The Queensland Maroons have been boosted by the recent announcement of a full capacity crowd for the 2020 State of Origin Series decider on Wednesday night.
Queensland will be confident returning to Suncorp Stadium to take on New South Wales in front of 52,000 passionate fans. Some journalists have labelled Game III as a ‘mission impossible’ task for the Maroons. However, history suggests otherwise.
There is a reason Suncorp Stadium, formerly Lang Park, is often referred to as the Cauldron. There have been 56 Origin games played at Suncorp Stadium and the Maroons have won 36 of those games.
The Blues have won just five of 20 Origin series deciders, and had lost the last seven deciders prior to beating the Maroons 26-20 to win Game III at ANZ Stadium in 2019.
Nine series deciders have been played at Lang Park since 1980, with Queensland claiming victory on all but two occasions.
The last time the Blues won a series decider at Suncorp Stadium was in 2005, after Andrew Johns made a return for the Blues midway through the series.
Of the 38 Origin series played, the team that has won Game I has gone onto win the series a whopping 28 times.
Dane Gagai and Valentine Holmes have strong try-scoring records at the venue.
In just two games at Suncorp Stadium, Holmes has scored five of his eight Origin tries including a hat-trick in 2017; Gagai has enjoyed a similar try-scoring record at the venue, having scored six tries in as many games on home soil.
Despite many critics saying the Blues will claim an easy victory, the Maroons will be very hard to beat.
When the Maroons run out on Wednesday night to the deafening roar of 50,000-odd Queensland fans, just know the 17 players wearing the Maroons jersey will look to summon the spirit and passion Arthur Beetson instilled in the jersey on this hallowed patch of turf 40 years ago.
Masters of the decade: 1980s
State of Origin deciders by the numbers
1. 1982 - Queensland win @ SCG
2. 1983 – Queensland win @ Suncorp Stadium*
3. 1987 – Queensland win @ Suncorp Stadium*
4. 1991 – Queensland win @ Suncorp Stadium*
5. 1992 – New South Wales win @ SFS
6. 1994 – New South Wales win @ Suncorp Stadium*
7. 1998 – Queensland win @ SFS
8. 1999 – Queensland win @ Suncorp Stadium*
9. 2001 – Queensland win @ ANZ Stadium
10. 2002 - Queensland win @ ANZ Stadium
11. 2004 – New South Wales win @ ANZ Stadium
12. 2005 – New South Wales win @ Suncorp Stadium*
13. 2006 – Queensland win @ Docklands Stadium
14. 2008 – Queensland win @ ANZ Stadium
15. 2011 – Queensland win @ Docklands Stadium
16. 2012 – Queensland win @ Suncorp Stadium*
17. 2013 – Queensland win @ ANZ Stadium
18. 2015 – Queensland win @ Suncorp Stadium*
19. 2017 – Queensland win @ Suncorp Stadium*
20. 2019 – New South Wales win @ ANZ Stadium
*Denotes decider at Suncorp Stadium.
Smith says embracing magnitude and history of Suncorp key for Maroons
