Queensland’s 1995 Origin heroes gather for glorious reunion

Paul Vautin’s hopelessly maligned yet ultimately indomitable team gathered in Brisbane for a 30-year reunion of the famous 1995 Queensland side which shocked NSW.

Billy Slater’s Maroons will channel the glorious ghosts of Paul Vautin’s ‘Neville Nobodies’ and use the biggest boilover in interstate history as inspiration to reclaim the Origin shield this season.

‘Fatty’ Vautin’s hopelessly maligned yet ultimately indomitable team gathered in Brisbane on Friday for a 30-year reunion of the famous 1995 Queensland side which shocked NSW 3-0 in Origin’s greatest upset.

And the spirit of Vautin’s Nevilles will endure this season via Slater’s Maroons, which will parade elements of the historic 1995 Queensland strip when they look to dethrone the Blues in this year’s Origin series.

Queensland’s 2025 jersey will feature white striping across the shoulders, a 30-year throwback to the guernsey worn by Vautin’s heroes, with the year ‘1995’ to be embossed on the sleeves.

Queensland'•s heroic 1995 State of Origin team reunion, XXXX Ale House, Milton. Picture: Liam Kidston

Queensland are desperate to hit back after last year’s 2-1 series loss and if they can tap into the mateship evident at the XXXX Ale House on Friday, Slater’s Maroons will be an unstoppable force.

Vautin was greeted warmly by his one-time troops at the reunion and the Queensland legend backed Slater to clinch a third title in four years if his squad displays the heart of the 1995 Maroons.

“If Billy gets his defence right he has so much talent in that team that they can do whatever they want,” said Vautin, who hopes Slater calls on the 1995 squad to work with the current Queensland group.

Queensland Maroons State of Origin jersey for this years series pays respect to the 1995 team that won the series three nil and was coached by Paul Vautin Picture QRL

“It is courage, determination and will - that is what Origin is all about.

“Billy is really smart and, if he wanted to, he would become a great club coach.

“Queensland didn’t win last year but he is going to get better and better as a coach.

“I hope that at some stage during the year the players that he picks get to mingle with these guys because these guys did all the hard work.

“My job was simple, but what my players did (in the 1995 series) was incredible.

“What they did was give every possible thing within themselves to run as hard as they could for as long as they could and tackle and tackle and tackle.

“We won that series on defence.

“We all say it - it was the best six weeks of our lives.”

Billy Moore, Queensland'•s heroic 1995 State of Origin team reunion, XXXX Ale House, Milton. Picture: Liam Kidston

Father Time may have caught up with the 1995 Maroons, but their lifelong bonds remain and Vautin chuckles at the moment he learned he had been appointed Queensland coach.

“The Footy Show had just kicked off and was going pretty well,” he recalled.

“I was in the car park at Channel 9 and wiping off some lipstick and getting out of some high heels because we had just shot a (skit) when my phone rings.

“It was Ross Livermore (then QRL boss) and he goes straight to business.

“He said, ‘Wayne Bennett has stood down from coaching the Queensland side and we’re in desperate need of a coach and we want you to coach Queensland’.

“I said, ‘Ross, how many have knocked it back?’

“He said, ‘You are the first bloke we rang’. I said, ‘I’ll do it. Beautiful’.

“Queensland coach … could it get any better?”

It did get better.

Queensland’ 1995 State of Origin team reunion at XXXX Ale House. Picture: Liam Kidston

Almost universally written off their big guns – the Broncos’ Super League contingent were banned from playing – Fatty’s Neville’s stunned NSW, winning 2-0 in Game One, before prevailing 20-12 and 24-16 to complete a remarkable Blue Rinse.

Skipper Trevor Gillmeister checked out of hospital on the day of Game Three with an infected leg to hoist the Origin shield. He was supported by a merry band of unsung heroes including Tony Hearn, Terry Cook, Craig Teevan, Wayne Bartrim and Ben Ikin, the now QRL boss who became Origin’s youngest player at 18 years and 83 days.

“If it was a five or six-game series, we would have won 5 or 6-nil. I’m telling you,” Gillmeister said.

The 1995 Queensland Origin Team.

“We got more confidence with every game.

“To see all these blokes (on Friday) is magnificent and some of these guys, I haven’t seen in years.

“Every one of these blokes has a special place in my heart.”

Former Maroons lock Billy Moore, who coined the famous ‘Queenslander’ chant, says the 1995 series will always be a cherished memory.

“A lot of people thought we would get beaten. We never felt that way,” he said.

“Fatty said to us, ‘When you are called to do a job, do it’, so whatever had to happen we would do it.

“Peter Jackson, the late great Queenslander, once said when you say Queensland it means three things: Help your mate. Find a solution and no excuses.

“That Queensland team made no excuses.”