Jarome Luai’s State of Origin scars have healed, the NSW playmaker turning a Suncorp Stadium graveyard into his field of dreams.
The Blues’ five-eighth capped a remarkable 12-month turnaround on Wednesday night, steering his men to a series-deciding 14-4 win in Brisbane.
Luai, without his old mate Nathan Cleary beside him, hammered away in a pulsating game dominated by defence before providing the match-turning moment after 65 minutes.
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He skipped through a tackle to put Bradman Best away for the game’s first try, breaking the shackles as the Blues won a decider in Brisbane for the first time in 19 years.
“People just talk about history and stats and we don’t have a great record here, but we did such a good job setting that aside,” Luai told Nine.
“I love these guys. Going down 2-0 at half-time, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so calm. I think we just had that mentality that we’re going to get it done.”
Luai immediately declared the series win was “right up there” with any of his NRL premierships and other feats.
“Just with the build-up, Suncorp, I just enjoy winning. I just enjoy winning with the boys I love,” he said.
“I just love making memories, new memories, and look forward to doing it even more. Beauty of Origin, hopefully I can come back and get the opportunity to do it again next year.”
Wednesday night’s triumph followed a stellar night in the Blues’ flogging in Melbourne three weeks ago and came after his night from hell at Suncorp Stadium barely a year ago.
Sent off after head-butting Reece Walsh in the final moments of a series-deciding 2023 Origin II loss, Luai then copped social media abuse and death threats.
The Penrith star was widely thought to have been branded with the never-again stamp, dropped for the dead rubber.
But new coach Michael Maguire recalled Luai, who went on to star this series.
“It’s sort of a scar, rather than me thinking about the actual game,” Luai said ahead of the Brisbane decider.
“But I come to the conclusion that at the end of the day your scars can make you stronger as well.”
His feathers could have been ruffled late in the first half when Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans bated him in an off-the-ball scuffle that sparked a sideline melee.
But the Panthers ace, denied again and again by some incredible Maroons defence, did what the 52,457 in attendance are usually accustomed to seeing from their own to deliver the match-winning hand.
Angus Crichton capped an immense series to be crowned Wally Lewis Medall winner as player of the series while recalled centre Bradman Best was also superb in filling the Latrell Mitchell void.
Fullback Dylan Edwards (236 run metres) won man-of-the-match to make it two wins from two Origin appearances.
Winger Zac Lomax backed himself to kick a penalty goal from the sideline to make the game 2-2 early in the second half, then drilled another conversion from the opposite side after Best’s try.
Halfback Mitchell Moses iced the game when he danced through the line, but finished the game on the sideline with an apparent arm injury.
– with 7NEWS