BLUES WIN THRILLER
The New South Wales Blues have driven a stake through Queensland hearts to win back-to-back State of Origin titles for the first time since 2005 with an epic 26-20 victory at ANZ Stadium last night.
With the scores locked at 8-all at half-time, the Blues took a 20-8 lead before a typical Maroons two-try comeback levelled the scores at 20-all with just over three minutes to play.
In a gripping finale, Blues fullback James Tedesco took the final pass from a touchline, tiptoeing Blake Ferguson to score the series-winning try with just 20 seconds remaining.
THIS was agony. Then it was ecstasy. Finally, it was bloody heartbreak.
Queensland last night crashed to their second consecutive series defeat in the most devastating fashion after NSW bogyman James Tedesco produced a moment of magic to crush the Maroons 26-20 at ANZ Stadium.
In the greatest decider in Origin history, Tedesco touched down with 32 seconds remaining to steal victory just as the braveheart Maroons looked set to conjure another Queensland miracle.
It meant sweet redemption for NSW whipping boy Mitchell Pearce, who finally cast aside his demons in Origin.
The Maroons looked gone at 20-8 with eight minutes remaining before tries to Josh McGuire (72nd) and Josh Papalii (77th) sensationally catapulted Queensland back into the contest and set up Origin’s first-ever golden-point game.
But with the Blues under siege, NSW penned one final magical chapter, with Blake Ferguson charging down the touchline before finding Tedesco, who crossed in the corner as 82,565 fans went berserk at Homebush.
It’s official. NSW now owns State of Origin.
Queensland’s glorious, decade-long dynasty is now a distant memory after two-try hero Tedesco danced all night to consign Kevin Walters’ Maroons to back-to-back series defeats.
Not since 2005, when the Blues won three straight series, have NSW dominated the code’s toughest arena and now the heat is on Queensland, and Walters, to find some answers for a recovery mission in 2020.
Walters’ future as Queensland coach will come under the microscope after two wins and two losses from four campaigns, but if he does walk away before next year, he can be proud of his class of 2019.
In the quintessential Origin thriller, Walters watched his side go from brilliant to bumbling as their hopes of reclaiming the shield were torched by Blues speed demons Tedesco and Damien Cook.
Queensland were heroic in the first half, producing a 100 per cent completion rate, but they imploded after the break as an 8-all halftime deadlock turned into a second half when they were under siege.
QUEENSLAND’S GLORIOUS, DECADE-LONG DYNASTY IS NOW A DISTANT MEMORY
Superb solo tries to Tedesco (51st minute) and Cook (60th minute) shot NSW to a 20-8 lead, forcing Queensland to dig deep to keep the series alive.
Ultimately, they failed, but the Maroons found a number of heroes in defeat.
Fullback Cameron Munster was dangerous, front-rower Papalii had the best game of his Origin career and backrower Ethan Lowe was outstanding on debut, landing a pressure conversion to level scores at 20-all.
After Queensland’s midfield mauling in Game Two, the Maroons’ tactical methodology in the decider was always going to be brutally basic.
Play the percentages, muscle up in midfield and attack with defensive line speed.
Queensland’s opening quarters in this series have been insipid.
This time, they were energetic from the opening minutes.
In a first half marred by the referees – who blew a staggering 12 penalties – the Maroons were offensively flawless, completing a perfect 19 from 19 sets to keep the pressure on the Blues.
But NSW’s bevy of gamebreakers make them a threat from any distance.
The evidence came six minutes before halftime when fullback Tedesco raced 60m, laying the platform for Paul Vaughan to crash over and send the fierce foes to the sheds locked at 8-all. Halftime saved NSW. The second half became a Blues blitzkrieg.