CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
The buzz of Origin Victory is still permeating through Queensland, several days after the Mighty Maroons snatched the 2025 series from an uninspired Blues side on Wednesday night in Sydney.
It’s the type of buoyed mood that makes people thirsty, and Queensland’s pubs are preparing for a bumper Friday evening, as the entire state descends upon their locals to discuss that magical match of football over a few schooners.
The glorious 24-12 win in a game 3 decider has all but confirmed the coaching genius of Billy Slater, and the disheartening lack of spirit within the NSW rugby league infrastructure.
The pre-match commentary focused heavily on shock selections in the Maroons camp, with Slater making the bold call to replace the 36-year-old Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans with fellow Central Queensland boy Tommy Dearden at halfback.
With the captaincy then handed to the highly decorated five-eighth Cameron Munster (yet another Central Queensland boy) – all eyes were on Dearden to see if he could fill a roaring vaccum left behind after ten years of DCE wizardry.
And without a doubt, the 24-year-old Mackay Cutter rose to the occasion.
So much so, that he ended scoring two tries in the decider and winning man of the series, despite only starting for two matches. On top of that, he will now find himself cemented into Origin highlights for eternity after a spectacular try-saving tackle on Blues winger Brian To’o.
It’s in the spirit on Tommy Dearden that local office worker, Ken Bawley (30) has decided that he too must give it everything he has got for 180 minutes – down at the local pub.
He’s ready to silence the critics – and became a household name in the arena. Don’t underestimate him.
