Nathan Cleary can still remember the roar. The moment James Tedesco broke free and Accor Stadium erupted as the fullback delivered NSW a memorable State of Origin series victory.
It was July 10 2019, Tedesco scoring what many have dubbed the Blues' answer to Mark Coyne's miracle try in 1994 with just 32 seconds left on the clock.
Six years on, NSW are preparing to return to a sold-out Accor Stadium for the first decider at the venue since that memorable evening. Remarkably no players from that match remain in the Blues team for Wednesday night's clash.
Payne Haas, Angus Crichton and Latrell Mitchell featured in Game One of the 2019 series, while Cleary played in the first two matches before an ankle injury ruled out of the decider and Mitchell Pearce was rushed into the team.
So instead of orchestrating the match-winning play, Cleary was in the stands watching with more than 80,000 punters as Tedesco stepped past Moses Mbye and sprinted for the corner.
Blues etch their own miracle try into Origin folklore
"That was intense," Cleary told ljmpta.com. "I was at the game, it was a weird one. It was back and forth, we got a lead, then lost it and then Teddy's try at the end was just electric.
"It was tough to miss it but being able to watch the boys win was incredible. It would've been a lot tougher if we had lost. Something like that again this week would be pretty nice."
Tedesco's try came after a pulsating contest widely regarded as one of the best Origin matches of all time.
NSW looked to have the match wrapped up when Damien Cook scored to put his side up 12 with 20 minutes to play.
Josh McGuire cut the deficit to six with nine minutes remaining before Josh Papalii burst through the defensive line to level the scores in the 77th minute.
Papalii scores try which gets Maroons level
The game seemed destined for extra-time when the Blues launched one final Hail Mary from deep inside their own half with less than a minute on the clock.
Enter James Tedesco.
"I was supporting through the middle as fullbacks do," Tedesco recalls. "I remember when [Blake Ferguson] threw it back to me it wasn't the greatest pass. I just thought if I catch it and get down quick we might be able to kick a field goal after it or score the next play.
"Then as I turned around it was Mbye who fell and I had a free run to the line. It was a pretty unbelievable couple of seconds there. It went from thinking maybe we could get a field goal to we can score a match-winning try.
"It was just pure joy and happiness. Even [coach Brad Fittler] ran on the field before we even finished the game. We were so excited. A decider is always a massive game, but then at home in the last seconds of the game, it doesn't really get much better than that."
Tedesco's try is etched into history on the walls of the gym at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence, a constant reminder to current and emerging players of one of the state's greatest moments.
For NSW captain Isaah Yeo, however, it's more than just a single piece of brilliance.
The lock, who made his Blues debut the following year, said the try is a reminder of what it takes to win a State of Origin series. It's a message he will carry into Wednesday night's decider.
"It's such a big moment," Yeo said. "A decider, 30 seconds left on the clock. It was deep yardage, around 60 metres out, it's backs against the wall and you've got to make a big play and none bigger than Teddy at the death there.
"Those couple of years were big for NSW. It was Freddy's second year, so it was a bit of a changing of the guard, a turning of the tide for the Blues so it was such a big moment.
"Being part of those moments is why everyone plays the game. You play because you love it but you also play because you want to be part of the big occasions and big matches and that was a special moment."
Match: Blues v Maroons
Game 3 -
home Team
Blues
away Team
Maroons
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
While Yeo watched Tedesco from the comfort of his own home, a number of his current NSW teammates were lucky enough to witness the try live at the ground.
Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu and Stefano Utoikamanu featured in the curtain raiser at Accor Stadium, helping the NSW Under 20s side claim a 36-10 win over Queensland.
Matt Burton scored a double in the Blues victory, while Crichton kicked six goals.
Tino Faasuamaleaui is the only current Maroon who played in a Queensland Under 20s side captained by Cory Paix and featured Braydon Trindall, Tom Gilbert and Murray Taulagi.
Match Highlights: U20 Blues v Maroons
Crichton's memories of Tedesco's try are hazy, he may have even left at half-time, but Utoikamanu has no struggles remembering the match as he prepares for his first senior State of Origin game at Accor Stadium.
"It was pretty crazy to watch that try and be there," Utoikamanu said. "Origin games are different to watch and actually be there compared to an NRL game so it was pretty mad.
"Having a taste of it and seeing how much it made everyone happy just reminded me how much I wanted to be there and it drives me to experience something like that as a player."
Tedesco considers the try his favourite, which is a big call when you think about some of the tries he's scored in crucial moments throughout his career.
Ups and downs of an Origin thriller
While he hasn't spent too much time reflecting on the magnitude of the victory, the fullback is aware of what it meant to his state.
Fast forward six years and he's hopeful the current generation of Blues stars can produce a similar play as they chase a second-straight series victory on Wednesday night.
"There was definitely a lot more belief and excitement around the Blues," Tedesco said. "Whereas in years gone by it would have been Queensland who won in the dying seconds and won the series. It was a cool moment to get NSW back on top."
