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By SONNY COHEN, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR <\/p>\n
Published:<\/span> 09:43 BST, 9 July 2026 <\/time> <\/span> | Updated:<\/span> 09:45 BST, 9 July 2026 <\/time> <\/span> <\/p>\n
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The New South Wales Blues marched into Suncorp and left Queensland with the State of Origin shield on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Their loss against the Maroons in Origin II, seemingly left them with little chance at\u00a0 victory at a stadium where they had not seen success for 19 years.<\/p>\n
It was an inspired effort from Laurie Daley’s side as they were the better team in every facet of the game from the opening minute.<\/p>\n
And they found inspiration from Stuart Diver’s incredible Thredbo landslide survival ahead of the game. <\/p>\n
Diver became a household name in 1997 after being rescued from under 3500 tons of rubble that crushed his accommodation at the ski resort. <\/p>\n
The then 27-year-old ski instructor was trapped for 65 hours in sub-zero temperatures following the landslide, which killed all 18 other ski lodge guests, including his wife Sally.<\/p>\n
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Stuart Diver was invited to speak with the New South Wales team ahead of State of Origin III<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Diver was a key source of inspiration for Laurie Daley’s side as they claimed the series win<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A contemporary news report called Diver’s rescue ‘the miracle that few, if any, truly expected’. <\/p>\n
With that first-hand experience of resilience in mind, coach Laurie Daley invited Diver to meet with the Blues on the first day of camp for Origin I.<\/p>\n
Diver is an fan of NRL side Melbourne and a friend of NSW assistant coach Matt King, whom he met through an old schoolmate.<\/p>\n
‘I went up just as they got into camp on day one, had a little bit of chat and it sort of went from there,’ Diver told AAP.<\/p>\n
After their capitulation in the 2025 Origin series, the Blues were considered underdogs in 2026, especially after a 44-24 loss in game two.<\/p>\n
Diver’s speech set the tone for a series of overcoming the odds, culminating in a shock 30-12 win in Wednesday’s decider at Suncorp Stadium. <\/p>\n
NSW, flush with top-tier talent, were always going to be physically competitive, but the mental approach to the game was where Diver came in.<\/p>\n
‘Everyone can have the skill, everyone can train, and everyone can do all of that sort of stuff and they’re all elite athletes,’ Diver said.<\/p>\n
‘But it’s just, how do you get that next little bit out of what they do?<\/p>\n
‘We tried to set that tone of believing you can get through anything. You end up with results like this.’ <\/p>\n
Daley could see Diver’s story resonating with his players.<\/p>\n
‘(He addressed) a lot of the things that we spoke about as a team, what you need to do under pressure, maximum pressure,’ Daley told AAP.<\/p>\n
‘He just spoke about the things that go through your mind in that situation. It’s inspiring. He’s a special bloke.’<\/p>\n
Diver reunited with the Blues on game day for Origin III, spending one-on-one time with Daley before kick-off and joining post-match celebrations.<\/p>\n
Even Diver was impressed by the Blues’ ability to withstand pressure and come away victorious.<\/p>\n
‘It’s just awesome to be here and learn about what Laurie does and what all of the coaching team does,’ he said.<\/p>\n
‘It’s pretty special to be part of that for me and to be in the rooms prior to the match is something that I won’t forget.<\/p>\n
‘To win in Queensland like that is pretty amazing.’<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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