After a sensational, but ultimately fruitless, New South
Wales fightback three weeks ago, the third and deciding game promised to
deliver the highest of quality rugby league as both sides fought for the coveted
series victory.
With home advantage, the Blues were favourites for the win
and handicapped by eight points on the coupon but it all came down to eighty
minutes and thirty-four players for who would emerge victorious.
New South Wales were unchanged from the second game while
Gehamat Shibasaki and Josh Papalii were drafted in for Queensland in place of
Ponga and Fotuaika in front of a full house at the Accor Stadium in Sydney.
From the opening exchanges it was clear that both coaches
had sent their sides out with the word ‘attack’ ringing in their ears. There
was no restraint, both sides were going for it from the first whistle.
On seven minutes the Maroons elected to get the scoreboard
moving when a high tackle gave them a penalty thirty metres out, Valentine
Holmes finding the centre of the sticks.
Electing to tap a sixteenth minute penalty, ten from the
Blues line, Queensland move the ball to the left and a sidestep from Shibasaki
confused the NSW defence, Xavier Coates diving over in the corner. Holmes added
the touchline conversion, the perfect start for the Maroons.
The second Queensland try came io twenty-six, Hamiso
Tabuai-Fidow breaking down the right wing to thirty out and passing inside to Tom
Deardon to run the last thirty and dive in unopposed. Holmes was on target
again for 14-0, it was reminiscent of the first half of Origin 2, the Maroons
dominant.
As New South Wales tried for force the game in the search
for points, the errors started to creep in.
Two minutes from the interval Queensland completed their
first half dominance with a third try, Harry Grant scooting from dummy half, pushing
three defenders out of the way and bouncing of the post pad to spin over and
score. Holmes kicked a fourth goal of the half for 20-0.
Incredible Queensland defence held the Blues up on the line
twice on forty-seven before they regained possession.
A quarter of an hour after the restart New South Wales
opened their account after they had spent ten minutes camped in the Queensland
red zone. Fast hands from left to right ended with Stephen Crichton going over
on the overlap to ground one-handed in the corner. Zac Lomax added the
touchline goal for 6-20.
It was a start, but the Blues still needed three scores.
Hopes were finally crushed on seventy-three when Dearden
dummied the pass ad dropped the shoulder to go in from ten metres out for his
second of the game, and to secure the series win. Holmes failed to add the conversion
but there was simply not enough time for the Blues to fight back.
A Brian To’o try inside the last seconds, collecting a grubber
to the corner and dotting down but with no celebration. Lomax added the
conversion as the finals hooter sounded the Queensland win.
Queensland take the series win after being well beaten in
game one and hanging on to thwart a terrific fightback in game two. The shield
is back in the Maroons hands after a brilliant game three performance which was
close to being flawless. Queensland now have twenty-five wins in forty-four
series, against all the pre-game odds.
New South Wales: Edwards, To’o (T), Crichton S (T),
Mitchell, Lomax (G 2/2), Luai, Cleary, King, Robson, Haas, Martin, Crichton A,
Yeo. Subs: Watson, Leniu, Young,
Utoikamanu. 18th Man: Kiraz.
Queensland: Tabuai-Fidow, Coates (T), Toia, Shibasaki, Holmes
(G 4/5), Munster, Dearden (2T), Papalii, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Cotter (T),
Capewell, Loiero. Subs: Mann, Collins, Nanai, Carrigan. 18th Man: Walsh.
Half-Time: 0-20.
Full-Time: 12-24.
Score Progression: 0-2, 0-6, 0-8, 0-12, 0-14, 0-18, 0-20 :
HT: 4-20, 6-20, 6-24, 10-24, 12-24 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: QLD.
Referee: Ashley Klein.
Attendance: .
