State of Origin: All the winners and losers out of NSW’s historic win over Queensland in Suncorp Stadium decider
NSW’s victory at the cauldron has saved Jake Trbojevic’s Origin career, while a timid performance from Qld fullback Reece Walsh spells more bad news for the Broncos. Here are the winners and losers from the Origin decider.
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NSW’s historic victory in the decider is set to have devastating consequences for Parramatta and the powerhouse club’s battle to avoid the wooden spoon in 2024.
As a losing Queensland side looks set to move on from a number of ageing and ineffective Origin veterans.
We take a look at the winners and losers out of the winners and losers out of NSW’s Origin series win over Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.
WINNERS
MICHAEL MAGUIRE
Is there a better coaching audition than sealing an Origin series against all the odds?
Not for Michael Maguire.
The premiership-winning coach made his intentions clear, putting his hand up for the vacant Parramatta job before pulling out to focus on the Blues.
Maguire is signed for another series, which is perfectly timed to put himself in the running for a head coach role with the NRL’s 18th side, likely to enter the competition in 2027.
Given the volatility in NRL head coaching ranks, a job might even pop up sooner.
Maguire has shown he still has what it takes to deliver success, and this year’s series win has only bolstered his resume.
JAKE TRBOJEVIC
NSW’s famous win has not only made history but saved Blues skipper Jake Trbojevic from facing the axe in next year’s series.
If not for Wednesday night victory, Trbojevic would not be able to hide from the reality that the veteran forward only played 83 minutes over the entire series for a meagre 128 metres.
They’re the kinds of numbers that don’t wash for any Origin forward, let alone a skipper.
But Maguire believes Trbojevic makes up for his on-field shortcomings as an inspirational leader off the field.
Valid questions will remain about Trbojevic’s effectiveness at the Origin level, but for now the win at Suncorp Stadium has validated Maguire’s approach to the Manly lock.
STEPHEN CRICHTON
Stephen Crichton has solidified his credentials as a future captain of NSW.
The 23-year-old has already proven a worthy skipper at NRL level for Canterbury, dismissing any claims he wasn’t ready for the captaincy with his obvious leadership qualities.
Crichton was one of the best for the Blues this series but his captain credentials lie in his presence.
Crichton is the ultimate competitor, who can deliver a big play on both sides of the ball, and takes a fearless approach to his game.
That fresh burst of energy is infectious and filters through the entire squad.
The likes of Isaah Yeo and Cameron Murray might be ahead on pecking order but one thing is certain, Crichton would not let the state down if he was to receive the honour of being captain.
DAVID FIFITA/MAROONS YOUNG BUCKS
The Maroons need genuine firepower in the pack and Titans behemoth David Fifita can provide just that, and it’s a reality Billy Slater can no longer ignore – whatever the issue the coach might have with 24-year-old.
Tom Gilbert (shoulder), Thomas Flegler (ACL) and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (ACL) were all missing due to injury but are now also the biggest winners out of the inability of this Maroons pack to make a dent in this year’s series.
Slater started Moeaki Fotuaika and Felise Kaufusi to nullify NSW’s ferocious pack but the ploy didn’t have the desired effect.
Pat Carrigan was the only forward to run more than 100 metres on Wednesday and without an engine room shake-up in 2025, the NSW’s pack of big man bullies will continue to dominate the Maroons.
SAM WALKER/TOM DEARDEN
Cameron Munster might be waiting in the wings to reprise his role at five-eighth and Daly Cherry-Evans has been as gallant as they come at halfback, but the Maroons can start to look to the future.
Tom Dearden was tenacious in the No.6 jumper coming up with three big defensive displays on Dylan Edwards, Liam Martin and Stephen Crichton but also posed a threat in attack.
Sam Walker has been brilliant for the Roosters, catapulting his club side into the premiership race with class and has long been seen as future Origin playmaker.
While Slater won’t rush to end the Origin careers of either Cherry-Evans or Munster, a young and fresh halves duo in Walker and Dearden look poised to take the Maroons into the future.
LOSERS
WESTS TIGERS
Hindsight is a wonderful thin rugby league, just as the Wests Tigers bosses that sacked Michael Maguire back in 2022 are learning today.
As Maguire’s achievements mount since his Tigers sacking, the Concord club is now staring down the barrel of a straight wooden spoon with an outfit that doesn’t look in any way improved on the two-years before.
Since Maguire was given the boot at Concord, the premiership winning coach has gone on to lead New Zealand to a famous victory of Australia in the Pacific Championship late last year.
Maguire defied the odds again last night, becoming the first coach since Ricky Stuart in 2005 to win an Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.
Tigers fans were probably left wondering last night what could have been had Maguire been given the time to turn around the club’s losing culture.
PARRAMATTA/ MITCHELL MOSES
Mitchell Moses’ season is over after the Parramatta halfback suffered a ruptured biceps late in the decider.
The injury could have a devastating impact on the Eels, now left to try and avoid a wooden spoon without the side’s best player.
Trent Barrett has to navigate a run home against Storm, Warriors, Panthers, Roosters, Broncos, Dragons and Tigers – all without Moses. It doesn’t bode well for the Eels, who have gone from grand finalists in 2022 to making up the numbers again this season.
As untimely as the injury is, it does allow Trent Barrett to shake-up the spine and play boom rookie Blaize Talagi at fullback, where he is seen as a long-term option, and move Clint Gutherson into the halves alongside Dylan Brown at halfback.
BRONCOS/REECE WALSH
Reece Walsh hasn’t been the same player since he was knocked out cold seven minutes in the Origin opener at Accor Stadium.
He was timid in game two at the MCG and mostly ineffective in the decider at Suncorp Stadium.
It’s been a similar tale for Walsh at the Broncos.
To make matters worse for Brisbane, both Walsh (bone bruising) and Pat Carrigan (leg) are in serious doubt to miss this week’s clash against Newcastle.
The last thing Brisbane needs is for Walsh and Carrigan to be sidelined, as the club battles to keep its finals chances alive. The Broncos need every bit of Walsh’s flare and X-factor if they have any chance of winning six from their last seven games.
DANE GAGAI/FELISE KAUFUSI
Between them, Dane Gagai and Felise Kaufusi have played 40 Origin games, but last night’s decider is shaping as the last either will play for the Maroons.
A youthful Blues side has shown the Maroons that Origin is no longer an ‘old man’s’ game.
Gagai was recalled for the decider after he was controversially overlooked for last year’s series and Wednesday’s loss did little to help his selection chances for 2025.
Normally a rock defensively in Origin, Gagai, 33, was shown up twice in the lead-up to Bradman Best’s try, which put the Blues on the front foot midway through the second half.
First Jarome Luai blew right past and was then easily fended off by his Knights teammate with ease.
Kaufusi, 32, was the man charged with belting the Blues early after he was a late change to start the decider.
But he only played 15 minutes and was barely seen in the fiery opening exchanges making one run for four metres and only making five tackles, missing two.
BRADMAN BEST/ JAROME LUAI
After helping guide the Blues to Origin victory, it’s hard to fathom Jarome Luai could be locked out of a NSW halves spot next year.
It’s the same story for powerhouse centre Bradman Best, who doesn’t appear to be in doubt for the Knights this week after he was left nursing a nasty laceration to his lip.
Luai can hold his head high after an impressive series, where he delivered a complete display – setting up a try with his running game and kicked with precision.
But in a three-way battle for the Blues halves in 2025, that includes Luai, Moses and Nathan Cleary, the Penrith five-eighth looks to be the odd man out. Hurting his chances further is the fact that Luai isn’t a genuine No.14 option either.
Best has been dubbed a ‘game three specialist’ by his Blues teammates and he might be resigned to a stand-in role next year.
Despite looking like he belonged in the Origin arena, the reality is that if Latrell Mitchell is fit, Maguire won’t be able to ignore the South Sydney superstar’s game-breaking impact.
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Originally published as State of Origin: All the winners and losers out of NSW’s historic win over Queensland in Suncorp Stadium decider
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