Kalyn Ponga goose-stepped, accelerated, jagged off his right foot and, as he jammed the ball down to score, stole back the State of Origin shield for Queensland.
When the breathtakingly talented fullback eventually hangs up his boots, his solo try that propelled the Maroons into the lead with 19 minutes left on the clock could go down as the greatest moment of his career.
Queensland departed for half-time trailing 12-10 and Ponga clinched the lead for the hosts as he skipped onto a Daly Cherry-Evans ball on the right edge, spurting between Siosifa Talakai and Jarome Luai and burning James Tedesco with a lethal right-foot step.
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In a game that saw Selwyn Cobbo, Lindsay Collins and Cameron Murray wiped in the first four minutes, Dane Gagai and Matt Burton sin-binned for hurling punches, and a trove of other dust-ups, Ponga’s clutch move was a breakaway from the brutal skirmish.
And what cannot be overlooked following Ponga’s top-class play in Queensland’s 22-12 triumph in the Brisbane decider is the doubters were out for him on the cusp of the series and again ahead of game three.
Reece Walsh, Valentine Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow all lingered as threats to Ponga’s hold on Queensland’s No.1 jumper, but coach Billy Slater instilled faith in the Knights dynamo and reaped the sweetest of rewards.
“The critics were out for Kalyn Ponga asking him to step up in game three — and (hasn’t) he done that and some,” Cameron Smith said on Nine’s coverage.
Ponga combined his game-changing try with a match-high 299 run metres and 18 tackle busts.
Paul Vautin was glowing in his praise for Ponga, telling him: “That’s your best Origin game ever”.
“I’m super proud,” a relieved and ecstatic Ponga said.
“Proud of the boys, coaching staff, support staff, proud of myself, to be honest, as well.
“This is my first series win, so it’s a pretty surreal feeling.”
It’s incredible to think that Queensland won the finale without its most dangerous weapon — champion five-eighth Cameron Munster, who was struck down by COVID-19.
But the man who filled his void, Cowboys youngster Tom Dearden, was exceptional.
The 21-year-old set up Queensland’s first try, scored by Valentine Holmes in the 13th minute, when he hit the left centre with a short ball.
Dearden also tested the New South Wales defence relentlessly with his noted running game.
“It’s unreal,” Dearden said of the series win.
“I’ve got no words, I can’t believe it, it’s a dream come true, it’s something I never pictured I’d do as a kid, but to have my family here and the whole Queensland here — it’s a dream come true.
“I was pretty nervous running out. You just hear the crowd roar and you can’t even hear yourself think, but I got out there and I soaked up everything and I just looked left and right. You look at the players you have either side of you. I felt so comfortable and just wanted to get the game on.”
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