Game 1 1994 will forever be the ‘Mark Coyne match’ featuring one of the greatest calls in rugby league history by Ray Warren. “That’s not a try, that’s a miracle!”
It was another one of those occasions where Queensland won a match they had no right to win.
Martin Bella is one man who’s grateful Coyne stole the show as his comedic moment would have received far more attention than it did.
After taking a tackle from Ricky Stuart and Laurie Daley, Bella rose to his feet and, instead of playing the ball to Kevin Walters, he turned around and for a fleeting second became a New South Welshman.
“Maybe he’s seen the writing on the wall and is looking to change sides already Fatty,” Peter Sterling said in commentary.
After 21 Origin appearances, it turned out to be Bella’s last in a Maroons jersey.
If only his play-the-ball moment happened in 2017. Bella would be immortalised in meme form.
READ MORE: GREAT AND NOT SO GREAT STATE OF ORIGIN MOMENTS
JGK
Roar Guru
I remember that Bella incident well but hadn’t realised that was his last match.