State of Origin 2020: NSW Blues force decider with Maroons mauling
The 2020 State of Origin series will be decided in Brisbane after the Blues destroyed the Maroons in a smashing at ANZ Stadium. HIGHLIGHTS HERE.
This was Freddy’s fightback.
Criticised after the horrors of Origin I, NSW coach Brad Fittler did what working-class Penrith boys do when under pressure — put up their dukes and fight.
Fittler spear-tackled his detractors by masterminding a stunning 34-10 NSW win over Queensland in Origin II at ANZ Stadium.
The series is now one-all and next Wednesday’s decider at Suncorp Stadium will be a belter. It won’t be easy, though, the Maroons having won 11 of the past 13 games in Brisbane.
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Fittler sat on the sideline and must have been tempted to turn around and flip the bird to his knockers sitting in various media areas of ANZ Stadium.
Refusing to be bullied, Fittler backed his judgment and gave veteran counterpart Wayne Bennett an old-fashioned bath.
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NSW found their combinations and put Queensland away with ease.
Fittler retained halfback Nathan Cleary. He chose Cody Walker. He kept his two centres. He ran four forwards off his bench. All four decisions were vindicated.
And in scenes from yesteryear, the game flared up in the 57th minute when NSW prop Payne Haas and Queensland’s Tino Fa’asuamaleaui threw punches. Both were sin-binned.
Cattle dog had finally returned to State of Origin. Sporting a badly ripped jumper, Haas was cheered from the field by NSW fans. Both players embraced twice at fulltime.
The Blues ran amok to send the COVID-reduced crowd of 36,212 into raptures and keep alive their chance of a third successive Origin series victory.
Three first-half tries and three more in the second half put Queensland back in their place after their Adelaide upset.
NSW completed at 96 per cent in the first half and led 18-4 at halftime. Unlike last weekend when the Blues led 10-0, they weren’t about to allow this game to slip away meekly.
Blues halfback Nathan Cleary was all class and his running game improved ten-fold.
However, NSW had a ton of outstanding players.
BACK TO EARTH
It was the night Wayne was slain.
The 70-year-old veteran coach was hoping to seal a series win but his hopes were crushed. He has seven days to reenergise the Maroons.
Queensland’s chances were rocked when five-eighth Cam Munster was concussed and replaced in just the second minute after catching s Cleary kick. He did not return.
BLUES MAGIC
With Josh Addo-Carr scoring twice, NSW recorded a 19th win in 29 games at ANZ Stadium since 1999.
The result was also a triumph for James Tedesco, who became NSW’s 20th captain and the first fullback to lead NSW since Newcastle’s Kurt Gidley.
Walker’s Origin redemption was completed. He cut through to score a solo try in the 18th minute, and just five minutes later Tedesco slid past Ben Hunt to score another NSW try.
That made it 12-4 before Addo-Carr scored. Second-half tries to Addo-Carr, Daniel Tupou and Jack Wighton continued Queensland’s misery.
SUPER STUFF
Queensland winger Xavier Coates scored the most extraordinary forward roll put down with his body in the air.
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Originally published as State of Origin 2020: NSW Blues force decider with Maroons mauling