The one word mantra that fuelled Queensland to their second straight Origin series win

Two Queensland players echoed the one-word mantra that Billy Slater instilled into the group as they wrapped up another Origin series.

The team came together better than NSW. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

If you stuck around to watch the presentation after the State of Origin series you would have heard two Queensland players say one word on the microphone.

Reuben Cotter was named the player of the series and got up to thank the Blues for the series and his teammates for their hardwork.

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Right before he walked off the stage Cotter echoed one word. Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans was then called to the microphone and after rattling off the obligatory mentions he to echoed the same word.

It’s the one word that has fuelled the Maroons camp and carried them to their second straight series win and third in four years.

The word is “Ubuntu” and it left plenty of fans watching on wondering what it means.

Billy Slater used it to fuel the Maroons in 2023 with the word coming from African heritage and translates to “I am because we are”.

Ubuntu. Photo: NRL Photos

The concept of the word was used in the sporting landscape back in 2007 when then Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers brought it into training camp.

The Celtics used it in every huddle before games, it brought them together and saw them go on to win the 2008 NBA title.

Despite losing on Wednesday night, the Maroons proved they were the superior beast as they wrapped the series up after a Game 2 masterclass.

“It’s a really special group, this group. They just get what it’s all about, they get who it’s for,” Slater said after the series deciding win.

“It’s for themselves, it’s for their families, it’s for the people who have worn the jersey before them. But most of all it’s for the Queensland people and that’s not lost to this group.

“That keeps their feet moving through those tough times in the first half when they just had to continually defend their try line and then they got a chance to get their footy on in the second half.”

The team came together better than NSW. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

While the Blues saved face by taking the Maroons down and avoiding the sweep, it was Slater’s men who stood tall when it mattered most.

When the series was up for grabs, the Queensland players combined to produce the better plays and leave their rivals clutching at air.

Plenty of question marks remain over the head of the NSW Blues after a second series defeat where as the Maroons are sitting pretty.

And it’s all thanks to one word, Ubuntu.