In the aftermath of the State of Origin decider, Jai Arrow stood out as the sole Queensland player to have touched the prestigious trophy, amidst the Blues’ commanding victory. A former New South Wales star has since raised questions regarding a crucial try during the match.
Here are some key highlights from the State of Origin decider.
The match was heavily affected by severe weather conditions across Australia, and the State of Origin finale was no exception. Just before the match began, it was reported that the video review system in Sydney was malfunctioning. The NRL stated that they had “contingencies” in place, which turned out to involve bringing retired referees’ chief Jared Maxwell back to oversee proceedings alongside Gerard Sutton from a van located beneath Lang Park. This harkened back to earlier times in the sport, with hopes that the video referee wouldn’t be required for any critical decisions.
Before the game commenced, Jai Arrow, a recently married former Maroons player, received the first standing ovation of the night. Known for his iconic cane toad hat, Arrow ignited cheers from the Lang Park crowd as he appeared in the tunnel holding the State of Origin shield. As he placed the trophy on display, nearly everyone in the stands rose to applaud his courageous battle against motor neurone disease (MND). This moment would mark the last time a Queensland player would get their hands on the trophy during the match.
Nathan Cleary, the Blues’ halfback, faced scrutiny regarding his State of Origin performances and whether he had genuinely “dominated” the series. However, he silenced critics by scoring two tries and successfully kicking five goals, totaling 18 points—a record for a decider—which surpassed the previous mark held by Michael O’Connor for New South Wales players. It had been 35 years since O’Connor’s career concluded, and it took an exceptional talent like Cleary to break that long-standing record. His teammate Liam Martin praised his performance, stating he had indeed “silenced the critics.”
The match saw a significant player change for New South Wales when fullback James Tedesco was sidelined due to a concussion. Queensland also faced a setback when Sam Walker was unexpectedly injured by a teammate. Unlike in Game II, when coach Billy Slater opted not to substitute for Cameron Munster, this time he brought in Reece Walsh to provide energy and spark for a struggling Queensland side trailing 18-4. Even after Walker passed his assessment, Slater chose to keep Walsh on the field, even sidelining Kalyn Ponga. While Walsh had some impactful moments, he was unable to conjure a miraculous comeback, and Slater took a bold approach by fielding all his key playmakers simultaneously.
As Bradman Best raced away for another memorable moment in the decider, many Queensland fans felt disheartened. Following the celebrations from the New South Wales team, Maroons captain Cameron Munster expressed his frustrations, pointing back to an aerial contest earlier in the play involving Jack Bostock and Jojo Fifita. Replays suggested there might have been a touch from the NSW winger, prompting veteran Luke Lewis to voice his opinion, stating, “I’m NSW and I think that comes off his hands.” Despite his claims, the televised replays were not definitive, and Nine broadcasters asserted that clearer angles were available to the bunker monitoring from their van.
