When things got a little desperate on the Queensland goal-line as NSW surged in the closing minutes of Origin One, forward Max Plath said there were words the Maroons shouted at each other to hold tight.
“We’ve got our processes and words that we live by that build our culture and keep us strong,” Plath said.
“We were repeating those and just remembering who we were representing.
“We tried our guts out.”
Plath certainly pulled his weight on Origin debut, playing 63 minutes at lock and making 44 tackles with only one miss.
“I don’t think about it or count them. I just try to do my role because I’m just so stoked to be a Queensland player," he said.
The frantic final minutes
His father John, a four-time premiership winner, nearly got there himself.
The Broncos utility was about to be called up into the Queensland side by selectors in 1994.
Coach Wayne Bennett knew how much Plath wanted to represent but he also knew he was carrying a shoulder injury.
“I never got the call – Wayne made the decision for me,” Plath said in the Maroons sheds.
That prompted a question for Max: Do you think your dad is living vicariously through you?
Walker shines on debut
“He might be. You should ask him.”
So NRL.com went and found John, wearing ’13 Plath’ T-shirts with a large group of family and friends in the Queensland sheds.
“I’m just so proud and excited to see him run out there. I admire his efforts and everything he kept working on,” John said.
“It wasn’t a great result but I’m real proud of his individual performance. He just kept competing and he never gave up.
Thomas Flegler Try
“He got that strength from chasing his brothers down in the backyard.
“I thought all the Queenslanders played well. It was just one of those games that got away from them. That courage in the last few minutes was incredible.
“At one stage I looked over to the far side of the field and Kurt Capewell is there with blood streaming out of his head.
They were absolutely knackered but they kept going and going
John Plath
Among texts to his son throughout the week to help encourage him was John’s last on game day afternoon.
“I try not to bother him too much but I’ll find it for you... I said: ‘Hi mate, so proud to see you amongst this kind of company – you belong in it’.”
Max appreciated the message and praised his family for having his back.
“I had heaps of texts from my family, especially dad. He also gives me some inspiration and he’s great to lean on.”
Walker shines on debut
Plath has already shown plenty of courage to Dolphins fans after overcoming an ACL injury that cut short his 2025 season.
He worked hard to return to the NRL and said he wasn’t too overawed by the occasion of an Origin debut after just 40 NRL games in three-and-a-half seasons for the Dolphins.
“I was just trying to stay calm. I am just one piece of a team so I have to stick to my processes and make sure I do my job," he said.
“In the end, despite all the hype, it’s still a game of rugby league that has to be played.”
Cobbo flies high
But leading 20-0 late in the first half to lose the game 22-20 in the final minute has lit a fire inside Plath for Game Two in Melbourne on June 17.
“Absolutely. I think we showed a lot of heart as a team working together,” he said.
“I just hope we did our state proud. Some things just don’t go your way but you’ve just got to get on with it.”
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