After a racial row marred the lead-up, it seemed only apt that Queensland showed their true colours in a 34-6 Origin II victory over NSW at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
While NSW backrower Luke O’Donnell saw red, the evidence supporting Queensland as the greatest team in Origin’s 30 years was there in black and white.
When the dust settled on a spiteful clash, Queensland had sealed a record fifth straight Origin series.
And they promptly rated the greatest Maroons team by a man who should know – Queensland coach Mal Meninga.
“I think it’s been a tough week for rugby league in general and a lot of things have happened and tomorrow should be about what a great team this is,” said Meninga, who played the first of his 32 Origins in the 1980 original.
“(They are) remarkable players but the thing about the Maroons is they are a fantastic team and play for each other and just want to do it for each other so it’s a pleasure being a coach.
“Our depth is great and we’ve got great leaders who play in key positions for us…so it all adds up to a pretty special team.”
Life isn’t as peachy for his “shocked” counterpart Craig Bellamy, who admitted NSW had “every right” to sack him following yet another loss.
Especially after Meninga later laughed off NSW pivot Trent Barrett’s claim that the tide would eventually turn.
“The domination they’ve got has got to stop eventually,” Barrett said.
The Maroons faithful in the 52,452-strong crowd went into party mode as Queensland continued their golden run – a 10-4 win-loss record since their winning streak began in 2006.
Only Queensland’s 13-3 record from 1922-26 is better.
The six tries to one loss came on a dark night for NSW, especially O’Donnell.
Days after disgraced ex-NSW assistant Andrew Johns’ now infamous racial slurs rocked the countdown to Origin II, the question remained: “How would the Maroons’ indigenous stars respond?”
The fired-up Suncorp Stadium crowd didn’t have to wait long for the answer.
In the third minute a pumped Greg Inglis – the focus of Johns’ rant that cost him his NSW coaching gig – had dragged two defenders over to score.
By the 12th, Israel Folau – another reportedly in Johns’ sights on last week’s Blues bonding night – had crossed to make it 10-0.
Asked how the Johns saga had affected him, Inglis told Channel Nine: “It showed in my game tonight. I was pretty upset about it.”
Bellamy said: “Nobody wanted to happen, what happened, and nobody wanted it to keep going.
“I would love to be able to use that as an excuse, but I don’t think it is.”
It was going to take something special to take the focus away from the Johns racial row – but it became a subplot after O’Donnell’s brain explosion.
The Cowboys enforcer was considered lucky not to be sent off in the 26th minute when the match erupted following his ugly spear tackle on Maroons winger Darius Boyd.
After O’Donnell’s shocking tackle sparked an all-in, the fired-up North Queensland forward could be seen headbutting David Taylor as the Queenslander was restrained by NSW’s Joel Monaghan.
O’Donnell was inexplicably cleared of the headbutt but faces three to four weeks on the sidelines after being charged with a grade two dangerous throw.
Blues enforcer Paul Gallen will be available for Cronulla this week after pleading guilty to a grade one careless tackle charge for his 23rd minute hit on Nate Myles.
It was the first time Queensland had wrapped up a series at Suncorp Stadium since 1991 – the legendary Wally Lewis’ farewell game.
The clash also provided the Maroons faithful the victory they were deprived of last year when NSW averted a whitewash with yet another fiery display.
The 28-point victory narrowly missed equalling the record 30-point winning margin Queensland had racked up three times in the 30-year Origin history – in 1989 (36-6), 2003 (36-6), 2008 (30-0, all at Suncorp Stadium.
After Queensland led 16-0 at halftime it was more of the same in the second stanza – with more Maroons points, and more biffing.
The niggling act between Inglis and NSW centre Beau Scott boiled over in the 57th minute when the pair went toe to toe.
Queensland extended their advantage to 34-0 through Tonga (44th), Folau (48th) and Cooper Cronk (62nd) before NSW finally got on the board through prop Brett White (79th).
BluesAreChit
Guest
Thanks to andrew johns for the extra motivation he gave Queensland !! It probably doubled the winning margin.
Sarah
Guest
NSW did not even deserve to get a point on the board they played dirty and aggressive and it didn't do them any favours. The queenslanders proved them selves once again to be the better team and played some beautiful football and showed that the racial comments made about players was only in jellousy because they knew they couldn't break the queenslanders any other way and saying those comments only made them stronger and more determined to bring NSW down.... and for Greg Inglis he did a good job to keep his cool for as long as he did and beau scott deserved a good smack in the mouth along with Inis who was ever so scared to run the ball... Queenslanders are going to be hard to beat in the next 5 years too..... WE ARE JUST TOO GOOD!!!!
Ronnie the Eel
Guest
Typical joke...bereft of his own ideas and probably intellect, as well as an ungracious 'winning' supporter - (with an emphasis on the word "supporter" only). Anyone that generalises and calls a football team or supporters a "pack of losers" is a complete joke. Closest thing he has probably come to actually playing league is kicking his kid's plastic footy in the backyard to a cardboard cutout of Lockyer and wondering why it doesn't kick the ball back to him.
mushi
Roar Guru
What I didn’t understand was why the NSW forwards ran at the line on an angle when they hit it up. I don’t know if someone has told them but guys it isn’t a club match the blokes on the other side are kind of okay at the whole footy thing and may not be fooled by an angled hit up. Perhaps just running straight and picking up 3 to 4 more metres would be a little better plan. NSW had nothing to work with. 34-6 flattered the contest
Ken
Guest
Well for the last 5 years it has been, NSW did win the 3 years before that though and I think the total points scored across 30 years of games is still pretty close (although going more in QLD's favour every years recently)
Hoy
Roar Guru
Perhaps O'Donnell didn't intend to headbutt, he was just trying to get back to his place? What a joke. There was some solid niggle by both teams last night. I was thinking last night it is always the same blokes fighting. I wondered in the fracas, what if someone had floored Lockyer with a cheapy? That person would be villified from here to eternity. There are certain players who just don't have that side to their game. Lockyer, Hindmarsh is rarely in throwing punches, Petero, Kimmorly would take a bit to be upset. And then there are those that throw down at the drop of a hat, ala Gallon, O'Donnell, Thaiday was up for it last night. I was just wondering what the reaction would be if one of the gentlemen of the game was done over by someone. Pearce should stay, even though he did nothing really. He has a sweet pass on him, and will come along eventually. He really didn't have much to work with last night, although the Fittler love in prior to the game about his skills etc was a bit much. QLD seemed to be able to move the ball where they wanted last night. Once again, I don't understand why wingers come in so far. Why would Monaghan come off his wing so far, for no reason? The first move was so deep that if he just let Thurston pass, the defence should have been able to adjust accordingly. As it was, Thurston was forced to hold the ball, and throw it out behind Monaghan, giving Inglis a mile of room to the corner. Hindmarsh would almost be the most capped Origin player in history if he was a QLDer. That bloke has a lot of heart about him. I can't understand why they would not pick him for the last two years. He basically ran down Slater in cover defense last night. Gold. Deadset, Gidley has proven over the last three years that he is just not good enough for Origin, let alone captain his state. Once again last night, his errors proved costly for NSW. Time to bite the bullet and say he is not good enough. I honestly didn't think QLD could do 5 in a row, but this year, NSW seem bereft of ideas about how to score a try. I was so hoping it would be 40+ to blot, just to really show the chasm between the two teams.
Billo
Guest
It would be wrong to say anything other than Queensland is probably the greatest State of Origin team we have ever seen.
Hayden
Guest
Congrats to the Banana Benders. NSW showed themselves in the build up and during the game to be bereft of ideas, teamwork, class and any moral high ground. It couldn't happen to a more deserving pack of losers.
James
Guest
Most one-sided sporting rivalry in Australia?