of course the infamous knock-on which you referred to. Last night, among many other things he made 3 big plays. The 40/20, the strip on A. Crichton, and the charge-down/kick-receipt and try. While there was a bit more time between these big moments I find there is almost a poetry in the symmetry with the 2015 Grand Final and this might be the final exorcism of that night.
vonManstein
Roar Rookie
Great stuff Michael. Having only just watched the replay due to work commitments, it seemed to me that QLD won the tactical battle, the composure battle, the intensity battle, the pressure test, the ticker test, the desire test (capewell specifically on the stroke of half time) the will test, the belief test, the organisational test, obviously the interchange test, given the outs, and the fight. The only thing the blues were streets ahead on, was on paper. Love that fact Thankfully the bookies priced on paper, as they tend to do do. The scoreline flattered the blues from what I saw. Kudos to their defense. I reckon this one hurt. Alot. Joy of joys. And for anyone who didn't enjoy the battle.. straight up sour grapes. Viva le Toad. Welcome to coaches box Bull.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
A great series that swung dramatically. Qld edged forward in game 1 with the wonderful defense that shut NSW down. Then NSW did their homework in game 2 and never let Qld get acendency. It forced Qld to defend for long periods of time and the result was a gassed out team that leaked points. I wasn't comfortable in Qld winning coming into game 3 and thought that we would have some idea after 15 minutes of the first half. But Qld dug deep. I think NSW had 5 or 6 back to back sets in the first half. Qld had every right to not recovered from such a relentless attacking NSW - but they did. Qld dug deep and finished very strongly. It wasn't the prettiest game but it certainly was a second half of heart and courage and will. That game will fuel SOO for the next few years at least.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Good morning Rellum. Even though it’s cool, cloudy & threatening rain here, there’s no better feeling than being a Queensland supporter living in NSW after last night. Remembering a sportsman’s last effort; there is one striking exception. D G Bradman bowled Hollies 0! Only remembered as a boundary would have given The Don an unparalleled Test average of 100,
Tom
Guest
Ponga looked extremely uncomfortable under the high ball all series. Someone else claimed one of those weird stats websites keeps stats on kicks defused and Ponga is actually notably poor at it by fullback standards. But regardless, Burton's boot is a massive weapon which begs the question why it wasn't employed more often.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think this is an all time Queenslands victory and right up with their best Before the series, I’m not too sure there’s many Queenslanders who make the NSW team. Post series I think it’s probably the other way around
Bunney
Roar Rookie
In fairness to Freddy, I think Korisau proved he is the superior hooker last night. He was really, really good, while Cook threatened a whole lot less. I think your description of Ponga looking lost at sea is a bit harsh. That kick was massive and was going to land midfield, but on its descent moved rapidly across field and landed about 10m from the sideline. No one was catching that kick on the full.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
After 30-35min NSW were very much on top. I was thinking Qld were staring down the barrel of another shellacking at that point. The late try to Capewell was super important.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Look at what happened to Hodges. Same mistake twice in his first Origin but a decade of excellence after that and many forget. It is your last effort many remember, which is bizarre. Image only remembering Ponting for his last Test innings
Tom
Guest
I'm not sure Freddy does get Origin. We saw that in leaving out Jake Trbojevic in game 1, not finding a spot for Wighton who was best on ground for NSW in game 1, and random selection brainfarts like Talakai instead of an actual forward. He also used the bench in a baffling manner, like not bringing on Cook near the end of the first half when Qld were on the rack, and benching Jake 5 minutes into the second half...I fail to see how he could have gassed himself in that time. His tactics were baffling. I think you need to be prepared to lose the game to win the game - Qld showed that by taking risks like continuously kicking early, which turned the NSW forwards around and put the NSW back 3 in 2 minds. NSW did nothing to nullify the kick pressure on Cleary early. Ponga looked lost at sea when Burton put up a bomb, but he only did it once. Given it worked, why not try it again? The sad thing is NSW will probably have Turbo and Latrell back next year and will win on the back of a game plan of 'pass the ball to one of them' and goldfish-brained punters will once again be telling us what a genius Freddy is.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Hi John, yep, I had flashes of the Duke event when I saw that, though I'd like to think people have better memories of an individual. I get what you are saying with the way clangers stay in our minds, but it has always been a sore point of mine that people tend to hold onto the bad rather than the good (a test I failed in recalling Duke's Day). I myself am trying hard to put some bad decisions behind me. I would hope for Ben's sake that you are correct and the recent events drown out his past error.
Nat
Roar Guru
And it could not have happened to a better Wayne-Kerr.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Crichton’s “pass” took me back to Phil Sigsworth & Phil Duke in the early days of SOO. Just a thought while I was watching Ben Hunt seal the game, Herschelle Gibbs never got the opportunity to atone for “dropping the World Cup”, neither did Neville Glover for “dropping that ball” however until last night, Ben Hunt would have been long remembered for his golden point dropped ball in 2015 GF. Now he has the polar opposite memory to recall long after he retires. Thoughts?
Fraser
Roar Rookie
The crowd was incredible. You could tell at the stadium that it was going to be fun when everyone belted out the Australian anthem. Full of energy and good spirits.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
What a game, simply awesome. One of the best ever, had me spellbound and couldn't leave my seat. Many heroes for QLD, Cleary and Teddy were fantastic for NSW and really just some basic and panicky errors cost them. The lost balls and missed catch and poor play the balls can happen, but I don't know what Chrichton was thinking when he threw the ball back over his tryline.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
Congratulations QLD. It hurts but you guys turned up and had a crack rather than just expecting to win like NSW players seem to do al too often. Way too strong...
Adsm
Guest
Can already see the excuses flying. It's the ref's fault he kept penalising us. It's the crowds fault they cheered to loud. It was a 2 vs 1 on Burton, ignore all the footage of him squaring up on gagai and getting rinsed long before tino gets involved. Ahh the sweet sounds oh origin victory.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Sensational game, sensational result. I'm an old guy so 89 for me but that one last night was certainly special.