Ben Hunt looks around the Queensland dressing room and sees players from a variety of backgrounds.
Some, like Dane Gagai are proud Indigenous men, while others, such as Moeaki Fotuaika have Polynesian heritage.
Hunt, as he's recently learnt following the completion of an Ancestry DNA test as part of Ancestry's 'Discover your Origin' campaign, is of British heritage and boasts Scandinavian genetics that potentially trace back to the Viking Invasions of the eighth to eleventh centuries.
Maroons coach Billy Slater has reinforced in recent weeks they’re all Queenslanders and Hunt knows they will unite around that shared identity when the team runs on to Suncorp Stadium for Wednesday's State of Origin decider.
"We get along no matter what culture we come from," Hunt told pan66.com as he prepares for his 20th Origin clash. "That's always been the Queensland spirit, the Queensland way.
"We come together, we help each other, we work together and we strive to get a good outcome. That's been a good trait from everyone up here for as long as I can remember."
Hunt's Queensland identity was forged in the small town of Dingo, population 221, in remote Central Queensland.
Some of his earliest memories are of the town's residents piling into a neighbour's house on a Wednesday night to watch the Maroons play.
Hunt's roots to the state run deep but his recent Ancestry DNA test has also provided more details about his ancestors prior to their move to Queensland.
Both of his parents are of British Isles heritage, with 46% of Hunt's DNA tracing back to England and Northwestern Europe. A further 24% is Scottish, with Sweden and Denmark making up 13%, Ireland 12% and Wales 5%.
The hooker was familiar with his British background, but the Scandinavian genes came as a surprise. With the possibility they hail back to the Viking Invasions, Hunt said he's eager to dig a bit deeper into that aspect of his heritage.
"I used to talk to my granddad about his family coming over from England but that's all I really knew about my background," Hunt said. "It's something I always wanted to do, so it's exciting to get this information.
"Having some Swedish and Danish in there came as a surprise but it's pretty exciting. I've watched all of the show Vikings so I'm pretty excited to look into that aspect of my heritage."
The concept of a Queensland identity has long been at the heart of State of Origin and can be traced back to the competition's inception when Arthur Beetson led the Maroons to victory in the inaugural clash between the two teams.
Slater further fanned the flames with his "we're still Queenslanders" comments following his side's Game Two loss.
South of the border, the Blues have long bristled at the idea they don't truly get Origin, with coach Michael Maguire embedding the importance of leaving a legacy into the culture of the current squad.
Hunt has lived on both sides of the Tweed and has witnessed the passion of both sets of fans first hand throughout his career.
Match: Maroons v Blues
Game 3 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
While Origin in NSW is important, the Maroons star said it's on another level north of the border.
"It's ingrained in you," he said. "Everyone in the town wore a maroon jersey on game day, you go to school and it's all anyone talked about. It's a rugby league state and a lot of that is because of State of Origin and the passion for that maroon jersey.
"It's not like you don't see the Blues jerseys in Sydney but you get around Brisbane in Origin time and it's Queensland-mad. It's all anyone's talking about whereas in Sydney there's a lot more going on. It's a different feel and doesn't have that big vibe about it."
The Ancestry DNA test provided Hunt an insight into more than just his heritage, with the kit also identifying certain traits based on his genes.
Some took the hooker by surprise, however others made perfect sense for a footballer who has based his game around working hard and attention to detail.
Hunt is less likely to be a risk taker and is not naturally agile, while he's more likely to possess excellent hand-eye coordination and make clean contact with the ball while kicking.
Competitiveness was also high on the list and Hunt knows that trait will have to be on full display if the Maroons are to win Wednesday's State of Origin decider.
"It's not going to be an easy game at all," he said. "The Blues have got an excellent side, they really threw it at us in Game Two.
"They're going to come to Brisbane with a similar game plan and throw everything at us. It's going to be tough but it's nice knowing you have the game at home.
"The stadium will be full of Maroons fans. It definitely helps us, they're cheering at the right times for us and there's something about that stadium that it seems to get louder.
"I don't know if they are cheering louder or if it's the makeup of the stadium, it just gets a real roar and seems to bring the best out of us."
Ancestry invites fans and enthusiasts alike to embark on their own journey of discovering their own Origin story with Ancestry. To celebrate Ancestry’s partnership with the NRL, limited-time offers will be made available on Ancestry DNA kits. For more information, please visit .
