To the Queensland people, it has been a privilege to play for you – thank you and goodbye
With those words, the great Darren Lockyer signed off on one of State of Origin’s greatest careers at Queensland’s finest hour after leading the Maroons to an amazing sixth-straight series win with their 34-24 win over NSW at Suncorp Stadium in Origin III.
After weeks of public attacks, personal insults and premature obituaries from south of the border, the Maroons once again rose to meet their latest challenge, and in the process write another incredible chapter in Origin history.
The Maroons were magnificent – harnessing a tidal wave of emotion to deliver a clinical, disciplined and ruthless performance to reinforce their standing as Origin’s greatest champions.
Primed to perfection by coach Mal Meninga and lead from the front by Lockyer, Queensland produced a lesson in the art of professional football, scorching out to a 24-0 lead that drove a stake through the heart of the “new Blues era” the southern press declared had arrived after NSW’s win in Origin III.
It was a perfect exhibition of what Origin football is all about, with the Maroons combining the lethal mix of power, passion and skill to send a clear message that the foundations of Origin’s greatest dynasty remain as strong as ever.
The heart and passion of this Queensland team were perfectly encapsulated at fulltime, when a devastated Johnathan Thurston – who had been carried from the field during the game with a serious knee injury – was pushed onto the field in a wheelchair by team doctor, Roy Saunders. The crowd stood and applauded Thurston’s arrival, and the clearly distressed halfback was then swamped by his teammates, who embraced him as a group and at once offered comfort for his heartbreak, and welcomed him into the team’s celebration of a victory he had helped to construct.
Courageous hooker Cameron Smith, the man most likely to step up and inherit the Queensland leadership from Lockyer next year, was again magnificent for the Maroons, winning his second man of the match award for the series and the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series. Forward leaders Petero Civoniceva and Matt Scott were again outstanding, gouging the trail through the Blues defensive line to the lay the platform for their team.
Centre Greg Inglis was back to his brilliant best, scoring two tries to equal Dale Shearer’s Origin record of 12.
Billy Slater was again masterful at fullback, Jharal Yow Yeh topped an excellent game with a terrific try, and the likes of Nate Myles again toiled tirelessly in the middle to add the mortar to the Maroon wall.
But fittingly, the night was Lockyer’s, with the inspirational skipper again showing his class with the ball in hand, as well as a terrific solo run in the first half.
The 34-year-old departs the Origin scene as one of the Queensland’s greatest servants – finishing with a record 36 appearances, and level with his legendary predecessor at five-eighth and captain, Wally Lewis, with 19 wins.
For Lockyer, sixth and final time raising the Origin shield was undoubtedly the sweetest.
“I’ll miss it that’s for sure… it’s a nice way to finish in front of a home crowd and with a win,” he said.
“I want to thank every coach that I’ve worked with over my Origin career, every player that I’ve played with – it’s been a hell of a ride and I will never forget these times playing for Queensland.”
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