Unveiling the Connection: A Subtle Touch on the Maroons’ Jersey Pays Tribute to Origin Heritage

An intriguing detail on the sleeve of the Maroons jersey during Wednesday night’s match offered a clever homage to history, serving as a source of inspiration for Billy Slater’s squad in achieving one of the greatest upsets in Origin history.

Queensland captain Cameron Munster disclosed that the Maroons drew motivation from the legendary 1995 team leading up to their thrilling 26-24 victory against the Blues in Perth.

The 30th anniversary of Paul Vautin’s unexpected 3-0 series triumph has been a constant theme for Slater’s men throughout this year’s series.

However, Munster admitted that the team felt they fell short in their efforts during the initial game, ensuring they kept Vautin’s underdogs in mind ahead of the Perth clash.

The Queensland skipper reflected on the 1995 series in a post-match interview on the field and elaborated on the team’s mindset in the subsequent press conference.

“I can’t recall the last time we managed to win a second game – probably 2023. Personally, I haven’t had much success in game twos,” Munster remarked.

“My record in Perth hasn’t been great. Reflecting on it, I’ve probably lost most games here by about 50 points.”

“To come out and perform the way we did in the first half was encouraging. We need to refine a few things for the second half, but I really appreciated how the team rallied around each other.

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“With the series on the line, we put in the hard work for one another. It’s quite reminiscent of the 1995 team we’ve been discussing.

“They managed to secure a couple of wins by just two points in their series, and we did the same tonight.”

“It was that 1995 mindset in defence, and we must continue to support one another.”

“We know it’ll be a tougher challenge heading to Sydney, and we must be fully prepared. We can’t allow ourselves to be caught off guard.”

Slater and the Queensland management have done their best to draw parallels to the 1995 squad.

The players’ jerseys display “1995” stitched on one sleeve and “2025” on the other, creating a connection between the two teams, even after three decades.

While the commemoration of Vautin’s side was always set to be celebrated this year, Slater and his team utilised this linkage along with their underdog status as motivation to equalise the series.

Prior to Wednesday night, Queensland had never achieved a win in Perth, and no Maroons team has ever come back to win a series after trailing 1-0 without playing at Suncorp Stadium in the subsequent two matches.

Leading up to the clash in Perth, Slater’s position appeared precarious, as no Queensland coach has retained their role after two consecutive series defeats.

Vautin took charge of the Queensland team in 1995 after Wayne Bennett withdrew due to the Super League war.

Alongside captain Trevor Gillmeister, Vautin orchestrated an astonishing series victory that boasted legendary moments such as the all-in brawl at the MCG, Billy Moore shouting “Queenslander” from the tunnel at the Sydney Football Stadium, and Gillmeister courageously playing in a dead-rubber game three despite suffering a blood infection.

The game two triumph in Perth sets the stage for a decider in Sydney on July 9.