Blood, sweat and cheers: how the Blues won this State of Origin battle for the ages | Jack Snape

During the intense State of Origin contest, Big Neck's mouth bled as he yelled in joy. A close-up on the stadium screen revealed a deep cut on his lip, creating a shocking yet fitting image for such a thrilling event. This moment, though graphic, marked the climax of the competition and added to the excitement of the game.

Bradman Best's success in the game helped his team, the Blues, to win 14-4. This was only their third win in a deciding game at Lang Park. Best, along with legendary players like Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart, and Andrew Johns, has now made history with his New South Wales teammates.

The game went on for 65 minutes without any goals being scored, but it was still filled with plenty of action. There was a fight between players on the sidelines, chairs and equipment getting knocked over, and some close calls with players trying to keep the ball in play. Despite not scoring any points, the game was full of excitement and intense defense.

Throughout the game, there were intense collisions that were jolting, agonizing, forceful, and unending. Queensland's physicality was questioned before the match, especially after they selected a smaller team with an even smaller bench and were defeated in Melbourne by a strong Blues pack. However, in Brisbane, they displayed remarkable bravery.

Guided by their captain Patrick Carrigan, the Queensland team displayed fierce determination as they applied pressure on the New South Wales players. Despite being pushed back towards their own try line throughout the game, the Maroons stayed resilient and unafraid. In a courageous move, Harry Grant, who enjoys surfing in Victoria during his free time, bravely intercepted an oncoming Spencer Leniu and quickly recovered for the next tackle.

This evening's rugby league match was filled with classic storylines: a coach leading an unlikely team to victory, a player who is often underestimated, and a captain who lets his actions speak for themselves. Jake Trbojevic, reflecting on the win at the post-match press conference with NSW coach Michael Maguire, described the feeling of being only the third Blues team to win a decider in Brisbane as "pretty cool."

How did they commemorate their victory? Maguire glanced at his captain and grinned. "We shared a beer together." At 50 years old, Maguire may not have the same level of playing experience as some of his coaching colleagues, but he has proven himself successful in England, at Souths, for New Zealand, and now on the biggest stage of the game. It hasn't necessarily been about him. When asked how he felt, Maguire replied, "I'm thrilled for the players."

The coach made the decision to choose Jarome Luai, who plays as a five-eighth for the Panthers, despite him being left out of the final game in the series last year. This was also done even though his teammate Nathan Cleary, who plays alongside him in the halves, was unable to play in all three matches of 2024 due to injury. The coach continued to support Luai even after their team lost in the first game, even though he decided to drop Nicho Hynes, who won the Dally M medal in 2022.

Many people view Luai as the final touch on the Panthers' success, a player who only performs well in favorable conditions and talks a lot, and who will struggle when he joins the Wests Tigers next season. However, Maguire's trust in him paid off, as Luai made a crucial play that led to Best scoring a try against the Maroons. "Everyone sees Luai differently," Maguire explained. "He is a remarkable person, a devoted family man, and his performance really changed the game."

He was the one who sparked the most unforgettable moment of the evening. During the first half, Luai was seen exchanging facial massages with Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans. Suddenly, Jeremiah Nanai joined in and chaos ensued. Players crowded around, a TV monitor was knocked over, chairs and Channel Nine personalities were scattered. A man in khaki chinos and a blue jacket, later revealed to be Blues squad member Haumole Olakau'atu, made his way through the commotion. Despite both teams receiving sin-bins, the match was not ruined.

The evening's game was very fulfilling, and even the losing coach felt surprisingly good afterwards. Billy Slater tried his best to win the series, but even after trying all his strategies, he couldn't stop Maguire's team from winning. Despite the loss, he felt proud of his players' efforts and didn't see it as a defeat. "I was upset after the game in Melbourne, but right now I don't feel that way."

On this evening, the peak of rugby league belonged to Maguire. He and his team had minimized the importance of winning the final game in Brisbane while talking to the press beforehand. But after the match, he admitted, "Yeah, that will definitely be remembered in history."