The Origin decider that had everything, and a bit more

It was fierce, hateful and a throwback to an era of old. The decider had it all, and ensured that despite a lacklustre build up, Origin football still has the ‘it’ factor.

How can one recap that game and honestly expect to do it justice? The breakneck speed and ferocity of which it was played resulted in three men being helped from the field within the opening four minutes! The tone was set and it sustained for the entire 80.

Pure spite had returned to the Origin arena and the desire for heavy contact was infectious. Not just for those on the field, but the millions watching too. Every thwack was greeted with lust for another, and another again. 

Physicality aside, the first half belonged to the debutants.

Tom Dearden was thrust into the most famous of Maroon jumpers and looked assured from his first touch. His courage to take the ball to the line early and deliver a crisp cutout to his Cowboys teammate for their first try, has placed him in selection contention for years to come. 

And what about Jacob Saifiti?! A man who has looked uninspired for Newcastle at times in 2022 was ready to run through brick walls the moment he entered the arena. He steamrolled Jeremiah Nanai with his first charge and skittled three more on his way to a rampaging try only minutes later. 

This level of aggression oozed from every single player wearing maroon and sky blue and it was only a matter of time before it boiled-over. When Dane Gagai and Matt Burton exchanged blows after the halftime break the game was officially on a knife’s edge. If we didn’t know before, we did then, both teams were baying for opposition blood.

But that’s not all this game was about, the ball was singing from sideline to sideline and both men at the back were playing out of their skin. 

James Tedesco was insatiable in his hunger to break the game open. He is the heart and soul of this Blues side and arguably the greatest fullback to ever don the jersey. 

And what about Kalyn Ponga? He cops flak from left and right but tonight was the centre of attention and the most dangerous player on the paddock. In a Man of the Match performance he threatened with every touch of the footy, his incessant investigations of a tiring New South Wales defensive line eventually reaped the rewards of a try that well and truly had a Maroons victory in sight. 

Ponga may have placed Queensland on the path for victory but Ben Hunt sealed it. His 40/20 midway through the second half swung momentum firmly in their favour, before his 70 metre runaway try after plucking a Nathan Cleary chip from thin air in the final minutes sealed the series victory and a slice of Origin folklore.

For a man who has carried the blame of a grand final defeat for seven years, it is a deserved reward from the footy gods for the manner in which he has handled himself on and off the field since that fateful night.

While there were forgettable moments for New South Wales we will not be focusing on them here. Their courage under fire whilst defending their own line and ability to still be a fighting chance in the final minutes proves beyond doubt that within those that wear the sky blue jersey there is a spirit that rivals Queensland’s.  

The Blues were valiant, but the Maroons were spectacular. Especially in the second half where they played with a confidence and level of assurity that convinced all those watching that they were never going to surrender the lead once they found it.

If one game could be shown to those that have never watched rugby league, that is it. If what we witnessed in this decider can be bottled and redistributed season after season, then the spectacle of Origin will never be conquered.