Victorious Blues look for whitewash
SYDNEY: Years of heartache will ensure NSW keeps the foot on Queensland’s throat as it aims for a State of Origin series whitewash against the rebuilding Maroons.
For just the second time in 13 years, the Blues have sealed a series victory after clinching an 1814 gametwo win at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night.
Now NSW will look to pull off something even more rare in July 11’s game three at Suncorp Stadium.
After the once mighty Maroons won 11 of the past 12 series, Blues playmaker James Maloney believes it is NSW’s turn to start piling on the pain by pulling off just its fourth whitewash — and first in 18 years.
NSW had previously put a Blue rinse through Queensland with 30 series triumphs in 1986, 1996 and 2000. Queensland has completed the feat four times — in 1988, 1989, 1995 and 2010.
‘‘The biggest challenge is mental. It’s easy when Queensland go back and have nothing but pride to play for,’’ Maloney said.
‘‘The series is done so we don’t really have so much to play for, so we need to find [a reason]; it needs to be important to us.
‘‘But I am sure we will make it important, go up there and have a real crack.’’
NSW savoured its first series win in four years after a rollercoaster ride at a soldout ANZ Stadium.
The Blues were gifted four points with a 31stminute penalty try to captain Boyd Cordner but had to dig in when centre James Roberts was sin binned for a professional foul in the 69th minute.
It was a nightmare start to life without retired greats Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk for Queensland but the stuff of dreams for longsuffering Blues fans.
Asked if he thought winning a series against a Maroons outfit without their Big Three had made it a hollow victory, Maloney said: ‘‘Not really.
‘‘They made their decision and you can only play who is in front of you.
‘‘That was a good Queensland side out there. In the first two games there was a slightly better NSW side.’’
Sparked by veteran fullback Billy Slater and exciting debutant Kalyn Ponga, Queensland still threatened to break NSW hearts with Roberts banished and skipper Cordner coming off in the final five minutes with concussion.
But NSW coach Brad Fittler reckoned the thought of yet another Maroons miracle never crossed his mind.
Sporting a blue wig and sipping a celebratory beer at the postmatch press conference with Fittler, Maloney added: ‘‘It was never going to go to plan; it never does.
‘‘We said things will go against us and it is how we react. We reacted the right way; we turned up for each other.’’ — AAP