MAROONS SUFFER BIG HIT AS BL UES TAKE THE SERIES
NEW DAWN FOR BLUES AS MAROONS FALTER
HARD GOING: Dane Gagai of the Maroons grabs the ball from a high kick in a tackle from Josh Addo- Carr of the Blues during Game 2 of the 2018 State of Origin series in Sydney last night. NSW beat Queensland 18- 14 in a stunning game, brimming with drama and intensity.
THE greatest Origin dynasty we have seen in 38 years is over.
Queensland’s remarkable, record- breaking reign came crashing down as a penalty- try drama catapulted NSW to a seriesclinching 18- 14 victory in an Origin heartstopper at ANZ Stadium last night.
Not even the class of champion Billy Slater and the magic of debutant Kalyn Ponga could save Queensland from the heartbreak of a defeat that officially delivered the bullet to the Maroons’ ruthless era of dominance.
Queensland had won 11 of the past 12 Origin series, but rookie NSW coach Brad Fittler has orchestrated a southern riposte that leaves the Maroons in danger of a 3- 0 Bluewash for the first time in 18 years.
It was an incredibly brave effort from the Maroons, who bolted to an early 10- 0 lead and came storming home when Will Chambers crossed to whittle the deficit to 18- 14 in the 63rd minute.
But the Baby Blues hung on before 82,223 fans to clinch just their second series win in 13 years and set up the prospect of a clean sweep in Origin III at Suncorp Stadium on July 11.
In the end, this Origin epic was decided as it always seemingly is by another moment of melodrama.
It came in the 32nd minute when NSW skipper Boyd Cordner was awarded just the second penalty try in Origin history after being taken out by Maroons halfback Ben Hunt as he chased a James Maloney grubber.
The call could have gone either way, but the Blues got a slice of luck to lead 12- 10 at half- time, triggering a momentum shift that ultimately broke Queensland’s spirit.
THE greatest Origin dynasty we have seen in 38 years is over.
Queensland’s remarkable, recordbreaking reign came crashing down as a penalty- try drama catapulted NSW to a series- clinching 18- 14 victory in an Origin heart- stopper at ANZ Stadium last night.
Not even the class of champion Billy Slater and the magic of debutant Kalyn Ponga could save Queensland from the heartbreak of a defeat that officially delivered the bullet to the Maroons’ ruthless era of dominance.
Queensland had won 11 of the past 12 Origin series, but rookie NSW coach Brad Fittler has orchestrated a southern riposte that leaves the Maroons in danger of a 3- 0 Bluewash for the first time in 18 years.
It was an incredibly brave effort from the Maroons, who bolted to an early 10- 0 lead and came storming home when Will Chambers crossed to whittle the deficit to 18- 14 in the 63rd minute.
But the Baby Blues hung on in front of 82,223 fans to clinch just their second series win in 13 years and set up the prospect of a clean sweep in Origin III at Suncorp Stadium on July 11.
In the end, this Origin epic was decided as it always seemingly is – by another moment of melodrama.
It came in the 32nd minute when NSW skipper Boyd Cordner was awarded just the second penalty try in Origin history after being taken out by Maroons halfback Ben Hunt as he chased a James Maloney grubber.
The call could have gone either way, but the Blues got a slice of luck to lead 12- 10 at halftime, triggering a momentum shift that ultimately broke Queensland’s spirit.
Once again, the Maroons were beaten in midfield – not one Queensland forward made 100m – but halfback Hunt should also accept some responsibility after a dismal performance.
Aside from taking out Cordner, Hunt lacked composure under pressure and his kicking game was insipid, amplifying the heat on a Queensland defence that ultimately cracked.
Amid the high- octane theatre, Maroons debutant Ponga was superb, playing 55 minutes and almost snatching victory when he sliced through at 18- 14 in the 69th minute, only to be grounded a metre short of the tryline by James Tedesco. Unbelievable. Fighting to save their famous dynasty, there was something different about Queensland last night. They had found a spark. An X- factor. His name was Billy Slater. Back in the No. 1 jumper after missing the series opener with a hamstring injury, Slater’s 30th game saw him officially qualify as a Queensland Statesman, but he played more like a talisman.
Like a grand master clinically plotting his next move a step ahead of the opposition, Slater was sublime. His opening 20 minutes was as dominant as any period of his Origin career as he teased and tormented the Blues, setting the tone for a Maroons side buoyed by his energy.
Slater’s omnipresence started on the left edge in the 13th minute when he ghosted into the play, his speed so lethal it sucked in NSW centre James Roberts, allowing Greg Inglis to put Valentine Holmes over.
Then Slater popped up on the right, with his 20th- minute incursion creating space for Will Chambers and Dane Gagai, who showed superb balance to kick out of a Josh AddoCarr tackle and cross for a 10- 0 lead.
This was precisely the start Queensland needed. Past NSW teams would have capitulated completely, but if new coach Fittler has taught his squad anything, it is how to stay calm under pressure.
At the MCG, the Blues rocked Queensland with two tries in a threeminute window. This time, a sevenminute blitz stunned the Maroons.
When James Maloney put AddoCarr over in the 25th minute with a risky long ball, the Maroons still looked comfortable at 10- 6, but one of the biggest calls in Origin history, awarding Cordner a penalty try, turned the contest on its head.
It was a brave call, and certainly contentious, but ultimately the right one. Cordner was charging through and no Maroon would have won the race to the ball.
While Slater was magnificent, his one- man onslaught was eventually overpowered by a NSW team that gradually, and ominously, began to find its groove.
Maroons skipper Greg Inglis was again brutal, running for 188m and setting the platform for the moment when Ponga streaked away.
But Ponga’s near miss summed up Queensland’s night. So brave, so committed, so close ... yet still an inch too far away.
A wonderful dynasty is over.