Queensland have recovered from a 10-0 half time deficit, putting three unanswered tries in the second half past New South Wales to claim a thrilling 18-14 win in the first game of the 2020 State of Origin series.
Things couldn’t have started any worse for the Blues, with Damien Cook knocking on the opening kick-off to give Queensland prime field position early.
But the Blues were able to defend their line stoutly and quickly go up the other way. Josh Addo-Carr threatened the line first, but was forced into touch on his diving effort to the corner.
The entertaining start continued with Queensland breaking down the right wing and, although Cook was able to defuse Xavier Coates’ kick, he ran into the ingoal to evade tacklers and was brought down, giving the Maroons the ball back in their attacking half.
The Maroons looked odds-on to nab the first points of the half, but Daly Cherry-Evans missed a fairly simple penalty kick to keep scores level early. But despite entering the match as massive outsiders, it was Queensland who looked the better early. They had two thirds of the possession at the 15-minute mark of the game and had threatened the Blues line often.
The first try eventually came in the 15th minute, with first-half villain Cook catching a ricocheted rebound off his own fifth-tackle kick to cross. Despite looking jittery in the early goings, the Blues soon found rhythm and were over the line again when Addo-Carr crossed in the corner to make it 10-0.
From there, the Blues established a foothold in the Queensland half of the ground and would have had a third through Daniel Tupou if not for a great tackle at the death by Dane Gagai.
But some strong Maroons defending saw the ‘visitors’ forced to settle for a 10-0 lead heading into the sheds.
After a tepid beginning to the second half, it was the underdogs who got on the board first. Kurt Capewell brushed Clint Gutherson aside a bit too easily on the left wing, breaking free and then sending an excellent kick to the advantage of AJ Brimson. The fullback pounced and finished off a one-handed put-down to get the Maroons back into it.
The Maroons took the lead soon after, with Origin specialist Dane Gagai getting around Jack Wighton before going on a barnstorming run – eventually passing to Xavier Coates, who crossed in the corner.
Absolutely brilliant field kicking was the difference in the second half, with Cameron Munster sending the ball to all the right spots by boot for the Maroons. The Blues, by comparison, struggled to kick the ball into dangerous areas and looked completely flat with the ball in hand.
Kurt Capewell intercepted an errant NSW pass close to the 40m line and would’ve been off to the races, if not for a desperate ankle tap. Things continued to unravel for New South Wales from there too. Despite Daniel Saifiti intercepting an errant Dane Gagai pass in defensive territory, the Blues gave it back through a bad offload attempt by Tupou. Munster toed the ball clear of the scrambling defenders before narrowly evading the clutches of Cook to put the Maroons further ahead.
The Blues finally came to life in the 72nd minute when Addo-Carr was released down the right wing, but he knocked on attempting to chase his own kick and then insisted his side challenge the call – which proved fruitless.
But the match wasn’t quite done yet. New South Wales got their first set of six starting inside Queensland territory for the half and they took full advantage. Cody Walker released his teammates down the right wing – sucking in Phillip Sami – before Addo-Carr finished it off with his second try just inside the corner.
They tried to do too much on the next set, however, with Walker throwing an unnecessary offload to the Addo-Carr close to the touchline after they’d made good ground and the Maroons defence forcing him over.
A forward pass deep in attack from Queensland gifted the Blues another set – and they were gifted another inside Maroons territory after an apparent missed pass was deemed to have come off a defender’s hand.
Their last set fell short, however, but not without controversy. James Tedesco was covered by several Maroons players on the last tackle of the game, with referee Gerard Sutton very quick to blow the full time whistle on the play-the-ball.
Queensland Maroons – 18
NSW Blues – 14
Tries
Maroons: Brimson 51′, Coates 56′, Munster 67′
Blues: Cook 15′, Addo-Carr 22′, 76′
Goals
Maroons: Cherry-Evans 3/4, 51′, 56′, 67′
Blues: Cleary 1/3, 16′
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Say what you like about Phil Gould, but just before half time he stated "Wayne Bennett cannot wait to get those players into the dressing sheds, he knows exactly what they are doing wrong and you will see an entirely different team after half time" Both Bennett and Bellamy are genius at turning around teams at half time and Freddy has been around in the game for long enough to have seen it time & time again. Qld won because they shut down our ball players and it was not rocket science.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Let's just hope they can keep the tradition alive for two more weeks
Plastered Plasterer
Guest
“more crooked than trump in a Russian brothel” You really need to get out of the ABC echo chamber pal. IT NEVER HAPPENED.
Graham White
Guest
ah cheers I guess sami gets replaced for holmes then?
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
I don’t know why any NRL Club bothers signing Gagai. Better to have the QRL just pay his wage and then wheel him out at Origin time, LOL.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
It always looked like NSW had the linebreak covered but Gaigai bamboozled them. And then he executed as well. He played like you know a centre . Brilliant,
a watcher
Guest
That was Sami who conceded the tries to JAC - Coates was very solid and was on Tupou's wing.
JGK
Roar Guru
Dragons are doing the same for Hunt.
matth
Roar Guru
It was a beauty wasn’t it.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Queensland's defense was outstanding in the second half. They pinned the Blues in their half and chased and hit hard. They won the collision battles especially their middle forwards. The bench forward continued the middle dominance. The bench of Arrow, Collins, Sua and Hunt I thought gave the Maroons momentum. If any changes are made to the team I think it will be Sami and Hess.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Souths have just applied to the NRL for permission for Gagai to pay next season in his Maroon Jersey :laughing:
Hopeless Knights
Roar Rookie
Does Val Holmes start next game on the wing? Will Cody Walker play 6? Sua has to start he was massive when he came on. If you’re picking an all time QLD side over the last 40 years surely Gagai would have to get a start on the sting
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Agree Cody a definite start for the next game, Gutho unfortunately playing out of position, however I thought at Full Back he probably would have done a better job than Tedesco tonight.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
When you have a side coached and mentored by Bennett and Meninga, and inform and experienced players like DCE, Papalii and Gagai leading the younger lads (Jai Arrow, Big Tino, AJ Brimson, SuA), you can see why NSW was always going to have to fight for the win. The NSW team apart from Cook, Frizzell and Addo Carr were not up to it tonight. Put Walker on (he's in form) and take off Keary for a start.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Origin Gagai is just about a top 5 player. Under Bennett club Gagai has been looking pretty tidy as well.
Big Daddy
Guest
One underlying feature is never underestimate a Qld side when Bennett and Meninga are involved.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Wighton and Cleary looked well short of form and the QLD centres were all over their opponents. DCE looked pretty ordinary early on but gathered steam later on. Munster was great. As a Manly fan I kept a close eye on Jurbo and thought he had an excellent game. His defence was clinical. A well deserved victory.
V.O.R.
Guest
Line of the series sir. The maroon mythology is worth a try or two ;)
Dunning Kruger
Roar Rookie
Well done Bennett. Back to the drawing board for Freddy.
Graham white
Guest
The first half was a lower quality than the grand final. I was particularly worried watching Queensland’s inside men, their line was more crooked than trump in a Russian brothel And the line speed was par nrl level. A gifted half would have switched the point of attack regularly but they didn’t. By the second half the line was straight, the hits were big and the line speed was quick. Queensland positives: 1. their bench forwards seem to change the game for me. We started winning the forward battle. Some good game management meant taking advantage of their forward dominance in the second half 2. Queensland has now a good scramble defence on the back of quick wingers and an organized brimson. Not sure where pongs fits into this team given brimsons defensive qualities 3. The kicking game of Queensland halves. Brilliant in rewarding their forwards in the second half. It was decisive in the end 4. Queensland’s backline. Good decision making and some decisive plays NSW positives (why not) 1. Their scramble defence is the best I’ve seen since 1995 maroons. How many line breaks end up getting contained over the last three years. Addo Carr and tedescos combination in defence is one of the great positives. Queensland seemed to have a game plan to convert their line breaks to tries 2. Cook as usual terrorized Queensland’s ruck 3. NSW goal line defence. Very organized and they make it much more difficult to score Queensland negatives: 1. Queensland’s line defence has looked like it has had a soft belly for years. Coates in particular conceded two tries. If Coates can just lift their to match his scramble defence it could make a real difference 2. Queensland’s defensive line in the first half. Shades of 2005 decider there. Lacked organization and intensity NSW negatives 1. Halves? What halves 2. They need to lift in the forwards 3. Players in the backline out of position proved decisive