Top 10 State of Origin comebacks
Allan Langer - Game 3, 2001
Origin has never known a cloak and dagger trick like the one that delivered ‘Alfie’ Langer to the series-deciding game in 2001. Langer’s career at the top level looked over when he quit the Broncos early in the 1999 season and joined Super League club Warrington. But after the Blues struck back from a shock loss in Game 1 to square the series in Sydney, the Maroons needed inspiration. It came in the guise of Langer, who was rushed back to Australia under a veil of secrecy and wheeled out for the decider. The gamble paid off perfectly for coach Wayne Bennett, as the Maroons claimed a 40-14 victory and Langer crowned his comeback with a try.
Brad Fittler - Game 2, 2004
Fittler called a halt on his representative career at the end of 2001, enabling him to concentrate on winning a premiership with the Sydney Roosters (a goal he achieved in 2002). But as his career headed to a conclusion in 2004 he answered a call from Blues coach Phil Gould to make a return to the State of Origin arena where he had achieved great success since his debut as an 18-year-old in 1990. The plan was for a one-off appearance in Game 2 of the ’04 series but when a young Billy Slater stole the show at Suncorp with his unforgettable chip-and-chase try, Fittler was convinced to play again in the series decider. Game 3 was a triumph for New South Wales, and Fittler, who capped a wonderful career in Blue with a late try from a charge down.
Peter Sterling - Game 1, 1986
Sterling’s decision to broaden his horizons and play two off-seasons in the English competition (with Hull) looked like being at the detriment of his representative career in Australia as his chief halfback rival Steve Mortimer got the jump on him in the State of Origin arena in 1985. Sterling had debuted for the Blues in 1981 but after four appearances to the end of the 1984 series, the Parramatta No. 7 had played in only one winning NSW team. He did not return from Hull until the Australian competition was well under way in 1985 and by that time Mortimer was the preferred choice as Blues halfback. But by 1986 Mortimer had called a halt on his rep career and Sterling was recalled, playing a mighty role in the first Origin clean-sweep and claiming man of the match honours in Game 2.
Corey Parker - Game 1, 2011
Parker’s career as an Origin player looked over after three unremarkable appearances off the bench in losing series in 2004 and 2005. For the next five years Parker concentrated his efforts on the Broncos, developing into a quality middle-forward who played long minutes and was valued for his ability to offload the ball as the opposition defence retreated. By the time he was 29, Parker was recalled to the Maroons’ line-up, initially as interchange but ultimately as No. 13 and until his retirement in 2016 he played in five series-winning teams.
Matt Scott - Game 3, 2009
North Queensland forward Matt Scott played his first Origin game as a 20-year-old second-rower in 2006 but was a casualty of a one-point loss in the opening game of the series. Overlooked in 2007 and ’08 as success began to flow freely for the Maroons under coach Mal Meninga, Scott could have joined the ranks as a one-game wonder until his recall for the final game of the 2009 series (a dead rubber). The Maroons lost but Scott impressed sufficiently to hold his place in 2010. He went on to play 21 consecutive games, winning six series in seven years until injury ruled him out in 2017.
