Daly Cherry-Evans: We’ll ride a tidal wave of passion into Suncorp Stadium for Origin III

Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans writes about what Origin means to him and his teammates ahead of the 2024 decider.

As a player, it doesn’t get any better than playing in an Origin decider.

It’s even better when you are a Queenslander playing a decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Tonight, with the series on the line, as captain of this Maroons team I can promise every Queensland fan that every time we run out on the field, we are trying to make our people proud.

This decider will be no different.

Suncorp Stadium is a very special place in rugby league, let alone when you are a Queenslander running out with that Maroon jersey on.

No Origin game, anywhere, anytime, is easy. NSW are coming for us. But with the crowd on our side at Suncorp, if we go out and do our job as a team, they will help us immensely.

The support of Queensland fans is like a tidal wave in its passion and ferocity. If we uphold our end of the bargain and play well, the groundswell of support from the stands and across the state is a formidable force.

Daly Cherry-Evans of the Maroons leads out his teammates (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

You, the Queensland fans, are like our 18th man at Suncorp.

The spirit of this team is built on our people and the great playing pioneers who have set the standard in this Maroons jumper.

Queensland coaches over the years have touched on that legacy and Billy Slater, our current coach, is always reminding us of why we are here and the position we are in.

That’s because of the previous efforts of past teams.

As a squad, we love going back in time to know why we are what we are and how lucky we are to be playing for Queensland.

We have a great understanding of why State of Origin has become so big. We never forget the Queensland icons who built the legacy.

The great Arthur Beetson led our first charge that night and his spirit endures in this team when we run onto Lang Park tonight - just as Big Artie did back in 1980.

Artie (Arthur) Beetson. Queensland v NSW. State of Origin. Lang Park. Rugby league.

Billy will often touch on the spirit of this team and as players we are lucky we don’t have to force it. It just comes naturally through our actions and that’s what makes it so special to play for Queensland.

Origin for me is the pinnacle of our game. There’s so much pride, so much reward for all the hard work you and your family have put in and the sacrifices that have been made. Everyone has put in that work to get you to an elite level so there is a lot of pride and satisfaction and, when you win, there’s also an element of reward for everyone around you who has sacrificed.

Having your name on the back of the jersey is a proud moment not only for yourself, but your loved one. Your family name is there to see on the biggest stage.

The fans are never far away from our thoughts. Our success is their success.

I was once there. I remember being a kid on the day of an Origin game. It felt like Christmas. You couldn’t wait for school to end to rush home, get a pizza and sit on the lounge room floor watching your Maroons heroes hopefully battle on to victory.

State of Origin talk fills the school rooms, the footy fields, the work sites and the offices with excitement and pride.

Daly Cherry-Evans mixes it with the fans. Picture: Adam Head

We’re Queensland’s team and every performance comes with searing scrutiny. We know that. We feel that and, for that reason, we take a lot of pride in our performance.

I haven’t been able to win every series. We haven’t been able to win every game, but ultimately we are doing everything we can to go out and get the right result.

Game Two wasn’t great. A loss certainly sharpens the mind; fuels the fire.

If it looks to the Queensland people that we have done everything possible to get the win on the night and we just weren’t good enough, they can accept that. That has always given me the confidence to keep going. No matter the scoreline. No matter the result.

We just give our best and that’s what any Queenslander does at this level.

You, the Queensland people, have our backs and the proof is always there to see with 50,000 screaming Queenslanders at Suncorp Stadium on Origin night.

Here we go again. The decider. One thing that will never break is your support ... and our collective Queensland spirit.

Originally published as Daly Cherry-Evans: We’ll ride a tidal wave of passion into Suncorp Stadium for Origin III