MAROONS WIN ON THE VAL
QLD SEND SLA TER OUT AS A WINNER
COURAGEOUS Queensland last night summoned every fibre of spirit to deny NSW a clean sweep and send retiring fullback Billy Slater out a winner in the Maroons’ pulsating 18- 12 victory at Suncorp Stadium.
Before 51,214 fans, the desperate Maroons overcame intermittent rain, the disappointment of a series loss and a furious NSW riposte to stave off the embarrassment of a 3- 0 Bluerinse.
It was a deserved triumph for the Maroons, with recalled halfback Daly Cherry- Evans superb as Townsville’s Valentine Holmes produced a double to bury the Blues in another Origin thriller.
BYE BYE Billy. This is the glorious script you deserved.
Courageous Queensland last night summoned every fibre of spirit to deny NSW a clean sweep and send retiring fullback Billy Slater out a winner in the Maroons’ pulsating 18- 12 win at Suncorp Stadium.
Before 51,214 fans, the desperate Maroons overcame intermittent rain, the disappointment of a series loss and a furious NSW riposte to stave off the embarrassment of a 3- 0 Blue- rinse.
It was a deserved triumph for the Maroons, with recalled halfback Daly Cherry- Evans superb as flying winger Valentine Holmes produced a double to bury the Blues in another Origin thriller.
Fittingly, it was an emotional ending for Slater, the champion custodian who finished with man- of- the- match honours as he equalled Wally ‘ The King’ Lewis with his 31st and final match for the Maroons.
Built on a graveyard, the ghosts of Lang Park have looked after Queensland’s greatest servants with Darren Lockyer, Justin Hodges and Petero Civoniceva all enjoying successful finales at this ground.
This time, Slater got his dream send- off but it wasn’t always guaranteed, with NSW overcoming a superb Queensland first half to steal a shock 12- 8 lead at halftime.
But with the Maroons on their knees, they summoned their special spirit, with tries to Holmes ( 52nd minute) and Cherry- Evans ( 58th) driving the dagger into the Blues as Queensland clawed back respectability.
While Cherry- Evans proved he is Origin class, centre Dane Gagai was also magnificent, amassing 183m and four tackle busts as Greg Inglis’ replacement.
The first half was one of the most brutal and baffling in Origin’s 38- year history.
It was totally mystifying that a 40- minute opening stanza that should have buoyed Queensland’s self- belief, but ultimately, and almost imperceptibly, rocked their spirit.
That the Blues went to the sheds leading 12- 8 – after being under siege for 32 minutes – was testament to their composure, defensive application and Queensland’s offensive conservatism.
On possession alone, Queensland should have led by at least 10 points at halftime. The Maroons had 23 sets to 13. They had 68 per cent of possession. Incredibly, the Maroons had seven straight sets in a 14- minute window.
It should have been the statistical platform for a Maroons massacre. Instead, with every desperation tackle and repelled set, the Blues picked apart at Queensland’s fragile self- belief, proof Origin is less about skill and more about psychology.
It was a tribute to NSW’s defensive heart that Queensland’s opening points in the 11th minute came not via slick execution, but freakish opportunism.
With their first genuine raid on the hosts’ tryline, NSW pivot James Maloney threw a cut- out pass and watched in horror as Maroons winger Holmes swooped, racing 95m to score.
Even at 8- 0, there was a sense Queensland’s lead needed to be greater. But Slater has done it so many times. He did it again. Farewell Billy.