Queensland have recorded a 12-10 win over New South Wales in State of Origin III, extending their series winning streak to eight.
In front of 83,813 spectators, New South Wales had the opportunity to make the perfect start when Greg Inglis was penalised for a high shot on a slipping James Maloney.
A knock-on by Blues halfback Mitchell Pearce ended that opportunity, and Queensland drove down the field to force a New South Wales line drop-out from the ensuing set of six.
Queensland struck first through Johnathan Thurston, who took advantage of some careless NSW defence as they scrambled to cover Thurston’s options out wide.
But they failed to pick up the Queensland five-eighth, and he snuck through attempted tackles from James Tamou and Robbie Farah to virtually crawl over the tryline.
Video referee Bernard Sutton was called upon to rule on a possible obstruction but he could find none and when Thurston converted from directly in front it was 6-0 after 10 minutes.
Two mintues later Maloney was penalised for a shoulder charge on Cooper Cronk as he kicked, and Thurston converted a straight-forward penalty to make it 8-0 in the 13th minute.
New South Wales responded well from the early setback and through a number of penalties set up field position deep inside the Queensland half, only to see a number of opportunities slip through errant handling.
But the momentum had shifted and when the home side were awarded successive penalties inside the Queensland 10m line they were able to cross through James McManus, who showed strength to power over and put the ball down in the corner.
Maloney couldn’t convert from just inside the right-hand touchline, and Queensland’s lead had been cut to 8-4 after 28 minutes.
The Blues had started sluggishly but by the half-hour mark were well and truly on top, and finished the half having 17 of the last 25 sets of six.
With five minutes left in the half New South Wales thought they’d brought scores level when Josh Morris put the ball down after Darius Boyd appeared to have fumbled a Robbie Farah grubber-kick.
Referee Shayne Hayne referred the try to the video referee and Sutton correctly ruled that Boyd had forced downward pressure on the ball and disallowed the try.
More sloppy handling ended New South Wales’ last attack of the half, again deep inside Queensland territory off a penalty – part of a 6-2 first-half penalty count in the Blues favour – and the Maroons took an 8-4 lead into half-time.
New South Wales continued to stretch the Queensland defence early in the second half with Michael Jennings going close in the 50th minute, prevented only by dogged Maroons defence, this time in the form of Justin Hodges.
It was classic, unrelenting, end-to-end Origin football with both teams having half-chances by spreading the ball out, only to see opposition defences quickly scramble and shut down the break.
But when Greg Bird was penalised on the back of a Michael Jennings turnover in the 60th minute, Queensland showed the class that has won seven successive series, with Cooper Cronk laying on a short pass that allowed Justin Hodges to crash over from close range.
Thurston couldn’t add the extra two with his conversion attempt, but Queensland went into the final 20 minutes of the contest with a 12-4 lead, a considerable margin in the context of what had been a tight Origin decider.
New South Wales were able to wrest back some sort of momentum through their forwards, but with the Blues’ halves combination of Pearce and Maloney lacking in creativity close to the tryline, it seemed Queensland would hold their eight-point lead.
That was until the 71st minute, when the Blues were awarded six again from a charged-down Pearce kick, and after initially going out wide New South Wales straightened up and Trent Merrin drove through the Queensland defence to dive in under the posts.
Maloney booted the conversion from in front and Queensland held a slender 12-10 lead with just under ten minutes remaining of Origin III.
Queensland appeared to have sealed the game in the 78th minute when Matt Scott crossed just right of the posts, but the try was disallowed in the most bizarre of circumstances.
A streaker had run onto the ground only metres out from the New South Wales tryline, and lay prone on the ground as Scott scored, and the video referee Sutton confirmed the no try and ruled a Queensland scrum.
New South Wales had one final hail-mary attempt with a turnover inside their own 20m line with 45 seconds remaining, but Farah’s kick to McManus on the right wing couldn’t be re-gathered, spilling over the sideline and sparking Queensland celebrations.
One final scrum was packed before the siren sounded, the 12-10 final score condemning New South Wales to eight straight series losses and leaving the Maroons to claim a record eighth consecutive series.
[roar_cat_gal]
Shorty Howard
Guest
I have read all most all of the comments posts on this site and commend the writers for the common sence they used ,surprised no garbage. Thank you!the biggest problem NSW face over the next few years will be mediaToo many involved in NSW Origin team selection, training,coaching,fitness,medical,managing,media etcetcetcetc. Untill these people don't want their NAME in lights every day they see their name photo etc in the media they think I must be good. The media control through inference, insistence, and pure badgering of all involved. This just has to STOP! I haven't even got to the players yet
Renegade
Guest
Yep, and that basically means Cronulla has no case to answer.
jett michaels
Guest
Get rid of Pearce , fine.But getting rid of the BUFFOONS who make the selections would be a better remedy.
jett michaels
Guest
Laurie and Bob fulton would share MOM honours for mine.
Richard N
Guest
The refereeing was again pathetic as was the channel nine commentary. Gus Gould kept bleating on about how Qld were down and out after the Blues received 4 penalties on the trot, and surprise surprise they mounted some red zone attack. Then they only managed a try after that ridiculous Bird penalty. The NSW players were given just as long as they wanted to lie on the tackled player.Fifita was flopping continuously without a hint of reprimand.Then Gillet held a Blue down for 2 seconds and of course an immediate penalty. Well done Maroons . Well done Qld supporters on ground.. Great Queenslaner chant from you guys.
Marldon
Guest
+1
Hoy
Roar Guru
I heard yesterday the AFL team is going to be let off...
Joel
Guest
Don't know anything about the rules of the game? Ok, so I might have been foggy on one particular rule, but I still know enough to know you're an arrogant pig
Big Ben
Guest
One could be excused from drawing comparison between the Blues and GWS no? 8 years without a win. Perhaps the Blues could be relocated to Canberra?
Joel
Guest
Well I didn't feel the need to mention the missed dangerous throws in the first half, but if you're going to be a sore winner...
nopuritan
Guest
I agree, Gallen is gone. And i suspect Bird also. It appeared that last night Daley worked one thing out, The biff gets you nowhere in SOO. I thought NSW were a lot more focused without Gallen. More focused on football rather than an imagined psychological battle for alpha male bragging rights. While I admire Bird, he's an honest toiler, tough and talented..the agro he brought to the game, lessened his ability to utilise his attacking skills and to me, he seemed like a bit of an irrelevant dinosaur. NSW were at their most threatening when they were most clinical. Although not usually a fan, I thought Watmough was one of the best with his no nonsense professionalism. NSW are their own worst enemy. When the team gets the rubbish out of their game they will genuinely compete and quite likely win their fair share. When the administrators of RLend the real an perceived bias for NSW, (sus penalties, venue changes etc) they will have stopped throwing fuel on Qld's fire. NSW had some good players last night. Dugan earned his stripes for next year, but there are some real redundant players running out for NSW. As for Qld. to borrow from Gus....WOW!
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
You mean solid pro-NSW refereeing, don't you? Some of those alleged strips must have been done by the invisible man.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
You mean solid pro-NSW refereeing, don't you? Some of those alleged strips must have been done by the invisible man.
V.O.R.
Guest
"Yer hi hotline...I have had this Pearce-ing head ache for the last 6 years and it just won't go away" Sorry guys...had to ;)
Maroon Blood
Guest
Wrong! Know what you are talking about before posting next time. Downward pressure is the same for either scoring a try or grounding a ball. I thought this sight was for ACTUAL League fans who knew something about the game?
Maroon Blood
Guest
You seriously have no idea-ski
Maroon Blood
Guest
+1 NSW were far more dangerous with Fifita on the park.
Selector
Guest
Doug Graves, wow... Where to start, well lets start with the first few minutes when Pearce dropped the ball cold. Or lets look at the missed kick to himself when he had 3 unmarked men outside him and back peddling. Or the bullet pass from 4 foot that smashed into Dugan's shoulder and went 25 metres backwards. Or the constant stepping of his right foot into traffic on the QLD line when a pass would created at least a man on man. Or the inability to put a decent kick in. Or the fact that he is the one who must communicate and direct our attack. Or that he lacks any type of vision. Or the fact that he has now won 3 from 12 starts as the NSW halfback THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION! Doug, look in the mirror and promise everyone you will follow the AFL from now on.
AdamS
Roar Guru
Breaking News: a hotline has been set up to help Blues fans cope in this troubling time. Just call 1300 80 80 80. That's 1300 eight nothing, eight nothing, eight nothing...
Calum
Guest
Absolutely. So clear watching it live that blues forwards had the edge up front, especially during the middle 40 minutes where fifita and whatmough were really getting on the front foot. All about the exectution and end product down on the qld line unfortunately.