New South Wales team defeats Queensland 30-12 to win State of Origin series

He returned to Sydney on Thursday afternoon on a delayed flight from Brisbane.

Return and comments Cleary said representing the state ranked among his top achievements. "Being able to represent your state, it's something I've always wanted to do as a kid," he said. Coach Laurie Daley said the series win was unusual. "No one's done what we've done last night," Daley said while speaking with fans at the airport.

Captain Isaah Yeo said media coverage before the match helped the team. "It sort of galvanised the group," he said. Daley declined to discuss whether he would seek another contract term. The result ended questions about Cleary's standing in the series, Daley's suitability as coach, and the team's understanding of the competition.