MAROONS DO IT FOR BILLY
Queensland sends Billy out a winner … but it’s all too late
GOODBYE Billy. And welcome back Daly.
Queensland has provided one final highlight for Billy Slater, downing NSW 18-12 in State of Origin III in Brisbane to provide a fitting farewell and deny the Blues their first series whitewash in 18 years.
While it was an emotional send-off for stand-in skipper Slater in his 31st and final Origin, it marked a happy return for Maroons halfback Daly Cherry-Evans in front of a 51,214-strong crowd. The polarising playmaker finally won over the Maroons faithful with a masterful display in his first Origin in three years.
Keen for its first sweep since 2000, NSW looked like it would play the role of party pooper when it somehow snatched a 12-8 halftime lead despite having five-eighth James Maloney in the bin and little possession.
And man of the moment Slater had been denied a try not once but twice. Yet the Maroons dug deep to recapture the never-say-die attitude that had propelled them to 11 series wins in the past 12 years to finally break their 2018 duck.
It closed the curtain on Slater’s 14 year Origin career but it seems Cherry-Evans’s is about to take off.
The Manly skipper looked to have ended speculation he had fallen out with the Maroons by becoming their poster boy last night.
He had a hand in winger Valentine Holmes’s second try in the 51st minute before crashing over himself seven minutes later after a Cameron Munster break, giving the hosts the lead 18-12.
Slater was denied a fourthminute try off a Cherry-Evans kick, with the video referee ruling a knock on. And in the 31st, Slater was obstructed by Maloney trying to reel in a Cameron Munster grubber.
Maloney was sin-binned — but it was the Blues who struck next. In a remarkable display of defensive grit, NSW endured six straight sets by Queensland as it was forced to kick goal line dropout after dropout before sinking the slipper into the hosts. With Queensland enjoying 70 per cent possession with 10 minutes left, NSW defied being a man down by scoring twice in three minutes. QUEENSLAND 18 (Holmes 2, Cherry-Evans tries, Holmes 3 goals) d NSW 12 (Tedesco, Trbojevic tries, Cleary 2 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Crowd: 51,214.