‘Completely wrong’: Origin ‘myth’ debunked once and for all

NSW’s incredible win in the 2024 State of Origin series has finally shut the door on one of the great fallacies of the interstate series.

How good is being a winning coach? Picture: Richard Dobson

Wednesday night’s stunning State of Origin win for NSW was special for a multitude of reasons south of the border.

It was the first time in 19 years the Blues have comeback from 1-0 down to win the series in Queensland, ended a hat-trick of series victories for Billy Slater and tore down a little of the mystique around Suncorp Stadium in Origin.

It may also have finally have debunked the cliche that “NSW don’t get Origin”.

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After a horror show in Game 1 which was basically over seven minutes in after Joseph Sua’ali’i was send off for a brutal hit on Reece Walsh, the Blues flipped the narrative on the Maroons.

A record victory for the Blues in Game 2 at the MCG had most of the rugby league world still saying ‘but the decider is Brisbane’.

But first-time Origin coach Michael Maguire did the “almost impossible”, inspiring the Blues to a previously unthinkable win.

It may be just the Blues fifth series win since 2006 after Queensland’s unparalleled period of success, but finally the unbeatable Maroon veneer has finally started to slip.

Great scenes for the Blues. Photo: NRL Photos

Doesn’t get sweeter for the Blues. Photo: Luke Marsden

The Blues played with belief — keeping the Maroons tryless in their own fortress in the clearest sign yet that the “NSW don’t get Origin” myth is just words.

Maguire himself trumpeted the busting of Origin’s most persistent myth.

“Everyone told me we don’t have passion. We don’t have this or that or everything in NSW. It’s completely wrong,” he said.

“You saw last night what this team means.

“I got to see a lot of the old boys over the last three or four months. There’s a lot of passion inside the NSW jersey.”

He added: “The thing I’m most proud of is probably the connection I’ve seen, not just with the playing group and the staff, but with the old boys.

“Everyone continually says that the people up north have more passion, that they have more this or they have more that, but I’ve seen that it’s alive and well down here so it’s a myth.”

NSW couldn’t help themselves but to throw the Origin “myth” back in Queensland faces after nearly 20 years of ending up on the wrong side of celebrations.

And six of the last nine years before Wednesday night’s match, when it was meant to be a period after the Maroons’ golden era.

Game 2 Blues centre Latrell Mitchell also took aim at the tired old saying as he posted on Instagram: “NSW don’t get Origin,” followed by a cry laughing emoji.

He was joined by countless more Blues fans enjoying their time in the sun after so many years of disappointment that even had NSW legends such as Andrew Johns at times questioning if the state simply didn’t get Origin.

And after losing a series they were expected to win, for once, all Queensland had was excuses.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Daly Cherry-Evans and Jarome Luai ignited an all-in brawl when the pair had a push-and-shove after a Bradman Best knock on.

Queensland will be back. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

It led to scenes that included bench players from both sides getting involved, including Blues interchange forward Cam Murray running from the Blues bench to get involved.

He was sin binned despite not being on the field, leading to Mitch Barnett having to come from the field for the Blues.

It also led to non-playing reserve Haumole Olakau’atu getting involved and being banished too the Blues’ change rooms. Both Murray and Olakau’atu were handed two-game suspensions.

But Cherry-Evans’ reaction was un-Queensland-like.

“It’s been a bit of a theme of the series to be fair, all that sort of stuff, niggle, and it just boiled over,” Cherry-Evans said.

“I was just really proud that nobody hesitated to get in there. I got a lot of love and support from my teammates tonight so I’m really proud of that side of the game.”

Coach Billy Slater also hit out at referee Ashley Klein’s performance, as well as complaining about the treatment of Reece Walsh.

Originally published as ‘Completely wrong’: Origin ‘myth’ debunked once and for all