The carnage and "chaos" of the 2022 State of Origin decider - and how Queensland fought through it - is fuelling belief the Maroons can do it again in Brisbane.
Billy Slater's side will meet NSW in the series decider at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, two years on from a win the then rookie coach declared "as good a Queensland victory as I've ever seen".
Spanked 44-12 in game two and without COVID-19 positive star Cameron Munster and in-form winger Murray Taulagi, the Maroons lost Selwyn Cobbo and Lindsay Collins to concussions in the game's first three minutes.
Dane Gagai was then sin-binned for a fight that triggered an all-in brawl.
But somehow the Maroons, down to a two-man bench and playing in front of 52,385 rabid fans, overcame a 12-10 halftime deficit to clinch a ninth win from the last 10 Origin deciders.
![Kurt Capewell, Kalyn Ponga and Tom Dearden.](https://aapnews.imgdelivr.net/article-assets/20240711190752/835c5a5b-fb0e-4c89-bb08-c3e6829059e1.jpg)
Two years later, Munster and Taulagi are both injured and the Maroons must find a response to a one-sided 38-18 loss in Melbourne to clinch a third-straight series under Slater.
"We were in the same position in '22, probably worse," winger Valentine Holmes said.
"We lost in Perth pretty bad, then responded quite well after a lot happened.
"It's something about us Queenslanders, when we come up against adversity we all stand up to it."
Holmes said that crazy night had been spoken about in camp this week.
"They brought it up, being in that situation, Bill's first year, the way we responded. And being back at Suncorp helps too," he said.
"It was chaos and we ended up putting a few points on."
Current five-eighth Tom Dearden was terrific as a wide-eyed debutant in that game and will again pull the strings with captain Daly Cherry-Evans.
![Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Dearden.](https://aapnews.imgdelivr.net/article-assets/20240711190748/19a8897a-058e-48f1-9587-c3bbfab82687.jpg)
The North Queensland playmaker said there was no added pressure in another decider now that he was more established.
"Playing in deciders, there's always that extra bit of pressure," Dearden said.
"It's a big occasion; it's all or nothing ... we have to win this game."
The Blues' forwards dominated in Melbourne but Dearden said he was unimpressed with his own defence and needed to find ways to control the contest without relying on his pack to be dominant.
"It's something I'm still learning, finding other ways to create your team that momentum, whether it's an early kick or something," he said.
"But also being patient; not trying to go after it too early, earn your momentum back."