Jarome Luai's State of Origin scars have healed, the NSW playmaker turning a Suncorp Stadium graveyard into his field of dreams.
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The Blues' five-eighth capped a remarkable 12-month turnaround on Wednesday night by steering his men to a series-deciding 14-4 win in Brisbane.
Luai, without his old mate Nathan Cleary beside him, hammered away in a pulsating game dominated by defence before providing the match-turning moment after 65 minutes.
He skipped through a tackle to put Bradman Best away for the game's first try, breaking the shackles as the Blues won a decider in Brisbane for the first time in 19 years.
It followed a stellar night in the Blues' game-two flogging in Melbourne and came after his night from hell at the same venue barely a year ago.
Sent off after head-butting Reece Walsh in the final moments of a series-deciding 2023 game-two loss, Luai then copped social media abuse and death threats.
The Penrith star was widely thought to have been branded with the never-again stamp, dropped for the dead rubber.
But new coach Michael Maguire recalled Luai, who's gone on to star in this series.
"It's sort of a scar, rather than me thinking about the actual game," Luai said ahead of the Brisbane decider.
"But I come to the conclusion that at the end of the day your scars can make you stronger as well."
His feathers could have been ruffled late in the first half when Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans baited him in an off-the-ball scuffle that sparked a sideline melee.
But the Panthers ace, denied again and again by some incredible Maroons defence, did what the 52,457 in attendance are usually accustomed to seeing from their own to deliver the match-winning hand.
Someone like Romy ... everyone has their different perceptions of him," Maguire said post-game.
"He's an outstanding human being.
"Great family man and the way he played, broke the game open and at the back there.
"The respect they have for what they're doing, and the people, they're building something now."
Angus Crichton capped an immense series to be crowned Wally Lewis Medal winner as player of the series, while recalled centre Bradman Best was also superb in filling the Latrell Mitchell void.
Fullback Dylan Edwards (236 run metres) won the man-of-the-match award to make it two wins from two Origin appearances.
Winger Zac Lomax backed himself to kick a penalty goal from the sideline to make the game 2-2 early in the second half, then drilled another conversion from the opposite side after Best's try.
Halfback Mitchell Moses iced the game when he danced through the line, but finished the game on the sideline fearing a season-ending biceps injury.
Australian Associated Press
