Your mates here at Joe Fortune are back with the latest Fortune Feed, bringing you all the news and fallout from this year’s State of Origin decider. With the Blues having been defeated by The Maroons by 24 to 12 in Sydney, it is Queensland who has regained bragging rights for another year.
Dearden’s Double
After copping a thumping in Brisbane in Game 1, the Maroons bounced back with a gritty, disciplined performance in Perth, hanging on by two points to square the series and set up the Decider in Sydney. The Blues were heavy favourites to keep hold of the shield, but once again, Queensland tore up the script, this time on the back of a standout showing from Tom Dearden. Replacing skipper Daly Cherry-Evans in Game 2, the halfback well and truly repaid the faith shown by his coach by bagging a try in each half and earning the player of the match.
Return of the Pap
Josh Papalii’s return to the Maroons was a masterstroke by coach Billy Slater. The veteran prop, who had retired from representative football after the 2022 series, was coaxed out of retirement and away from his newly born son, for the Decider. Despite limited game time, just 26 minutes for eight runs, it was Papalii’s presence early on which proved vital. His influence and experience in the middle helped steady his side to ensure the Blues didn’t get any early momentum.
Origin 2025 Awards
Player of the Match Game 1 – Payne Haas
Player of the Match Game 2 – Cameron Munster
Player of the Match Game 3 – Tom Dearden
Player of the Series (Wally Lewis Medal) – Tom Dearden
Top Try Scorer – Brian To’o
Leading Points Scorer – Valentine Holmes
Origin 2025 Results
Game I – NSW 18 def. Queensland 6
Game II – Queensland 26 def. NSW 24
Game III – Queensland 24 def. NSW 12
Holmes Hammers It
Looking back at the series, many pundits will analyse where the series was won and lost. However, the real difference between the sides in Game 2 came down to the boot of one man: Valentine Holmes. The Queensland back kept his cool in the Origin cauldron by kicking five goals from five attempts in Perth, while the Blues managed only two from five.
Daley Gets the Blues
Expectations were sky-high for the Blues heading into this year’s Origin series, with returning coach Laurie Daley tipped to hang onto the shield and maybe even cast some doubt over Billy Slater’s future at the helm of the Maroons. But as it turns out, Daley’s heading back to his gig on the Big Sports Breakfast with a few question marks hanging over his own future. Slater, meanwhile, is expected to pop up on Channel 9 in the Spring Racing Carnival coverage later in the year before turning his focus back to next year’s Origin campaign with Queensland.
Total State of Origin
After the 2025 State of Origin, Queensland has now won 25 series with New South Wales having won 17 times. There have been 2 drawn series in 1999 and in 2002, on both occurrences the Maroons retained the shield having been the winner of the last series.
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