State Of Origin Documentary:"The Emperor's Last Stand"

As a just-turned17-years-old American exchange for a year in Brisbane in 1991, I was actually fortunate enough to be at this match at Lang Park! As someone who would eventually become an absolute rugby league TRAGIC, naturally I absorbed all of it and also appreciated the roster of deadset Maroon LEGENDS on the pitch that night, especially my all-time favorite player, Allan Lager (though my team is NQL and very definitely NOT Brisbane)! IF ONLY!!! Instead of enjoying one of the greatest all-time matches of The Greatest Game, I horsed around the whole night with a mate of mine from high school while his dad actually had the good sense to WATCH the fucking match!! I am not one for regrets, but on the short list of them in my life, you can freely pencil in "Did not appreciate league while living in Queensland during a time of legends" somewhere near the top!! Had I only known then what I subsequently came to learn!!!!! (Then again, Feldt's, Morgo's and JT's heroics to finish the 2015 GF - even though I was watching it alone in Florida - don't leave me feeling terribly regretful about ANYTHING league-related!)

Travelled to Australia on ‘92 Lions supporters group. Had watched many State of Origin series on video and hoped see Wally Lewis play for Gold Coast against the touring team but seem remember injury prevented it happening (there was a rumour he would just put in a 20 mins cameo but nothing came of that). A friend saw him make his debut for Wakefield in the English comp and declared he’d seen the best player ever. My first hand experience remained his Invincibles and Unbeatables Kangaroo tour appearances. Thanks for these docs, good memories of great players at the best times for the sport.

I’m a kiwi and a NSW supporter but got to meet Wally Lewis when touring Suncorp stadium I walked up to him shook his hand in awe and said “love your work mate! Loved to hate you but you truly are the King of Origin in my eyes” now I’m 6’2 and 120kgs and he looked up at me like “WTF” and then laughed and gave me a hug...A true legend on and off the field 👊🏽

Wally is simply the best. Passionate proud Queenslander / Kangaroo. And an honest, clean fair player too. I'm a Kiwi and have the greatest respect for Wally and the Australian Rugby League Players. They are simply the best. Thanks for the great eternal rugby league memories Wally and co. Cheers.

And still the greatest series ever! Look at the rivalries between 91-94: Langer v Stuart, Daley v Walters, Clyde v Lindner, Elias v Walters, Shearer v Ettingshausen, Bella v Roach, and then there was the King all by himself

30 yrs on and still got the goosebumps watching 🍻✊🍻

My family went to nearly all games at Lang Park in the 80s & 90s....My Mother 80yrs old now has been involved in league admin for 25-30years and mad footy fanatic, talk footy everytime we speak,...she still to this day declares (and so do I) that Wally was the best ever player ...hands down...1 time, My brother and I watched one of those games Wally won single handedly....then he managed to kick a goal from the sideline, we were directly behind him in line with the kick...my brother turned to me and said and I never forget..`I GUESS THAT MAKES HIM SUPERMAN NOW`..crowd went bananas.lol...

Stunning documentary, Wally was and will always be the king, his efforts and skill and ability were first class

I, like a million or more Queenslanders feel blessed to live in a time where we could watch the career of the GOAT of our game and to feel the pain of his being robbed of the accolades, he had earned by the blinked ignorance of desk jockeys. 👑❤

I first saw Wally play for Valleys in about 76 or 77, I was a ballboy for the Brothers club in Brisbane. Wally and Strudwick used to be a pain in the ass, but Wally was a class above, even then. I watched him throughout his career and saw many many world class player close up, and as much as NSW hates to admit it, he is the best player to have played the game probably ever. what happened to him in 1990 with being sacked by the Broncos, and fucked over by Arko and Gibbs was pure corruption, vengeance and spite, and history shows they were wrong. Players like Lewis made Origin and League as good as it is today, and I for one, am proud to be a fan.

Another great doco Danmarsky, you have a talent for the art form, thank you.

I saw Wally Lewis many times . Especially quite close up at Central park, Wigan . Wally was to sign up with Wigan IIRC in the 80's, but Ellery Hanley started creating grief. So Lewis wasn't signed by Wigan. Just how good would Wigan have been then around that time period ?

Well done Danmarsky. He was truly 'The Emperor' who morphed into 'The King'. I spent a bit of time with him through those years and there was not a day literally that he wasn't mentioned in the paper, someone said something about him on the radio or TV. He had people who loved him and a very few who hated him even in Queensland. He was polarising as all great players are and have been. If I was drinking with him socially I and the others there would form a semi-circle around him, with his back to a wall, to keep people away so he could have a bit of relaxation. But it didn't stop people from offering a comment or saying gday. People stared at him riveted to the spot. He used to get embarassed. I drove him to an autograph session at a school once and the adulation had to be seen to be believed. We stopped the car outside the school, he paused, turned to me and said, "Brace yourself. Here we go." He steps out of the car and for the next 2 hours it was bedlam with the kids and adults screaming and laughing as he signed autograph after autorgraph. He made sure everyone got what they wanted, photographs, autographs, a chat...you name it. I had to help drag him back to the car. He's waving and smiling...then he finally gets in the car...lets out a big sigh with a grin and says, "Well, that was fun. Let's get some breakfast somewhere it's quiet," and gives me a look like 'it ain't gonna be quiet'. And it wasn't. It never was. No mater where he went. Remarkable unique footballer...great human.I honestly don't know how he handled it. I feel fortunate to have seen him play firsthand and know(n) him also.

Great film mate I remember growing up in the 80s and 90s and Wally was one of the best. Thanks for the film, brings back the days when footy was footy.

Love your docos mate. Brings back lots of fond memories from 80s thru 90s rugby league.

I never had a problem with Graham Lowe coaching Queensland, simply because, if you ask most Kiwis who they back in the SoO, they will always go for Qld. In rugby league, most Kiwis know, like Queenslanders once did, the sting in trying and trying and for years coming up empty.

Wally Lewis made the biggest impact on my life more than any other rugby league player in history.That ends all debates for me right there!!!

Some great, great players on show on both sides.

As a kiwi I gotta say, he is the best. Loved the way he played. The passion. Olsen Filipina made him look almost ordinary once. Just once.

Nice documentary. Hail the King. By far the most influential player to have ever played the game.