Before the State of Origin series began, I wrote a column about how it would be decided in the selection room.
It was a NSW-centric take, focused on the mistakes Laurie Daley made in his first stint in charge of the Blues. However, the central premise – that coaches live and die by their selections – is just as applicable to Queensland.
Billy Slater, under intense pressure after losing the three previous encounters, didn’t die wondering. The biggest and most difficult call was the decision to drop Daly Cherry-Evans. This was not just the halfback, but a veteran of 26 matches, and a skipper in three series triumphs.
Tom Dearden was elevated from the bench into the most scrutinised jersey of them all, the No.7. Kurt Mann became the oldest Maroons debutant – at 32 – since the late, great Arthur Beetson. And another veteran, Kurt Capewell, was called back into the fray.
So it was appropriate that Dearden, Mann and Capewell all combined for a try just before half-time. When Capewell crashed over, it proved to be the decisive moment.
Kurt Capewell’s try proved to be the turning point.Credit: Nine
It was Queensland’s fourth and final try. It opened up what appeared to be an unassailable lead, albeit one that the Blues almost ran down.
There were other telling moments. Like the Zac Lomax conversion attempt that hit the uprights and bounced away. Or the Latrell Mitchell steal, that raised hopes of the biggest comeback in Origin history.
But nothing justified Slater’s bold selections – or exemplified the mythical quality that is the Queensland spirit quite like that collaboration between Dearden, Mann and Capewell.
“It’s Tom’s time now,” Slater said in his second press conference on Wednesday.
“He didn’t surprise any of us, I don’t think, in what he put out there tonight. I’m really proud of him. That’s the first time he’s worn the No.7 jersey for Queensland; I wouldn’t imagine it would be the last.”
Mann, meanwhile, proved he is the man. Raised in a housing commission home in the tiny Queensland town of Winton, the Bulldogs utility loves a scrap. In freeing his hands and offloading the ball, he fulfilled a lifelong dream and helped keep the series alive.
“Very special,” Mann said of his Origin debut. “I thought this was long past me, playing Origin. It’s a dream I’ve always had.
“I’m no spring chicken, I’m 32 this year.”
And then there was Capewell. New skipper Cameron Munster was a deserving choice for man of the match, but Capewell wasn’t far behind.
“It’s something you never take for granted,” Capewell said of his recall.
“To get the call from Billy and be a part of this … I’m really happy to experience this with the boys.”
Slater made the tough calls and was vindicated. Now it’s back to the drawing board for Daley. Armed with what many felt was a superior team on paper, Daley must decide whether it’s time to change it.
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