State of Origin 2017: The keys for Queensland to secure another Origin series win

THE most successful coach in State of Origin history, MAL MENINGA, gives the tip on where the decider will be won and lost.

QLD's Cooper Cronk. Queensland vs. New South Wales for game 2 in the Origin Series at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Pic Peter Wallis

COOPER Cronk should tonight be preparing to deliver a performance to remember in what could be his last game for Queensland.

So should Cameron Smith. And Billy Slater.

The same goes for Ben Hunt and Cameron Munster.

During my time as Queensland coach, one of the internal motivating messages we used in the lead-up to a game was to ask every player to deliver a performance they would look back on with pride if it was to be their last game in Maroon.

Because the fact of the matter is, it very well could be.

FUTURE: Can Hunt take charge?

DROUGHT: Maroons looking to continue decider domination

QLD's Cooper Cronk. Queensland vs. New South Wales for game 2 in the Origin Series at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Pic Peter Wallis

Retirement, injury, suspension, bad luck, poor form, getting hit by a bus — there are any number of reasons why the fickle finger of fate may make the decision about your future, and not you.

Take a look at this year.

Did anyone sitting around the Christmas turkey seven months ago envisage Queensland would go into an Origin decider without Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Greg Inglis and Darius Boyd?

No, but that is the reality Queensland is confronted with in the decider.

Who could have guessed that after playing 36 Origin games in a row, without missing one in 12 years, that Thurston would miss two in the space of six weeks?

But that is the reality. That is why no one playing for Queensland can afford to take anything for granted.

Johnathan was such a great player, no one in the game was more deserving of a fairytale farewell at Suncorp Stadium.

The Maroons will be without Johnathan Thurston.

But things don’t always work out that way.

Instead, JT will be like the rest of us — sitting on the edge of our seats, chewing our nails, and willing Queensland to win.

And as much as he would love to be out on that field, Johnathan will be at peace with it because he knows he gave everything he had to give.

Thurston did not go into Origin II knowing it would be his last game for Queensland, but he would have prepared himself knowing it could be.

And that is why he will be at peace, because he produced a performance in that match that his last game for Queensland deserved.

All of the characteristics that defined his previous 36 games for Queensland were wrapped up in his 37th. He was tough, resilient, inspirational and brilliant.

Can Queensland make it happen one more time?

And when the people of Queensland needed him to deliver one last moment of magic, in blinding agony from his badly injured shoulder, he was able to get the job done for his team, his state and his colours.

In the decider, 17 players will take the field for Queensland without Johnathan, hoping they can answer the call the same way.

Fingers crossed, all of you are back to play for Queensland again next year, and for many years after that.

But what if you’re not? What if this is it?

Do you want to walk off the field, or look back down the track wishing you had given more, found that little bit extra, or been able to produce that moment when it mattered?

If all 17 Queensland players walk off satisfied they could not have given any more, the result will take care of itself.