With seven minutes to play, Queensland were a man down, riddled with injury and behind by two points but they told each they could turn it around and snatch an unlikely Origin victory.
Origin is not only a showcase of pride and passion, but also a place where something seemingly intangible like spirit becomes crystalised by the performances of the players who find another level for their state.
“Maybe we’re crazy, we just don’t think like that,” Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans said when asked if he ever doubted his side would be able to win against the odds.
“You just know and we spoke about it behind the tryline, we just needed an opportunity.
“And if we went back to our game model, we knew that our game model and our game was going to produce something at some stage.”
This is very special
What Queensland produced was remarkable, especially considering Thomas Flegler was in the sin bin for a high tackle on Tom Trbojevic and Tom Gilbert had dislocated his shoulder 20 minutes into the physical encounter.
Gilbert's injury also forced man-of-the-match Reuben Cotter to play the full 80 minutes, including 60 minutes in a position he didn’t train for at all in camp.
“Reuben Cotter didn’t do a single rep at right back row during the week, but I tell you what, when he was there, I didn’t for one second think he was going to let me down or the team down,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I'm really proud of 'Reubs' and a well-deserved man-of-the-match.
“It looks like we have a Queensland player who is going to be there for a long time, he epitomises what it’s all about.”
Slater: "That's a Queensland trait"
Wingers Murray Taulagi (HIA) and Selwyn Cobbo (hip) were also out of action, with Ben Hunt and David Fifita moving to the unfamiliar position of centre and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Val Holmes finishing the game on the wing.
“We needed to play like Queenslanders for Queenslanders and a trait of Queenslanders is never give up,” Maroons coach Billy Slater said following the against-the-odds win.
“It was a huge effort, to go down to 12 men in that last 10-minute period and be behind on the scoreboard, and I don’t like to focus on the scoreboard too much, but when it’s 10 minutes to go, you probably need to a little bit, and we went after the game and some players made some big plays.
“But the whole team needed to get into position. That was a tough game out there.
“We didn’t play overly smart at times … but I tell you what, there is a lot of guts and determination and courage in this footy team.
“We don’t always win them, but I think we always put ourselves in position … that’s a trait of a Queenslander.
“I am sure NSW people would be the same, but Queenslanders go through drought, they go through cyclones, they go through floods, they go through a lot of adversity.
“And we try and represent our people in that way as well and I think that’s what makes our people so proud of this footy team and that’s why this footy team is such an inspiration for our people.
Player of the Match: Cotter
“And that’s what we try and do, we try and replicate the traits that Queenslanders have, and that was on show tonight.”
Cotter – who claimed player of the match honours after his stirring performance which included a game-high 48 tackles and 84 metres – said he couldn’t explain how his side managed to snatch the late win, but always had the belief they would.
"It was unreal, the boys kept turning up for each other and it was a great win,” Cotter told NRL.com.
“I don’t know (how we won), I don’t know myself.
“We kept it simple and brought it back to our processes … running hard, kicking to the corners, kick, sprint, tackle one, two and three …
Taulagi stops the Blues again
“We've been speaking about it (doing the basics well) all week and that's what we spoke about in that 10-minute period and for the whole game.
“It's what we try and build our game off, just keep things moving.”
For winger Murray Taulagi - whose two try-saving tackles earlier in the match proved vital - the experienced players in the team stood up to guide the way and channel their belief into a result.
“Oh, it's, yeah, pretty special,” Taulagi said.
“I thought our leaders stepped up [Cameron] Munster, [Daly] Cherry- Evans.
“They took it took a lot of ownership in their last 10 minutes and put the boys right where they needed to be and I thought Benny Hunt was really doing really well, he came on in the last seven minutes and was playing in the centre and I thought he did a really good job.
“I think the boys really dug deep in that last 10 minutes.
“You can just really see the Queensland spirit come out there in the last 10 minutes, so I'm very happy that they be coming away with the win.”
