These players dominated State of Origin deciders. One trend tells us who will stand tall on Wednesday night
Updated . First published
When Origin icons stand tall
Darren Lockyer, Allan Langer, and Wally Lewis all dominated State of Origin deciders once upon a time.
Of the 23 series deciders since 1982, Queensland has won 15 of them.
And in those 23 deciders, 17 times it has been a Queensland player named man of the match.
The 2025 series will be decided at Sydney's Accor Stadium on Wednesday night. So who will stand up and win the game for their state this time?
History suggests it will be a Maroons player wearing the 1, 6, 7, or perhaps 9 jumper.
It sets the scene for a Cameron Munster or Tom Dearden masterclass to break Blue hearts in Sydney.
1982
Wally Lewis was the man of the match for the Maroons, scoring a try and making breaks at will in Queensland's 10-5 win over the Blues at the SCG.
1983
The second year of the interstate series saw it go to a decider again. And just like the year before, Lewis was the most dominant player on the field in game three, as Queensland smashed NSW 43-22 in front of more than 26,000 fans at Lang Park.
1987
Queensland lost game one but scraped through in the final two games. The Maroons took game two 12-6 before Alfie Langer led Queensland to a 10-8 victory in the deciding match at Lang Park.
1991
In a nail-biting 14-12 victory, the Maroons held on to claim game three in 1991 at Lang Park.
Prop Martin Bella would pick up his second man-of-the-match award in the Origin arena, after scooping the gong in the first match of the 1989 series.
1992
Ricky Stuart (right) played a leading hand in the 1992 series. Especially in game three, where the Blues halfback pulled off a dummy for the ages to score a pivotal try in the 16-4 win at The Sydney Football Stadium.
1994
After losing the first game 16-12, NSW would go on to concede just 12 points in the next two matches to wrap up the series. Hooker Benny Elias was the man of the match in the 27-12 victory in game three at Lang Park.
1998
League fans had to wait another four years for an Origin decider after the Elias heroics. The Maroons squeaked out a 24-23 victory in game one and then Shane Webcke put the team on his shoulders to lead them up front in the 19-4 win in Sydney.
1999
The following year it went to game three once again but it ended in a stalemate.
The Maroons won game one 9-8. The Blues got game two 12-8 and the decider finished 10-all.
Winger Wendell Sailor (on ground) was named best on ground in the finale.
2001
While he was still playing fullback, Darren Lockyer was the man in game three helping the Maroons to a 40-14 win.
Lockyer had two tries and two goals in a match-defining performance.
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