Debutant Maroon Gehamat Shibasaki has fulfilled a "dream" in helping Queensland stun New South Wales to claim an inspired comeback State of Origin series win on Wednesday night.
Queensland took a 20-nil lead into halftime in front of a packed Sydney crowd as they disrupted the Blues' attempts at generating threats with the ball, and capitalising on their chances with an error-less start.
The hosts looked dangerous for a patch through the opening exchanges before the Maroons' consistent rushing in the line of defence suffocated the host's ballplaying.
Queensland lifted for new captain Cameron Munster, grieving the loss of his father at the weekend, to reverse a heavy game one loss at home to claim the series.
With possession, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, shifted to fullback for the clash, spilled a near-certain first try for the decider after fellow Torres Strait star Reuben Cotter broke through the line in the 17th minute.
Cotter finished with 39 tackles and played all 80 minutes of the match.
Shibasaki, who last week presented as another a brave selection decision by Maroons coach Billy Slater, did the job soon after brushing off a tackle on the right edge to send Xavier Coates over for the game's first try.
Tabuai-Fidow had his hand in the visitor's second, mopping up a loose ball when Robert Toia avoided being dragged into touch, beating a pair of Blues defenders on the left side to put eventual player of the match and series Tom Dearden in for his first of two.
Dearden takes advantage of the gap! ðŸ' pic.twitter.com/j8HnEEyWdD
— NRL (@NRL) July 9, 2025
Harry Grant made it three just before the break, with the addition of a penalty goal which opened scoring.
By half time Shibasaki had three tackle breaks to go with 62 metres run with-ball and a try assist in a solid start to his Origin career.
He ended with a match-high seven tackles busts having also put together a solid defensive effort, quelling the Blues' right side to help his side state a historic win.
The 26-year-old was on a train and trial deal at the Broncos to start 2025.
"This is what I dreamed of as a kid," the Torres Strait Islander said post-match.
"Six months ago, if you said I was going to play Origin I would have laughed at you," Shibasaki added.
"The fact that I worked hard for the off season, week in, week out, and to come here and get the win. It's unbelievable.
"(I'm) lost for words.
"Especially bring my family down here too…this is their second Origin ever. It's good to finally give that to them, to just fly them down here and get them to come here and see me play."
Coates strikes in the corner! ðŸ"¥ pic.twitter.com/zqOo7ZecEo
— NRL (@NRL) July 9, 2025
Tabuai-Fidow ran for 42 kick-return metres as he comfortably swallowed NSW's high-balls in his first game starting in the no.1 jumper for the Maroons.
The Blues looked more dangerous coming out of the break, but couldn't capitalise when they began to manufacture repeated sets at the line.
NSW ran in four unanswered tries after a disappointing start to game two in Perth, with poor conversion attempts allowing Queensland to hang on a force the decider.
Stephen Crichton finally got them on the board in a rare piece of open play within scoring distance, though time ran out on before NSW had any chance to storm back into the game.
The injection of Gamilaroi utility Connor Watson gave the home side some life early in the half, but a staunch Maroons defence, and inability to create threats in attack going further wide, confirmed the result.
Latrell Mitchell showed glimpses on the left edge.
He went close on his own during the second half while also combining with Brian To'o. The Blues looked at their best in attack when the two got in space, however proceedings didn't go their way.
"We got off to a bad start again," Blues coach and Indigenous team of the century five-eighth Laurie Daley said post-game.
"You give away those type of starts, it's always hard to come back from".
Daley maintained he was proud of his side's effort when it was not their night.
"We played some good footy, but they just won some moments," he said.
"We felt like it was an arm wrestle, but all of a sudden they just won a moment which gave them a bit of momentum to create some points."
It's the second series in three where an unfavoured Queensland outfit have pushed past expectations to lift the shield.
NSW came back from one-nil down to reclaim the series in 2024.
