Munster’s Maroons Honour Spirit of 1995 in Magnificent Win
- FOGS
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
Queensland are often at their best when written off and so it proved again in the stunning 26-24 win in Perth to keep the State of Origin series alive.
Captain Cameron Munster, in his first game as skipper of the Maroons, was magnificent in a man of the match display.
After the game he paid tribute to Paul Vautin’s ‘Neville Nobodies’ who won the 1995 series 3-0 against the odds.
At the end of the game, with the Blues pressing for a win, Maroons players were yelling out “1995” to inspire them for one final great defensive effort on their tryline.
“It was everything you could imagine,” Munster said post-match.
Trevor Gillmeister, skipper of the 1995 side, said the recognition of the Maroons of 30 years ago showcased how much the history of Queensland meant to the current team, coached by Billy Slater.
“For a few of our guys in 1995 that was the only series they played in, so I know they would be proud as punch to know that Cameron and our current players recognised us and what we did,” Gillmeister said.
“Billy Slater is big on his Maroons history and remembering our great past, so it is fantastic to hear that.
"I was coached by Arthur Beetson and was just 16 when he ran out in 1980 and smacked the Blues. I always remembered that.
“They defended on their line really well for the last five minutes. It was a good effort considering NSW had all that momentum and were coming home strong. They did so well.”
Gillmeister was thrilled with the way the Maroons played in the first half where they took control to lead 26-6.
“I was most happy with the start of the game,” he said.
“That’s what won the game - the first 15 minutes. They came out all guns blazing and that was fantastic.”
Gillmeister said it was a masterstroke to make Munster captain. The Melbourne magician, despite a few nervous moments early, kicked superbly, got involved in everything and scored a majestic try with a body swerve in space from a Harry Grant pass.
“Munny can really switch on,” Gillmeister said.
“Guys like him can have that quirky personality and joke around a bit but when they get serious everyone knows it is time to get serious and it switches everyone else on.
“Alf (Allan Langer) was like that. He could muck around but when he got serious things started happening.
“The forwards copped a bit of flak in the first game and rightly so but they stood up and deserve a rap.
“Kurt Capewell was great. His defence was very good. Harry Grant was a lot better and all our forwards played really well. They all contributed.”
Maroons selectors made the bold call to replace legend Daly Cherry-Evans with 24-year-old Tom Dearden at halfback and it paid dividends.
Dearden had three try involvements in the first half, including a precision kick for winger Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to leap high and score his second try of the night.
"You won't get a negative word out of me for Daly Cherry-Evans," Slater said.
"He's a wonderful player, and has been a wonderful player for a long period of time.
"It's Tom's time now. And he didn't surprise any of us, I don't think, in what he put out there.
Munster said he was driven by the ridiculous criticism of coach Slater by former NSW forward Aaron Wood before the game. Munster showcased true Maroons spirit.
"When you have someone jabbing at him like that, it really hurts. It hurts me personally," Munster said.
"And when someone's having a jab at someone in your own backyard, you stand up on your back and want to get up and fight.
"We needed to do that ... We were backs against the wall, no-one gave us a chance.
"I love (Slater), and I just want to do the best thing for Queensland, and the best thing for him, because he's not doing this for him, he's doing it for Queensland."
Back at Suncorp Stadium, thousands of kilometres away, Gillmeister, 1995 coach Paul Vautin and star forward Billy Moore were cheering the Maroons on.
"It was a fantastic dynamic,” Gillmeister said.
"Fatty, myself and Billy Moore were at a function at Suncorp Stadium put on by Ladbrokes for their clients. Both big screens were on and we sat out in the middle of the ground with lounge chairs. It was just great to get the win.”
The decider in three weeks in Sydney will decide the series winner and Gillmeister urged the Maroons to repeat their winning ways.
“There is another game to go now. All that good work they have done can be forgotten if you don’t win the series,” he warned.
