The New South Wales Blues have forced a State of Origin decider, dominating the Queensland Maroons to the tune of 38-6 on a wet night in Perth.
In front of 59,721 fans at Optus Stadium, the Blues put in their best performance in the Origin arena for many years, never giving Queensland a chance.
They had a tremendous start to the game, outplaying the Maroons in a frenetic first half. Brad Fittler’s men opened the scoring through Tom Trbojevic when the new centre soared over Kalyn Ponga to latch onto a James Maloney bomb.
Maloney well and truly justified his selection on his Origin return. After the Maroons got their first points through a penalty try when Jack Wighton blocked Will Chambers as the Queensland centre tried to latch onto a Daly Cherry-Evans grubber, Maloney started to dominate for the Blues.
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First, he put Tyson Frizell away as the St George forward crashed over to put NSW back in front, and followed it up with a 40-20 the next set as heavy rain hit the Optus Stadium deck for the first time.
But the highlight of the first 40 minutes was a superb break down the left by James Tedesco. After standing up a number of Queensland defenders and surging into the backfield, the fullback offloaded for Trbojevic to race away for his second of the night and extend the lead to 18-6.
That scoreline lasted until half-time, but was pushed out further when the Blues were handed two penalties in the first ten minutes of the second half.
And despite losing Nathan Cleary to injury, forcing Wade Graham to five-eighth and Maloney into halfback, it got even better for New South Wales soon after. Josh Addo-Carr tore away down the left wing, and, in spite of the torrential conditions, offloaded for Tedesco.
In a piece of skill even better than his first assist, the fullback drew opposite number Kalyn Ponga a slipped a flick-pass to Trbojevic to put him away for his hat-trick – the first New South Welshman to score three tries in the one Origin match since Matt King in 2005.
When Addo-Carr scored a try of his own just minutes later off a neat grubber from Graham, the game was all over with more than 20 minutes to play. Much like with Trbojevic’s hat-trick, it was the first time since the decider of that 2005 series that New South Wales passed 30 in a single Origin.
Queensland did enjoy some better field position towards the end of the match on the back of a number of penalties – which some of the more cynical fans may argue were square-ups after the Blues enjoyed a number earlier in the half – but were unable to add any respectability to the scoreline.
Instead, it was New South Wales who scored again, Addo-Carr grabbing his second to put the icing on an outstanding performance from the Blues.
The result is a clear vindication of Fittler’s controversial changes to his side for Game 2. The new inclusions to the side were all outstanding, particularly Maloney, Trbojevic, Graham and Dale Finucane, and the defence which looked so leaky in Brisbane was watertight in Perth.
The Origin 3 decider will be played at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on July 10.
Bonza
Roar Rookie
Tommy T was always going to be a great inclusion, even at prop but Graham and Finucane were savvy selections. Maloney was the player Qld hoped we didn't pick because they know what he can do in big games. Helped Sharks beat Storm in 2016 GF and huge in last year's Origin. They don't like him. Full trust in Freddie and his ability to keep them grounded and then get them up for Game 3.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Spot on ! Jake did all the tough stuff up the guts that laid the platform for the backs to run riot later on . 19 hit ups/ 158 m / 30 tackles in the tough part of the contest rightfully earned him MOM.
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
Yes, tell it to them TB. I have to say qld are terrible losers. So they are poised to take out the series, get outplayed emphatically and all of a sudden - it's pearl harbor again! 3ff bombs are dropped all over national tv. Just goes to show playing good rugby league against them will bring the worst out of them
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Was enjoying a chat up with old mates during the game and didn't watch it as closely as I usually do, but there seemed to be a few flops by Qld players onto NSW players as they were in a sitting position on the ground. Borderline crusher tackles on first glance. The game looked spiteful and both coaches may get a quiet word from the Refs boss during the week. Qld can't make excuses. They were ambushed and outplayed. Qld had no plan B to fall back on. Bring on game 3.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Meat n potatoes are forward passes, 10m rule, ruck MARKERS so the only point I’m agree with and have stated is we did get belted, oh and the extra 5mins in first half oh dear how amateur
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
The refs were not so terrible as you'd love to proclaim, they were OK. qld on the other hand wasn't - that's the meat and potatoes of it. They were bashed; outplayed and outwitted. They were only allowed to play as well as NSW let them, they tried to play well but they were just beaten cold turkey in all aspects. They'll need to accept this and move forward in order to give themselves a sniff in Sydney. And get that coach whisperer back in there to replace the memories of the horrors of last night with positive ones
matth
Roar Guru
Absolutely, made no difference. As I said up front. You can use any word you like: shellacking seems fairly appropriate. NSW were way way too good tonight. Their game management is just annoying, because they choose which out of those 15 penalties you saw and the 15 I saw against NSW which to award and which to let go in the name of game management. You don’t think 5 penalties in a row to kick off the second half had any affect on the result at all? Immediately made it a 14 point game? Took what little gas QLD had left? Ensured the possession stayed at 60/40 until the result was beyond doubt?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Honestly. 38-6 and there’s people here getting salty about the refs. To be honest there could have been another 15 penalties to NSW in the second half. Every tackle DCE and Chambers make and half of Gillett’s involve holding down or a second effort. Queensland were comprehensively outplayed across the park. Had nothing to do with the refs,
Tyler
Roar Rookie
Jake got it right? I can agree with that. 74 minuets in the middle, not only that but a lot of ball playing and super solid in defence. I’m always happy to see a forward get it, Tom was amazing but also was on the end of the teams great work, lead by his brother in the middle
Short Memory
Guest
Nonsense. Qld still got away with a lot more rubbish in the ruck than NSW.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
NSW came prepared and out played a very conservative QLD in the wet. NSW's ball skills in those conditions were outstanding and Teddy's flick pass to Turbo for the last try (I think) was good at the best of times and brilliant in the wet. There was plenty of improvements available for both teams after game 1 and it looks like NSW took advantage of it. I heard a guy in the place where we were watching say that it looked like the jerseys went to the wrong dressing sheds before the game. NSW played like QLD in the dry. Har to dispute it. Well done NSW. On to Sydney.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
There was no rhyme or reason to the holding down penalties. The worst examples were let go and some others which were of a normal duration were penalised. Munster always has a real crack. I'm a huge fan of Ponga but Turbo backs up much better and Ponga needs to follow the ball a lot more than he did tonight. Who better to back someone up and finish off a try?
Robbie
Guest
Please explain how TOM was not man of the match??
Insider
Roar Rookie
Your raps on Munster are over the top, every Qlder was poor tonight, we had an opportunity at 12/6 to shift the ball coming off our line and Ponga didn’t, NSW played dry weather in the rain , Qld played conservative and looked like they just weren’t interested, the cynic in me expected this result it’s what the NRL need, who would go to Sydney to watch a nothing game,
Insider
Roar Rookie
line speed or was it a case of not retreating the 10m, I agree with the refs poor showing, it’s not so much the penalty but where it’s given, I don’t believe Qlds discipline was that bad, the refs don’t realise how influential they are, take NZ game on weekend 80mins of football and they only received 1 penalty??? 1 no way is Tonga that disciplined impossible, yet they got away with it
Bonza
Roar Rookie
Teddy and Turbo. Yes please. All those doubters hang your heads... We have a serious team.
matth
Roar Guru
Now that I’m done with the refs let’s talk about the game. Finucane’s first stint was very very good. Surely NSW will never drop Maloney again. His organization and confidence makes NSW a different team. Obvious tactic to kick down the middle to Ponga and keep the QLD wingers out of the game and it worked a treat. Ponga is very good but kick return meters are not his forte. And they got to bash him and reduce his impact. QLD’s forwards were flat. They missed their forward outs more than NSW. Cordner ran very strongly tonight. Cleary’s absence was not noticeable. Munster looked like a one man band tonight. Hunt has tackled his heart out, but because he’s not a natural dummy half he hurts the forward momentum.
Roar GOAT
Roar Rookie
The reffing left a lot to be desired but it didn’t cost the Queenslanders the game. Class performances by teddy turbo and cooky. Cameron Smith needs to be our saviour.
matth
Roar Guru
That was a frightful beating. Here’s a question. Rather than a penalty try would Queensland have been better served by NSW being a man short for 10, possibly tiring them out? Even up penalties annoy me. Why bother blowing a first inside the 10 against NSW with 10 to go? Just because the earpiece says even it up? Why blow one inside the 10 for the entire first half and then find one 3 minutes after half time right in front of the sticks to kill what little there was left in the contest?
Emcie
Roar Guru
It only looked empty cos the lights were out