Lead
As New South Wales prepares for Wednesday's State of Origin decider, the Blues find themselves in a familiar position: heavy outsiders, desperate for a win, and looking to a returning hero to spark a revival. Bradman Best, who has earned a reputation as a State of Origin saviour in just two matches, is back in the side after injuries and selection decisions kept him out since his memorable 2024 performance.
Coverage comparison
ABC Australia's coverage presents two distinct angles on the same story. One article focuses on New South Wales' broader struggles in the series, highlighting their inability to replicate club form at Origin level. The other centers on Bradman Best's return and his potential to save the Blues. Both pieces draw on statistics and personal narratives to build their cases.
Key claims
The Blues' recent record in Brisbane offers a glimmer of hope. According to ABC Australia, New South Wales has won their last two matches at Lang Park, marking the first time they've gone back-to-back there since the stadium reopened in 2003. Queensland have scored just 10 points combined in those two games, their lowest two-match total in Brisbane in Origin history. Across those 160 minutes, Queensland did not create a try of their own, with their sole four-pointer coming directly off a Blues error.
However, that form has not translated into series success. ABC Australia reports that New South Wales are on the verge of a fourth series loss in five years, and the defining theme of this year's decider—and Laurie Daley's second coming as coach—is the team's failure to consistently reach their potential. The statistical evidence is stark: New South Wales has managed just three line breaks across two matches this series when Queensland has 13 players on the field, a number that reflects Queensland's numerical advantage for most of the series.
The inconsistency is particularly baffling for Nathan Cleary, the dominant NRL player of this decade. Eight years after his Origin debut, Cleary has struggled for consistency at that level, a problem that contributed to Brad Fittler's downfall and was central to Michael Maguire's success in 2024.
Bradman Best's Origin story is one of immediate impact. He scored a double on debut in Game III of the 2023 series, helping the Blues avoid a 3-0 whitewash. In the following series, his try in the 64th minute of the decider at Lang Park gave New South Wales the lead en route to one of the greatest wins in the state's history. The image of Best fending off Dane Gagai and Kalyn Ponga—two of his Newcastle teammates—before roaring with triumph, his lip split and bleeding, has become an indelible part of Origin folklore.
That victory marked the third time New South Wales won a decider at Queensland's Lang Park, a feat they must repeat to lift the shield on Wednesday night. "People do bring it up and it's pretty cool. Looking back now it is cool, but I have another job to do Wednesday night and it'll mean nothing if we don't get a result," Best said. "There's plenty of confidence and belief. It has been done before. Hopefully we can do something special again."
Best's attacking style is direct and powerful, capable of breaking a game open from both close range and distance. He comes into the decider fresh off a 105-metre winning try for the Knights against the Tigers, a reminder of his match-winning ability.
New South Wales has not won a decider after losing Game II since 2004, a statistic that underscores the magnitude of the task. Yet the Blues' recent performances in Brisbane suggest they are capable of matching Queensland at their best. The challenge, as ABC Australia frames it, is whether they can find that level consistently when it matters most.
For Best, the motivation is simple: "I just give my best. I just want to do my job for the team and not let anyone down." Whether that is enough to overcome Queensland's series-long advantage remains the central question of Wednesday's decider.