Front rower Jacob Lillyman will be in buoyant mood when he rejoins his Vodafone Warriors team-mates in Sydney tomorrow ahead of Saturday's 16th-round NRL clash against the table-topping Cronulla Sharks (5.30pm kick-off local time; 7.30pm NZT).
After being involved throughout Queensland's 2015 State of Origin series victory, the 32-year-old was in camp but wasn't used in the opening game of this year's campaign in Sydney.
He didn't miss the chance to make up for it when was recalled to make his 12th appearance for his state in Origin II at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane last night.
Coming in for the injured Nate Myles, the 32-year-old Lillyman provided full value for the Maroons as they beat New South Wales 26-16 to clinch their 10th series in the last 11 years.
'Bull' was typically solid in a 33-minute stint off the bench while he was on the field in the critical period before and after halftime.
Carting the ball up 11 times for 93 metres he also made 17 tackles with just one miss coinciding with the Maroons moving ahead 10-4 at halftime and then 16-4 early in the second half.
He's set to be reunited with his club-mates when they arrive in Sydney later tomorrow for their battle with the Sharks.
In last night's Origin battle at Suncorp Stadium, the Blues kept fighting their way back into the contest but they were unable to muster the resilience that has been the hallmark of the champion Queensland team when repeated errors turned the Origin blowtorch onto the NSW defence.
When Dane Gagai scored the third of his three tries to take the Maroons out to a 20-10 advantage 18 minutes from full-time another blowout scoreline at Suncorp was on the cards but it wasn't until Corey Oates scored his first Origin try eight minutes from full-time that the result – and the series – was settled.
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