Brent Tate was tossing his young son Kyden in the air in a crowded dressing room and catching him with the same safe hands that defused NSW's bombing raids during Queensland's State of Origin game-one win.
Tate's impressive comeback to Origin following a third knee reconstruction was a feel-good storyamid the high drama of all-in brawling and controversial sinbins and tries at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
As Tate hugged and kissed his little boy, his wife took pictures for the family album to show Kyden when he's older and his father has retired.
While Tate, 30, was grateful just to be back in a maroon jumper after fearing his latest injury in 2010 may have been the end of the road, his experience shone through with a near-flawless performance.
"I must admit it took me a little while to get into it," he said of a contest teammate Billy Slater rated among the quickest of the 18 Origins he's played.
After scoring an early try with a kick to opposite winger Darius Boyd's left side, NSW opted to bombard Tate's wing with high kicks in the second half and he never faltered.
"I did a lot of work through the week on it because I knew it was coming," said the Cowboys star.
"The boys at the back gave me plenty of protection. I was really happy with how they looked after me."
Tate was called on to leap high into oncoming attackers to grab several dangerous kicks as NSW searched for the go-ahead try when trailing 12-10 before Inglis's controversial late touchdown.
Tate dismissed suggestions Queensland were lucky to win.
