'Just worried about the baby at home': the Papali'i junior interview melting the internet

The veteran front-rower came out of representative retirement to help lift Queensland to a shock series win in Sydney on Wednesday night, smashing NSW 24-12 to secure a 2-1 triumph.

Papali'i joined Cameron Munster - another inspirational figure - on stage to lift the Origin shield, signalling his importance to the team and state after answering coach Billy Slater's SOS.

The result capped off a remarkable month for Papali'i, who became the most capped Raider of all time at the start of June, his wife Sepa gave birth to their fourth child and then rejoining Origin camp.

"My family means everything to me," Papalii said on the field in a Channel Nine interview.

"There are three things I care about: that's my faith, my family and obviously this jersey.

"So glad my son's old enough to realise what dad's doing, and hopefully I'm here in 20 years supporting him."

Son Noah joined Papali'i during the interview. Noah has earnt a cult following with Raiders fans - boasting the same mullet hairstyle as his dad, signing autographs and laps of the field after games, and riding the wins and losses harder than anyone.

And he stole the show from his superstar dad when he was asked a question about how he was feeling on live national television.

"Just worried about the baby at home. So my dad could see him and hug him," Papali'i said.

Five tough carries for near-on 40m in his opening stint might not sound like a heap, but when you consider the 33-year-old slept on a hospital chair for multiple nights in the lead-up to Wednesday night's decider, it wasn't a bad innings. He returned for another 10 minutes in the second half.

"I missed the first couple of calls from Bill due to my son being in hospital and my wife as well with a few complications with the birth," Papali'i said.

"I wasn't going to come back but when I saw Bill's number pop up, I just said 'yes'.

"I knew the value of what I could bring to this footy team, that calmness, just being that calm head among the group."

Papali'i hadn't played Origin since 2022, instead focusing on his club football in Canberra's stellar campaign that's put them top of the NRL ladder.

His strong form, and the Maroons' need for a cool head in the middle prompted Slater's call for help.

"I was terrified that he was going to say 'sorry Bill, my days are done' but within a couple of words, I felt he still had that fire in him," Slater said.

"His wife Sepa had a baby boy the week before, and there were a few complications, and the big fella slept in a hospital chair for a couple of nights, his priority was being a dad and making sure his family was okay.

"That first 15 minutes, he just laid that platform for the rewards to come."

Slater said Papali'i's fellow Samoan-heritage middle Tino Fa'asuamaleaui had been following him around "like a puppy dog" all through camp - a claim the Gold Coast captain was only too happy to confirm.

"I've been hanging off his hip, just soaking in the time with him and just enjoying it, because it is his last camp," Fa'asuamaleaui said.

"He's a legend and he's my idol to be honest, since coming in here and in this arena back in 2020 .... I'm just so glad we got to send him off with another win."

As the siren sounded in the State of Origin decider, Queensland celebrated victory and Maroons skipper Cameron Munster dropped to the turf.

It was a touching, emotional scene as Munster's teammates embraced him, closely followed by his NSW rivals after Queensland's 24-12 triumph.

Just three days earlier Munster's father Steven suddenly died. Despite the tragedy, Munster decided to play in Sydney, in what his coach Billy Slater said pre-game would have made his dad proud.

And it was an inspired, near "perfect" performance Munster led his team to on Wednesday night, with a man-of-the-match effort from Tom Dearden another highlight.

"I'd like to thank the NSW Blues," Munster said in his post-game speech before lifting the shield.

"I really appreciate some of you reached out to me during the week. It shows how good rugby league is - family is bigger than the sport.

"I want to say thank you for rallying behind me. It doesn't go unnoticed.

"I'm in awe of you guys, and you'll be back bigger next year. It's been a great series.

"To mum, my sister, my partner Bianca and the kids, thank you for getting behind me this week. I just appreciate everyone that's been around me."

In front of a sea of blue at Homebush - the first decider in Sydney since 2019 - the Blues were favourites to retain the Origin shield, but NSW were shell-shocked in the first half.

The Maroons' immaculate completion rate and NSW's ill-discipline helped Queensland take a 20-nil first half advantage through tries to Xavier Coates, Tom Dearden and Harry Grant, and a penalty goal early in the match from Valentine Holmes.

The lead was simply too great for the Blues to chase down, despite Stephen Crichton getting NSW on the scoreboard in the 55th minute to threaten another fightback.

Dearden's second try of the night less than 10 minutes later against a fatigued Blues side all but sealed the win, with NSW winger Brian To'o's final minute consolation score just reward for a huge 270-metre game, that included two linebreaks.

Dylan Edwards had a game-high 272 metres just ahead of To'o.

"I'm disappointed," NSW coach Laurie Daley said of the loss.

"We got off to a bad start again and in Origin you give away those type of starts it's always hard to come back from.

"I'm proud of how the boys fought but it just wasn't our night.

"We played some good footy but they just won some moments."

When asked by a journalist in the press conference if he should be the Blues coach next year, Daley didn't flinch: "Most definitely".

Queensland rookie Gehamat Shibasaki had a night to remember with 119 total run metres and a try assist.

Raiders veteran Josh Papali'i came out of Origin retirement and played his part in the middle, with 76 metres from eight runs, and 23 tackles in two stints totalling under 30 minutes.

Canberra teammate Hudson Young tried to spark something for the Blues but had limited opportunity late in the game.

The result saw Blues halfback Nathan Cleary denied an Origin series victory in a decider once again.

"It's shattering to be honest," Cleary said. "They saved tries, they scrambled, and we struggled to do that.

"I knew we could keep fighting, it's just a shame we put ourselves in that position two games in a row."

NSW captain Isaah Yeo backed his team to bounce back next year, and praised Munster for his bravery in playing through what was a tough time for his family.

"After the week you've had it was incredibly brave," Yeo said, directing his post-game address to Munster.

"It wasn't our night but I've loved every moment. You ride the highs and that's why the highs are so good and the lows are so bad."

Dearden's double and multiple try-saving tackles were a difference-maker for the Maroons, as he also earned the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series.

The 24-year-old said it was the "Queensland spirit" in those game-changing moments that got the team home.

"We had our backs against the wall the whole series," he said.

"We really tapped into that Queensland spirit. I'm so proud to be a Queenslander."