Mbye savours State of Origin debut with Maroons

"I was trying to compare it to the 2014 Grand Final (when Mbye played at hooker for the Bulldogs) but (Origin) just blew that away.”

Mbye celebrates the game one victory with teammates. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images). Picture: Bradley Kanaris

RUGBY LEAGUE: He may only have played eight minutes of Origin but Maroons debutant Moses Mbye says Wednesday night's game was everything he ever dreamt of, and more.

The Noosa Pirates junior said ever since he sat on his family's living room floor as a three-year-old he had dreamt of running on to Suncorp Stadium as a mighty Queensland Maroon.

Now 25, Mbye has achieved that childhood dream.

The proud family man was captured after the match shedding a tear as he held his daughters Milani and May and said the night had been a dream come true.

"It was everything I ever thought it would be and more,” Mbye said.

"I didn't quite know what I was in for.

"I was trying to compare it to the 2014 Grand Final (when Mbye played at hooker for the Bulldogs) but (Origin) just blew that away.

"It was everything I wanted to do when I was my kids' age, three-years-old.

"It was certainly something that I'm very proud of and something I'll never forget.”

Mbye was left to sweat it out on the bench for 72 minutes, as both sides clashed horns in a typical Origin arm wrestle.

Usually a starting fullback for the West Tigers, Mbye said he had no idea when he would be thrown into the fray.

"I wasn't sure when I was going to be thrown in,” he said.

"I'm not too familiar with (starting on) the bench.

"I didn't know when to warm up or what to do.

"When I got out there, I'm happy with how I went.

"All the Former Origin Greats (FOGS) say Origin is won on effort areas and I thought our boys did that.

"Their effort was outstanding. I know our outside backs scored tries but you have to give credit to our middle forwards.”

Mbye is one of the few players with African DNA to play State of Origin and has already left his mark in Camp Maroon as a future leader.

He said he hoped the team did Queensland proud on Wednesday night.

"It's a big achievement,” Mbye said.

"As much as you try and play it down during the week, it's a big achievement.

"Not only do you enjoy it, but your family enjoys it.

"I get to sit here in a winning shed with my kids, with my brothers, with my wife, my manager and we all get to enjoy it.

"You impact a lot of people's lives. We had 50,000 supporters here supporting us and everyone all over the state that were riding us home.

"I hope we did a lot of Queenslanders proud because that's what it's all about.”