Gagai-Burton stoush, Qld win fires Origin

Dane Gagai and Matt Burton have stoked a State of Origin fire that now burns with rare parity after Queensland’s victory spoiled any hopes of a NSW dynasty with a backs-to-the-wall series win.

Centre Gagai went toe-to-toe with Burton in a crazy Origin III in Brisbane on Wednesday, the pair sin-binned before the Maroons went from 12-10 down to win 22-12.

It was their ninth win from the last 10 Origin deciders and meant the series has been split 3-3 in the last six years and 2-2 since new coach Billy Slater last played in 2018.

“It’s Origin – just stepping up for your mates,” Gagai told AAP of his thought process behind the fight that landed both fines, but no NRL suspensions.

“Two alpha males just not wanting to back down, and it was on.

“My old man always taught me what happens on the field stays on the field and I’ve met him outside of footy a few times.

“He seems like a good man, so no hard feelings; he was just standing up for himself, I was standing up for my mate.”

After Queensland won 11 of 12 series, the Blues hopes of creating their own dynasty were bright after new Maroons coach Slater and his assistants Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston joined Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis in retirement.

But Queensland have played to the classic underdog Origin script, concocting unlikely series wins in 2020 and again this year despite the game three loss of star man Cameron Munster.

It sets up a juicy next chapter for both sides, given the fresh talent introduced in 2022 and the old heads like Gagai who still hope to play their part.

“For the next couple of years we’re going to be in for some good Origins,” Gagai said.

“I took it personally after we lost all of our key players like Billy, Greg Inglis, Thurston, all those big names, people thinking it was almost like NSW’s turn to dominate.

“So to get the win was so special.”

Ben Hunt, who scored a 70-metre intercept try to seal the contest, said there was respect between the sides despite the animosity on Wednesday.

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“I wouldn’t call it anger,” he said.

“It’s passion and wanting to win. There’s a lot of aggressive boys going hard at each other.

“Origin is alive and well; the last five years (the winner has been) chopping and changing. It’s amazing, good for our game.

“I wouldn’t say (NSW) ‘don’t get it’ (Origin) … we were just going to give it everything.

“They’re (NSW) in a great spot and we’ve got a great side so they will be some good footy in years to come.”