The second match of the 2026 State of Origin series saw the Queensland Maroons triumph over the NSW Blues, setting the stage for a decisive showdown at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
This matchup will be pivotal for both teams as they compete for this year's shield.
Historically, there have been 24 occasions where an Origin series has gone to a decider, with Queensland securing victory in 16 of those instances.
This statistic translates to a remarkable 67% win rate for the Maroons.
In contrast, New South Wales has managed to emerge victorious six times-those being in 1992, 1994, 2004, 2005, 2019, and 2024.
They now face the daunting challenge of overcoming the Maroons in front of a raucous crowd of 50,000 enthusiastic Queensland fans.
The two remaining deciders not accounted for ended in a draw in 1999 and 2002.
Currently, the 'golden point' rule has not been instituted; thus, reigning shield holders maintain rights to victory.
In those years, Queensland was the reigning champion.
The Blues experienced a rare breakthrough in 2019, with a last-minute try from James Tedesco helping them secure the win after a long 14-year decider drought.
During that stretch, the Maroons showcased an extraordinary lineup, claiming eight consecutive series victories from 2006 to 2013.
NSW's record-setting performance in 2019 marked their first back-to-back series wins since 2005.
Despite facing a tough challenge, the Blues have only claimed three deciders at Lang Park-specifically in 2005, 2019, and 2024.
Jake Trbojevic's recent triumph in 2024, lifting the shield after a decisive 14-4 win, added a special chapter to this rivalry.
What made this moment even more remarkable was that Trbojevic was not the team's captain at the club level, but instead played a vital defensive role before spending the final hour on the sidelines.