NSW have been crowned State of Origin victories for the first time in four years after downing Queensland 18-14 in dramatic fashion in Game II in Sydney.
That result, coupled with their victory in Melbourne in Game I, means the Blues have their first series win since 2014. NSW had to do it the hard way after James Roberts was sin-binned in the 68th minute and their captain Boyd Cordner was forced off with concussion. But they held on and Brad Fittler’s young team carved their names in Origin history.
Queensland started like a house on fire and Dane Gagai touched down early. But the video referee ruled he had a foot in touch, so NSW were off the hook. Still it took the Maroons just 13 minutes to take the lead. After a dominant opening period from them, Valentine Holmes crossed on the left wing. A quick shift to the left saw Billy Slater find Greg Inglis, who drew Tommy Trbojevic off his wing for Holmes to score easily in the corner. Holmes couldn’t convert his try so the score remained 4-0.
Six minutes later Queensland were in again, again Slater the architect. The fullback passed to Will Chambers, who released Gagai and he fended his way over. The video referee wasn’t ruling this one out. This time Holmes did convert to make it 10-0. NSW were struggling to keep pace with the mighty Maroons. But then in the 24th minute they hit back in stunning solo fashion.
James Maloney threw a cut-out pass to Josh Addo-Carr and nothing seemed on. But he stepped past four defenders and muscled his way over. It was an exceptional finish from Addo-Carr and exactly what the Blues needed. Maloney added the extras and the buffer between the two teams was now just six points.
Controversy reigned in the 30th minute when Boyd Cordner was knocked over by Ben Hunt when the forward was headed for a try off a James Maloney grubber. The video referee decided to award a penalty try, only the second time ever in State of Origin history. That meant NSW were given six points, with Maloney’s conversion right in front, and they snatched the lead 12-10. Despite dominating the first quarter Queensland were suddenly behind.
The Maroons were camped on the Blues line right on half-time but couldn’t find a through a blue wall. It stayed at 12-10 at the break with the match finely poised in Sydney. The tale of the tape showed Queensland had slightly more possession (53%) than their opponents and had made more metres, 735 to 611, but both teams had high completions and had missed exactly the same in 11 tackles each.
The second half started with a blaze of attacks at both ends. However, defences held firm as the intensity of the contest rose. Then in the 49th minute the power of Latrell Mitchell gave NSW their third try. From dummy half James Tedesco ran the ball on the last and found Mitchell and from short range the centre was too strong for Chambers to stop. The Blues now had a vital 18-0 lead and a series victory was in sight.
Queensland started to mount pressure on the NSW try-line but the Blues were up to the task. Mitchell and Addo-Carr pulled off some terrific tackles to keep them in check. Then in the 62nd minute the Maroons finally got their reward. After a NSW mistake, Kevin Walters’ men made them pay and Chambers dived over in the corner. Holmes couldn’t convert from the sideline so the Blues maintained a slender four-point lead.
On 68 minutes Kayln Ponga almost scored in the corner. On the next play James Roberts held Gavin Cooper back and he was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes. The pressure on NSW grew even more. With nines minute left Nathan Cleary made a try-saving tackle on Holmes and then Cordner had to be subbed with a head knock.
So many times Queensland had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at the death, but not today. NSW would not be bowed and they walked away with a famous win.
