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Queensland has restored some pride with an 32-8 win in State of Origin Game 3.
NSW held on bravely in the first half and amazingly were only behind by four points at halftime.
But the Maroons went to another gear in the second 40 and piled on 26 points to record a big victory.
Queensland enjoyed an 11-5 penalty count and there some questionable calls from the referees, including their reluctance to send anyone to the sin-bin for foul play, but the officials weren’t to blame for NSW’s loss.
The Maroons were better than the Blues in just about every facet, they wanted the win more and offered a lot more in attack.
NSW resorted to bomb after bomb, usually with no pressure on the catcher, and were one-dimensional with the ball in their hands. After some amazing in-goal defence, stopping four Queensland tries, the Blues were run off their feet in the second half.
After the dramatic end of Queensland’s streak of eight series wins in a row in Game 2, and the sealing of the 2014 series, a Maroon victory was always likely. But they had to work hard for it in the second half.
The home side started well and you could see their intent from early on. Greg Inglis got over the line but James McManus and Jarryd Hayne forced the ball loose.
The Maroons were dominant but just couldn’t score. Ben Te’o got lucky when he hit Trent Hodkinson late and high, and was only put on report and penalised. He should have got ten in the bin.
NSW were very unlikely 2-0 leaders after 24 minutes, and they kept Queensland scoreless thanks to Daniel Tupou knocking a grubber dead, Darius Boyd being held up over the line, and then Inglis being thwarted again.
The Maroons were frustrated and it took the injection of Daly Cherry-Evans, who had failed to live up to his own high standards in the first two Origins, into the game to find a way through. Cherry-Evans beat four defenders up the middle and brilliantly chipped to set up Cameron Smith for a great try.
In the second half NSW continued to hang on grimly, but Queensland went further ahead after just six minutes. A rout beckoned as the lead went to 14-2.
But NSW wasn’t done yet, and a lovely set play had them back in the game at 14-8 on 60 minutes. Queensland responded by a barrage of tries in the final eight minutes and their victory was confirmed.
It was sad to see both Smith and Paul Gallen carrying on with their communication with the referees. That, and the officials’ refusal to take a stand against bad acts, was disappointing.
Nate Myles clearly elbowed Greg Bird in the throat but virtually got off. I don’t like to harp on about referees, and NSW were far from innocent in their actions, but there needs to be an official with the balls to put a player in the sin bin in Origin.
Retrospective action is not enough. You basically now need to commit murder in Origin, or throw one punch, to be taken off. That is just not good enough.
The niggle continued throughout the end of the match, Justin Hodges getting involved with some handbags, and some sterner action from the referees would nip this in the bud.
All up it was a good night for Queensland but bittersweet, as coach Mal Meninga commented.
NSW has finally won a series again and the Maroons’ stranglehold over Origin has finished. The 2014 series has been memorable, one that those south of the Tweed can savour.
We wait to see what rugby league’s premier event can dish up in 2015.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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