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'We f-----g did': Munster reveals how 'grubgate' inspired Maroons
SEN • June 19th, 2025 12:32 am
Happy Birthday, Billy Slater.
After a week of intense media scrutiny, being called a grub and being heavily criticised for comments he made alluding to Paul Green which ultimately forced him into a public apology, Slater needed a win, and his Maroons gave him the greatest birthday gift he could have hoped for.
Six times Queensland have stared down a 1-0 deficit in State of Origin, perhaps this was the most pressured.
But has there ever been a better first-half response than this one? 26-6 up on their NSW rivals after 40 minutes and playing to the wet conditions infinitely better.
Perhaps it was the curse of complacency that allowed NSW to play such undisciplined footy in the opening 40 minutes.
Perhaps the adulation of the last two weeks impacted their focus.
They were outsmarted and outclassed to an embarrassing degree in the first half and, while they were without doubt the better side in the second phase, it was all too late.
Queensland, while running out 26-24 winners, won’t be satisfied with their second half performance.
An electric second-half saw Laurie Daley’s men go to within two points of the greatest comeback in Origin history, but the Maroons held on.
Countless fumbles and failed captain’s challenges went against them, but their captain saved them with a minute to play after helping Kurt Capewell dislodge the ball from Payne Haas.
Berated for the last 14 days, written off by so many and described by as “emotional and desperate” by Daley before the match. They were anything but.
“It was everything you can imagine,” Munster said afterwards. “We kept working and turning up for each other. We haven’t got the chocolates yet.
“It’s such a pleasure playing with these boys. There is a never say die attitude and with our back up against the wall we found ourselves.
“There's been a lot of speculation in the media and we needed to turn up for our coach tonight and we f-----g did.”
Slater has been the centre of speculation and pressure since announcing Daly Cherry-Evans would be dropped from his squad.
Noise from Aaron Woods has not helped the side's preparation but Kalyn Ponga insists they were not detracted.
"You try and ignore the media but there was a lot of noise coming out of NSW," he said.
"The first half was our footy and what we love playing and the second half was the other hand.
"We just found a way. We have to be better in game three but at the end of the day we have the win.
"The heart rate was pretty high. I just tried to stay present. There will be so many moments in that second half we will want back but both sides made mistakes."
Game 3 will be played on July 9 in NSW.
