NSW Origin-winning team of 1985 present jerseys to this year's side ahead of State of Origin II

BARRIERS broke down in Coogee last night, barriers between the old and the young, between NSW and Queensland.

NSW Blues 1985

BARRIERS broke down in Coogee last night, barriers between the old and the young, between NSW and Queensland.

Former Origin captain Steve Mortimer led his 1985 Origin team into the Blues camp at the invitation of NSW coach Ricky Stuart, their job to present the jerseys to the current players.

The significance of what they did back then was not lost.

The '85 Blues were the first NSW team to bust the myth of Queensland, winning the series for the first time in Origin history.

"We wanted it," Mortimer said last night.

"We were close, we were impregnable, we couldn't be broken, and that's why we won."

It was a sentiment shared around the room.

"In '85 we were challenged to be the first side to win a series and the same with you guys," Benny Elias told this year's Blues.

"To stop the rot. You don't realise how big a game it is."

The jersey presentation occupies a special place in the Blues camp, and remains the most important part of the week for Stuart.

He spends a lot of time ensuring he gets the tone right for the night.

Origin special section: Keep up to date with all the news

Click here for Boo Bailey's bios of the NSW team

Mortimer presented the jersey to skipper Paul Gallen.

"It's my absolute privilege," were Mortimer's first words to Gallen.

As well as captain Mortimer, those also there were Garry Jack (presented to Brett Stewart), Eric Grothe (Jarryd Hayne, Akuila Uate), Steve Ella (Michael Jennings), Chris Mortimer (Josh Morris), Elias (Robbie Farah, Todd Carney), Wayne Pearce (Mitch Pearce), Peter Tunks (Tim Grant), Steve Roach (James Tamou), Peter Wynn (Glenn Stewart, Ben Creagh), David Brooks (Greg Bird, Anthony Watmough) and Pat Jarvis (Trent Merrin, Luke Lewis).

Roach talked not only about Tamou's performance in game one but how he backed up the following weekend for the Cowboys - the measure of the true Origin footballer.

"You, my friend, are a superstar," Roach said.

It was a night of war stories and simple truths. Of men and a bond that is uncommon.

"Go out there and put your trust in each other ... I don't want to sound corny, but love each other, and go out there and put in your performance on the night," Mortimer said.

After accepting the jersey from Mortimer, Gallen turned to his players and said: "Take what you need out of nights like this. But at the end of the day what matters is what happens in the 80 minutes on the field."

With this in mind, it was former Blues centre Steve Ella who put it all in perspective when he was asked what he remembered about that night in 1985 in Sydney.

"The whistle in the second game and the emotion shown by Turvey," Ella said. "And the realisation we'd won it."

The picture of Turvey being chaired from the field is among league's most iconic images from its most iconic contest.

If there's anything Stuart wants the current Blues to learn from the appearance of their 1985 brothers last night, it was that.

That the memory stays forever. 

Follow @Telegraph_Sport on Twitter and like Telegraph Sport on Facebook