The "Billy the Kid" Breakout: State of Origin Game 2, 2004

In this episode of Stories of Origin, host Matthew Thompson sits down with a true icon of the game, current Maroons coach and Queensland legend Billy Slater.

Travel back to 2004, a year that cemented Slater's place in Origin folklore. We revisit the electric atmosphere of Suncorp Stadium and the moment that left the sporting world breathless: Slater’s legendary double chip-and-chase try.

Join us as Billy reflects on the sheer instinct behind that iconic play, the magic of the 2004 series, and what it means to be part of the Maroons' enduring legacy.

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He was at his lowest ebb - then he delivered perfection.

Welcome to Season 5 of Stories of Origin. as we sit down with the true icons of the game to explore the single Origin match that defined their legacy.

We are kicking off this series with a bang. Rugby league’s greatest player, Nathan Cleary, joins us to dissect his favourite Origin game: his absolute masterclass in game two of the 2022 series in Perth.

It was a performance that silenced the critics and showcased the resilience required to thrive at this level. Nathan takes us inside the intense pressure of that series, revealing how he channelled the disappointment of a 16-10 home loss in game one - against a Queensland side inspired by the champion Cameron Munster, to orchestrate the defining high point of his Origin career.

It’s an intimate, tactical, and honest look at what it takes to own the toughest arena in rugby league.

Proudly brought to you by TAB.

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Season 5 of Stories of Origin is here, and we’re starting with a massive statement.

After a stinging 16-10 loss in game one of the 2022 series - a result that left the Blues reeling and under immense pressure - Nathan Cleary faced the ultimate test of character. How did the game's greatest player bounce back to deliver one of the most clinical masterclasses in Perth?

In our Season 5 premiere, hosted by Mathew Thompson and proudly brought to you by TAB, Nathan Cleary pulls back the curtain on his favourite Origin game. We explore the tactical brilliance, the pressure of the jersey, and the exact moment he turned a career low into his defining Origin performance.

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It was 1995 - the height of the Super League war. As the ARL blacklisted players aligned with Super League, Queensland was left with a team of virtual unknowns and a first-time coach, Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin.

No one expected them to win. Facing a New South Wales side stacked with international stars, the Maroons were written off before a ball was kicked.

But what happened next became legend. Three decades on, Stories of Origin revisits the year Fatty’s Neville nobodies delivered a clean sweep and redefined what it means to wear Maroon.

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Back in 1994, Phil Gould’s Blues stunned Queensland by winning a decider at Lang Park - a feat unmatched for nearly two decades. Then came Game 3, 2024.

It was brutal. Tryless for over an hour. Every inch hard-fought. Then, with the series in the balance, Bradman Best crashed through - pure power, pure Origin.

Madge’s Blues had done it again. History repeated. A dream decider.

Featuring - Bradman Best, Ben Hunt, Phil Gould, Mark Geyer, Andrew Johns, Jonathan Thurston

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Lang Park. Suncorp Stadium. Call it what you like - it’s hallowed ground. The kind of place where Queensland legends are made. Where the spirit of Origin greats like Beetson, Jackson, and Tosser Turner lingers in the air.

In this episode of Stories of Origin: Magic Moments, we rewind to Game 3, 2022 - a decider for the ages. With just under two minutes on the clock and the series on the line, New South Wales launch one last desperate raid… until Ben Hunt steps in.

He’s not flashy. But he’s pure heart. And in that moment - with the GOAT Cam Smith watching on - the Dozer delivers.

Queensland erupt. Suncorp explodes. The Maroons reclaim the shield.

This is the story of Ben Hunt’s heroic Origin moment - and one of the greatest decider finishes we’ve ever seen.

Go Dozer!

Featuring Ben Hunt, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston.

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After five painful years of Maroon dominance, 1985 was the year New South Wales said “enough.” They turned to Canterbury’s fearless halfback Steve “Turvey” Mortimer - a man with blue blood and an unbreakable will - to lead the charge.

From stirring pre-game speeches to that unforgettable chair-lift off the SCG, Mortimer’s passion and grit didn’t just win a series - he rewrote Origin history and brought the Blues their first ever series win.

Sometimes, you’ve just gotta want it more.

Featuring Laurie Daley, Mark Geyer, Andrew Johns, Peter Wynn, David Middleton and Roy Masters.

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If you need to understand Origin in just one moment, it’s the closing minutes of Game One, 1994. The Blues were cruising - 10 points up with 10 to play - until a wave of maroon belief swept the Sydney Football Stadium. Alfie Langer to Kevvy Walters, Michael Carne joins, Renouf streaks down the touchline, Hancock keeps it alive, Darren Smith inside, back to Alfie… BIG MAL sets the stage, and from nowhere Mark Coyne dives for the corner: “Queensland is never beaten!”

In this episode of Stories of Origin, relive the chain‑reaction of passes that produced one of rugby league’s greatest tries and forged a mantra that still defines the Maroons. Hear first‑hand reflections on the pressure, the precision, and the pure Queensland spirit behind the Miracle Try - because when it’s Origin, it’s never over.

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