The fans have spoken and eight classic State of Origin moments remain – which one was the greatest of all?
Today, Darren Lockyer goes up against… Darren Lockyer. Which moment was bigger, the day the Queensland great began the Maroons' epic winning streak or his final victory on the Origin stage?
Lockyer starts the streak
It was the moment that New South Wales fans dread to watch and have tried to block from their memory ever since. A fateful pass from Brett Hodgson in the 2006 series decider that travelled to no-one has been etched in the history books as the moment that started the eight-year run of series wins for the Maroons. Aptly enough, Darren Lockyer would be the man to break the Maroons own three-year losing streak as he chased onto the ball, picking it up and breaking free of Blues prop Luke Bailey to win the game and begin the Maroons' dynasty.
Lockyer bows out
Darren Lockyer would bow out of the Origin arena after Game 3, 2011. After 36 appearances for the Maroons, the Broncos five-eighth was set to retire from the game. The stage was set for Queensland to win an unprecedented sixth straight series amidst Lockyer's swansong and he wasn't left disappointed. After punching their way out to a 24-0 lead within the first 35 minutes, Queensland halted the Blues' mini-revival to win the series decider 34-24. The future immortal left the Origin arena with the Origin shield hoisted above his head in front of a 52,000 people at Suncorp Stadium to bring the curtain down on one of rugby league's most decorated representative careers.
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