Queensland have revealed how criticism of Billy Slater and questions over his future have the potential to spur on one of the great State of Origin revivals.
Queensland have turned the heat back on their harshest critics, declaring hurtful criticism of coach Billy Slater can help fuel a State of Origin comeback for the ages.
Five years on from "the worst Queensland side in history" sledge spurring on the 2020 triumph, the Maroons took a similar approach to Perth this week.
What resulted was one of the state great backs-to-the-wall victories, with the 26-24 triumph enough to set up a series decider on July 9.
Victory in Sydney would be historic for Queensland, given they have never lost game one in Brisbane and won two on the road to take the series.
Slater and the Maroons have been beaten from pillar to post since the 18-6 game-one loss at home, headlined by the Aaron Woods "grub" comment.
Beyond that, Wednesday night had loomed as a referendum on his decision to axe skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.
Questions also circled around Queensland's performances and Slater's own future, with no Maroons coach having ever kept the job after two straight series losses.
"There was a lot said, so much said in the lead up to this game," Queensland forward Reuben Cotter told AAP.
"We took it personally. It fuelled us. It fuelled us I reckon. We fired up and we knew what was at stake. And we played that way."
Wednesday's win capped a rollercoaster 42nd birthday for Slater, who began his day apologising for a comment regarding the late Paul Green.
The Maroons' 26-6 first half was among the most spirited 40 minutes of Slater's four-year tenure, before their defence regathered late against a resurgent Blues.
Cotter said criticism in the lead-up to the Optus Stadium clash was near impossible to ignore.
"Obviously it has found its way back to our group. It just fuelled us," he said.
"Everyone was very dialled in this week at training. We knew we had to come out and be a lot better than we were in game one.
"Billy has copped a fair bit of heat. We've trusted him and what he is trying to do. We've believed in him and believed in each other and ourselves as well.
"Just having that trust together has grown together this week. A win like that only grows trust as well.
"We'll take plenty out of it. It's what we needed, we just needed to find a way to win."
Prop Lindsay Collins also said the criticism of Slater had been unfair, and the Maroons had never lost faith in his approach.
"Bill came in with the system he wanted to bring and style of footy he wanted to play. Everyone here has full belief in that," Collins said.
"That 2020 series, they gave us no chance. Much like the 1995 series, they thought we were numpties.
"But we've got a squad here and a good solid team here. We've just got to win it first."
The Maroons' comments came after captain Cameron Munster made a point in the post-match press conference to point out how much players wanted to fight for their coach.
Munster was Queensland's best, with halves partner Tom Dearden not far behind after Slater's controversial call to bring him into Cherry-Evans' old No.7 jersey.
"When you have someone jabbing at him like that, it really hurts. It hurts me personally," Munster said.
"And when someone's having a jab at someone in your own backyard, you stand up on your back and want to get up and fight.
"We needed to do that ... We were backs against the wall, no-one gave us a chance.
"I love him, and I just want to do the best thing for Queensland, and the best thing for him, because he's not doing this for him, he's doing it for Queensland."
