Ex-Wests Red Devils coach Brett Kimmorley – the man who forced the greatest halfback of all-time, Andrew Johns, to hooker for NSW – played 307 games for seven ARL, Super League and NRL clubs.

But his legacy is the infamous cut-out pass intercepted by Matt Bowen to seal Queensland victory in game one of 2005. 

He was dropped and Johns returned to lead the Blues to a series win before the Maroon gloom set in.

Steelers and Dragons great Shaun Timmins played 12 seasons at the top, but his 2004 State of Origin golden-point field goal alone ensures he still gets a ticket on the public speaking circuit.

Johnathan Thurston helped create the greatest ever Origin dynasty, but even then, his biggest moment will be the field goal to secure North Queensland’s first ever NRL premiership in 2015.

Which brings this column to Dragons recruit Ben Hunt.

Thurston thought his earlier sideline conversion was going over, only to watch it hit the post and away, which instead sent the grand final into extra-time.

Hunt then dropped the ball from the extra-time kick-off, handing up Thurston’s one-pointer and the trophy.

After being moved to hooker at Brisbane last year, Hunt has found another level to help the Dragons to the top of the ladder, ensuring he would lead the post-Thurston Queensland era at halfback. For all the discussion of Queensland now being underdogs without Cameron Smith and Thurston, they now have a perfect motivator in Billy Slater’s farewell.

If they can win game one in Melbourne, they have the safety net of a decider in Brisbane at the very least.

The are many other game-breakers in this Origin series, but Hunt’s role will be crucial. 

New NSW coach Brad Fittler has found the need for speed in the Blues line-up, with James Roberts, Latrell Mitchell, James Addo-Carr and Tom Trbojevic among the fastest players in the game. The pack is mobile and Helensburgh-bred Damien Cook’s pace around dummy-half could open the Maroons up.

How the ruck is policed and how Hunt steers Queensland around and controls the tempo could prove vital to winning the series.

Probably unfairly, the knock on Hunt before arriving in Wollongong was his ability to handle the big moments.

If he owns the Origin stage this year, it could not only ensure yet more heartache for long-suffering NSW fans, but spur him to more success with the Dragons in September.

STATE OF ORIGIN

Game one

Wednesday (8pm-ish)

NSW v QUEENSLAND

MCG

TV: Live on Nine Illawarra