Queensland captain Darren Lockyer (right) reacts after Jharal Yow Yee (left) scored a first half try during State of Origin 3 between Queensland and New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Wednesday, July 6, 2011. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
State of Origin game 3 result: Queensland Maroons 34 – NSW Blues 24. Queensland have won the State of Origin decider 34 – 24 in a high scoring finish to the 2011 Origin series.
Queensland applied much of the early pressure to the Blues, and controlled the ball perfectly. Within 16 minutes, the Maroons were on the board.
Hot on attack, Billy Slater got away a miracle offload to Johnathan Thurston who ran the ball to the line before putting in a short grubber to a flying Greg Inglis who grabbed the ball and touched down on the far left corner. The video ref looked, but saw nothing but perfection from the Maroons.
Thuston duly converted to give Queensland a 6-0 lead after 16 minutes.
Queensland continued to apply pressure, and while the New South Wales line held firm for five drop-outs, finally the line cracked as Slater slipped a ball to Sam Thaiday who charged over the line.
Thurston converted from right in front to send Queensland to a 12-0 lead after 26 minutes. A landslide was beckoning.
On resumption, Queensland applied further pressure, and courtesy of Cameron Smith, put more points on the board. With the Maroons on the Blues’ line, Inglis played the ball and Smith bored his way over from dummy-half. Thurston converted for an 18-0 lead after 32 minutes.
Jharal Yow-Yeh then took advantage of a cruel bounce, after the Maroons kicked a grubbering ball, which bounced off Minichiello’s legs. Yow-Yeh seized upon the chance to dive over for the fourth for the night, and suddenly Queensland were 24-0 ahead after dead-eye Thurston converted again.
Needing points, New South Wales were desperate leading into the break, and some desperation football saw the Blues keep the ball alive. A loose kick saw Lockyer fumble as he grasped for the ball. The Blues pounced, with Minichiello diving over.
New South Wales were on the board against the run of play, and Soward converted for a 24-6 deficit.
From the restart, and just moments before half-time, the Blues ran the ball wide. Gasnier combined with Uate for the big Fijian to dive over and resuscitate the Blues’ chances.
Soward missed a difficult conversion, but the Blues were back in the game at 24-10 at half-time.
After half-time, the Blues came out on attack but the halves failed to direct traffic and the forwards struggled to make yards.
A key penalty was given away by Paul Gallen for a strip, and Queensland were on the attack in the 63rd minute. Some clever outside-inside play put Billy Slater into a gap to set Queensland on their way to a sixth Origin series. Smith converted for a 30-10 lead over the Blues.
Another penalty was awarded to Queensland after Gallen attacked the legs of Lockyer after he kicked. Greg Inglis showed incredible strength and power to storm his way over the line, carrying three men and managing to get the ball over the line.
Smith missed the conversion, but the Maroons were now 24 points ahead with less than ten minutes on the clock.
The NSW Blues immediately attacked, and some half-breaks and good support play put Jarryd Hayne through a gap and over the line.
As Hayne crossed the line, Cameron Smith tackled him with his knees, thereby giving away an eight-point try – the try plus an additional penalty conversion. Smith was placed on report and Soward made no mistake from in front to boost the Blues to 34-18.
Queensland were then denied a try in the 74 minute, with Ben Hannant storming over the line. However, Hannant was initially held-up before team mate Thaiday pushed him and the ball down.
The video referee was consulted, and it was ruled that Thaiday drove Hannant over the line, with NSW handed the ball.
The final try was scored by New South Wales, as Hayne and Morris broke the defence down the left side of the field. Uate found Bird wide on the right who dived over, but the try flattered the Blues, with Soward converting to put them just ten points behind – 34-24.
The Blues continued to attack to the final whistle, but were never going to win after failing to score first in the second-half, and after giving the Maroons a 24 points head start early in the match.
Darren Lockyer celebrated his final Origin game with his Queensland teammates, thanking his team, the crowd and his coaches for the win and his stellar Origin career.
Johnathan Thurston hurt his leg badly in the second half, with reports he has done his AC ligament, thereby putting him out for the season.
QUEENSLAND 34 (G Inglis 2 B Slater C Smith S Thaiday J Yow Yeh tries J Thurston 4 C Smith goals) bt NSW 24 (G Bird J Hayne A Minichiello A Uate tries J Soward 4 goals) at Suncorp Stadium.
Referee: Tony Archer, Shayne Hayne.
Crowd: 52,498. Queensland win the series 2-1.
Lancelot
Guest
Amazing comments coming from blues supporters re Thaidays supposed thuggery.For starters Gallen and Ennis would win all awards for their regular cheap shots in tackles and at the play the ball. Congrats maroons for not getting involved and well done Sam in supporting your fellow team members. Lets hope Australian[NSW] selectors don"t choose Gallen as Aust.captain.the mans got no class,a dead set winger and bad sport.
Ness
Guest
JVGO Nothing you can say or do will detract us from enjoying the moment.. what you say is merely hot air in the light of Maroons win.. how many times must we say that .. the battle has been fought and won on the field .. you cannot and will not spoil the party.. the only thing you do is reveal your frustration at your teams failure .. your team lost that is who you should be directing your anger towards .. we are merely the supporters like you we want our team to win and this time our team won.. so hot air or not they are the facts.. grow up and face them.. I have nothing more to say to you since you cannot get that through your head.. we will party on till the next battle .. no predictions no nothing the rest is in the hands of the gods and next year's teams..Just enjoy the moment if you can and say something good just because you can..
JVGO
Guest
I guess we're just an arrogant bitter bunch nessy, not letting you truly enjoy your triumph. No wonder you despise us. you have the better team, you won. I guess that's all there is to say.
Ness
Guest
To JVGOy gosh you are all a bitter bunch.. why try and argue the point.. the argument was won and lost last night.. this is nothing but hot air.. so you helped in our disaster but is not that the Australian way? When in need Australians support Australians.. Are you trying to say because you helped when Queensland was in need that Queensland Maroons should have repaid you by losing the State of Origin? Are we not going from the sublime to the ridiculous here.This statement is inconsequential to what happened last night... 'Did you thank us for all the money we sent after your disasters by the way Nessy? Love you too.' what has the relief fund got to do with the State of Origin played last night.. Is that not what Australians stand for we help each other when in need.. that has not changed .. the battle for NRL State of Origin supremacy was fought and won last night and what happens on the field of battle stays on the field of battle this is all just hot air.
Ness
Guest
Well for someone who just pulled up someone for bad spelling perhaps you should look at your grammar.. it should read as a NSWelsh lady 'WHO' lives in QLD not 'THAT' lives in Queensland.. 'That' is attributed to inanimate objects where as 'who' is attributed to humans.. so please let us not get in the discussion of stripping each other to bits.. We are proud Queenslanders whether we can spell or not..
JVGO
Guest
Did you thank us for all the money we sent after your disasters by the way Nessy? Love you too. To be fair to Ricky, Qld obviously have the better team and he was trying to devise a strategy for NSW to win. He at least made the series competitive which he stated was his aim before it began. This is what Qld did for like 20 years when NSW generally had the better teams.
Ness
Guest
nice now we refrain to calling each other names.. think you should go back over the boarder that is where the whingers live.
Ness
Guest
So you can spell so what this is a typical response from a NSW supporter.. all you have achieved here is shown yourself to represent the height of arrogance.. and oh we are not specimens .. they keep them in jars in the chemistry lab where you probably belong.. wake up .. you lost .. Queenslanders don't get in the face of the umpires and question every decision that goes against them they just get up dust themselves off and get on with the game.. and that, my friend, is how the game should be played.. Darren Lockyer epitomized that very spirit that exists in every Queenslander.. for the love of the game and the pride of the jumper.. we are the CHAMPIONS indeed.. Come on the Reds!!!!
PetalPower
Guest
Well said mate ... As a NSWelshlady that lives in QLD ... I totally hear you ... Good game to QLD .. they did play well ... but the unsportsmanlike behaviour of the crowd during Gallen's speech was a f---ing disgrace ... well done QLD .. you just showed the world what you really are ... :)
PetalPower
Guest
There were hands underneath the ball anyway ... at best it would have been benefit of the doubt ... But Thaiday as he does ... ruins everything .... moron ...
PetalPower
Guest
..Fine QLD specimen here ... Can't spell ... appalling grammar .... are you 12?
michael
Guest
well said mate!
Ness
Guest
It was the win we had to have..
Ness
Guest
Ode to Harrigan and the New South Wales lot (team's too nice a word) Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends, Mmm, gonna try with a little help from my friends Ooh, I get high with a little help from my friends Yes I get by with a little help from my friends, with a little help from my friends
Creek
Guest
I would have to say as a Queenslander, I loved the game, but am a little disappointed with a few things I saw, Thaiday's unnecessary roughness, Smith's knee charge into Hayne for example, but nothing more so than the possibilities that I saw from NSW. If they can get things right with a few more changes, they are a terrifying team. If I were choosing the team for next year, I would have as the core players from this year, Akila Uate (was frighteningly ferocious), Brett Morris (just a class player), Glenn Stewart (plays tough), Beau Scott, Jarryd Hayne and Luke Lewis. I absolutely hate Paul Gallen, but he plays hard and does his job very well, take teh captaincy off him though as he complains to the refs a bit too often, a leader needs to lead by example, and his play does that but his incessant whinging and bad-sportsman ship aren't helping the Blues. The next level of player would be guys that need to improve to keep their spot. Jamie Soward, Michael Ennis and Greg Bird. They show brilliance in spots, but then do some silly things in others, Soward needs more time to get used to the big stage, and the others just need to pick their game up and be big game players. The rest of the team would have to prove with their seasonal play that they are good enough. I think Jamal Idris is and automatic pick for next year, have no idea why he was dropped. Queensland played very well, but that half time burst from NSW gave me the spooks.
Horatio
Guest
Your review of the game didnt mention how the refs helped get NSW back into the game Qld 24-0 First NSW try from NSW kick and Qld fumbles - didnt Harrigan tell all refs on Mar 20 that tries from kicks had to be referred - no referral Qld 24-6 NSW score on forward pass to Uate - Hannant dumbfounded as ref right in line Qld 24-10 First penalty in second half to NSW for discretionary holding down (there were hundreds of hold downs all night and H man picked this one out) Qld 24-10 55 mins Gallen loses ball after heavy tackle and H man after long delay penalises Qld for a strip in front of posts. Definitely not two men in the tackle and not a strip Later Qld well in front - Video ref Steve Clark (with harrigan in the box) disallows clear Hannant try for Thaiday driving - the Channel 9 commentators couldnt believe it and you see that sort of player assistance every week which is allowed to go. Qld players laugh at decision.. Anything to get NSW back into it!!!!
Ness
Guest
Don't agree that last night's origin was j'ust a sideshow'.. very relevant in the NRL calender but certainly United we stand behind the Matildas.. are their games being broadcast? AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE! FOREVER.
Ness
Guest
Then Ricky must be two-faced because that is not how he presents himself except maybe to his own.. he is divisive.. that personality is not good for the sport. especially when we want our children to follow the game and adapt attitudes of good sportmanship.. Ricky comes across as very negative. In Ricky the desire to win rises far beyond the well-being of the game.
Tom
Guest
Well played NSW you let QLD win 6 times now!
Tom
Guest
yeah who cares, what matters is qld won and nsw lost last night. great night of football!