State of Origin Game 3 2022: NSW Blues stunned by Queensland Maroons in epic series decider
Andrew Johns was at the centre of an awkward post-Origin moment with his fellow Channel 9 commentators, clearly unhappy to be surrounded by Queenslanders.
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Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns was at the centre of an awkward post-match Origin incident with his fellow Channel 9 commentators on Wednesday night.
In the aftermath of Queensland’s miraculous 22-12 win over NSW at Suncorp Stadium, Johns cut a forlorn shadow alongside host James Bracey and Queenslanders Paul Vautin and Cameron Smith as they dissected the Maroons’ against-the-odds win.
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Clearly reeling from the Blues’ defeat, Johns was blunt when asked by Vautin where he thought it went wrong for NSW.
“Just the big moments. Now we have to listen to all the bullshit that youse go on with for the next 12 months. It drives you mad,” Johns said.
‘IT SUCKS’: BRAVE BLUES ONLY HAVE THEMSELVES TO BLAME
—David Riccio
Bruised, battered and beaten.
In a throwback to the 1980s, the Blues have been bashed into State of Origin series submission by Queensland.
On a night of unbridled carnage, the defiant Maroons produced one of their most unforgettable performances to shatter the Blues and secure the Origin shield.
In an old-fashioned ambush, the Queensland underdogs overcame the Blues’ 12-10 halftime lead to claim their series win 22-12.
The Blues have some serious soul-searching to do. Once again, they have fallen short as short-priced favourites and once again have let slip a series that they should’ve won.
NSW coach Brad Fittler had challenged his side to handle the pressure of favouritsim, knowing he’d watched the same horror movie before, two years ago at Suncorp Stadium.
And once again, the Blues were unable to win a decider in Queensland, a result that has only been achieved by two Blues teams (1994 and 2005) before.
For Blues fans it’s a case of what might have been after coming back from 1-0 nil down in the series to send the game’s greatest advertisement to a decider.
NSW BLUES PLAYER RATINGS: WHO BOMBED OUT?
The decision not to pick Jack Wighton, the Blues best player in game one, will be dissected by shattered NSW fans.
Undeniably, Fittler’s NSW side were brave, but they only have themselves to blame with critical errors in their own half of the field leading to Queensland dominating field territory and time with the ball in the second-half.
“It’s pretty disappointing,’’ NSW halfback Nathan Cleary said.
“We came here knowing it would be tough. It sucks. But we’ve just got to take it.
“We were just in our own end the whole second half. We made a few too many mistakes, you just can’t do that in Origin games and you pay for it.’’
In the aftermath, the match will famously be remembered as rookie Queensland coach Billy Slater’s first series win.
As despised outsiders, Billy’s Babes will go down in folklore with rookie half Tom Dearden producing a debut for the ages.
Without star five-eighth Cameron Munster, Dearden played the game of his life to steer the Maroons to their epic victory.
In front of a hothouse of 52,385 rabid fans at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, NSW lost key forward Cameron Murray to concussion in the 1st minute and Matt Burton for 10 minutes in the second-half for brawling with Maroons rival Dane Gagai.
The Maroons also lost Lindsay Collins in the fourth minute to concussion.
Burton was targeted all night by the Maroons, forced to absorb ferocious brutality that cost the Maroons their winger Selwyn Cobbo when he was knocked out while attempting a tackle on the Blues centre.
The Blues trailed 6-0 nil after Valentine Holmes powered over in the 13th minute.
A Jarome Luai try triggered the Blues into a response before debutant Jacob Saifiti stormed under the posts to score in the 27th minute.
The Blues had all the ascendancy in the final stages of the first half, but typical of Queensland they pulled a try out of the fire right on halftime.
A Harry Grant kick in behind the try lie saw Kurt Capewell pounce.
The Maroons lifted.
They sucked the life out of the Blues in the second-half with Ben Hunt’s runaway try in the final minute sealing their epic victory.
“As soon as I caught the ball, you could just hear them (fans) roar,’’ Hunt said,
Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans added: “I’m lost for words.
“We knew coming here would be something special and we did it again.
‘It’s so good. It’s special.’’
Maroons forward Patrick Carrigan was named player of the series.
Re-live the the all-time Origin decider
-Joe Barton, David Riccio, Brent Read, Peter Badel, Nick Walshaw, Wilson Smith
Put that alongside Mark Coyne’s miracle, Darren Lockyer starting the dynsasty, Fatty’s Nevilles and the 2020 upset - because they’ve done it again.
Bouncing back from the Perth demolition, losing two players in the opening three minutes tonight, after losing Cameron Munster to Covid this week, they’ve pulled off one of the all-time upsets and one of the bravest performances in Origin history.
They prevail 22-12 and have sent the Suncorp crowd into a state of delirium.
“It’s what Queensland’s all about. It’s about hard work, really digging in when the backs are against the wall. We did it again it tonight,” says Ben Hunt, whose try in the 79th minute sealed an extraordinary win.
Ben Hunt picks the pocket of Nathan Cleary, then outpaces Isaah Yeo and Cleary for a phenomenal 70m run to win back the shield.
Cleary attempts a chip and chase deep into Queensland territory, but Hunt - in his face, looking for a chargedown, snatches it out of the air and runs the best part of the length of the field.
That’s an incredible play. An incredible victory.
You never write off Queensland. Never, ever, ever.
“QUEENSLANDER,” roars Hunt int the camera.
Holmes converts to give Queensland a 22-12 lead with a minute to play.
70’ GRANT GOES CLOSE... BUT NO CIGAR
HARRY GRANT! Has he won the series for Queensland? He sneaks over from close range to give the Maroons a two-try lead.... but no! It’s another try denied by the video referee.
NSW are imploding - losing the ball on their own line, again, with a loose carry from Talakai giving Queensland more golden field position.
At the end of the set, Grant burrows over from dummy half, and appears to have scored what could be the match winner.
Replays though show Nathan Cleary gets underneath Grant and there’s enough evidence to say he hasn’t got that one down.
NSW hang on. Just.
One set later, Queensland think they’ve scored - again - but Nanai is denied after a Capewell knockon.
The Maroons could, feasibly, have scored five more tries.
And yet, it’s a four-point game.
Time is running out. A famous Queensland victory looms.
63’ PONGA STRIKES FOR MAROONS
TRYTIME!
The Blue Wall has finally cracked after wave after wave of pressure - Kalyn Ponga skipping through three defenders to put Queensland in front.
Queensland have been given chance after chance to break this game over, and Ponga becomes that man.
Stephen Crichton’s mind-boggling error put NSW under more pressure, and Ponga steps Talakai, then steps Tedesco and puts the Maroons in front.
With Holmes’ conversion, Queensland take a 16-12 lead - making the most of their utter second-half dominance.
Queensland, against the odds, are producing one of the performances of the ages and NSW need something out of their matchwinners to wrestle control back.
61’ BLUES IMPLODING WITH STAGGERING ERRORS
NSW look out on their feet here - despite Queensland being an extra man down on the bench.
They desperately need to change the momentum of this match somehow, but this is not how you do it.
Jarome Luai with a potentially game-changing error - a wild pass soars over the head of Talakai and into touch.
It’s Queensland with possession again inside the NSW 20.
They have to score - they need to score. They nearly score... a desperate effort turns into a giant gorward pass and Dane Gagai is denied.
NSW escape... but Queensland, they’re building.
No score since halftime, but there’s been no less drama - as Ben Hunt kicks a brilliant 40-20 to further apply the blowtorch to NSW.
Six desperate tackles later, and NSW manage to hang on... before ANOTHER brain explosion from Stephen Crichton, who throws a reckless offload to give Queensland a line drop-out.
53’ QUEENSLAND DENIED AGAIN
For the third time tonight, Queensland have had a try scratched off - and for the second time, Josh Papalii is denied.
Daly Cherry-Evans is kicking NSW to death here. He’s got the ball on a string, and Queensland on the attack following a Junior Paulo error.
He finishes the set off with a pinpoint kick, that is bumbled by Brian To’o - before Papalii dives on it for the try.
But the video referee finds a knock-on from Jeremiah Nanai in the lead-up, and that’s a huge boo from the Suncorp crowd.
This is relentless. Queensland are building. NSW hanging on... as Gagai and Burton return from the bin.
48’ ORIGIN ENTERS THE DANGER ZONE
This game has the potential to turn seriously nasty.
Both teams are fatigued. Both teams are angry. Both teams have 12 men for the next little while.
We’re seeing some enormous collisions as both sides fly off the line to put shots on.
Daly Cherry-Evans’ kicking game has come to the fore in the second half, and he’s turning the Blues around and giving his forwards a breather.
But the Manly skipper gives away a penalty for a dangerous tackle on Cleary - “gee that’s a harsh penalty,” says Andrew Johns - gives NSW a sniff.
And it’s immediately handed back to Queensland via a Jacob Saifiti error. His first blunder in a sensational debut to date.
41’ - ORIGIN ERUPTS IN EXPLOSIVE START TO SECOND HALF
It is ON!
I hope you caught your breath at halftime, but we are 100 per cent back on in the most explosive way possible.
As Daly Cherry-Evans celebrated a potential try, punches were being thrown in backplay - with Blues’ centre Matt Burton ending up bloodied and battered.
Replays show Burton was knocked over in backplay by Gagai, in retaliation for Burton running over the top of Kalyn Ponga.
The pair traded blows, and Gagai landed a blow flush on Burton’s chin.
It’s a penalty to NSW... and Gagai is off to the sin-bin! And Burton follows him! We have 12 on 12.
“What has just happened is not acceptable,” Ashley Klein tells Daly Cherry-Evans.
You couldn’t imagine a more brutal or fast-paced first half. Both sides lost players to concussion. Both sides played at 1000 miles an hour.
Something has got to give.
40’ - QUEENSLAND’S HALFTIME DAGGER
TRYTIME!
Queensland strike a massive blow before the break care of a sneaky Kurt Capewell - and a crafty Harry Grant.
A HUGE mistake from Daniel Tupou - who spills a Daly Cherry-Evans bomb with 90 seconds left in the half - gives the Maroons a full set of six inside the NSW 20m zone.
Queensland have been incredibly brave but have struggled to get the field position they craved to get more points on the board.
Here, they have it.
And, after two repeat sets from some spoiling tactics from NSW, Grant does a 360, drops it on the right boot, and rolls it in behind NSW’s defence.
Kurt Capewell just wants the ball more than the NSW backs - and he gets it. That’s a huge play on the stroke of halftime.
Val Holmes has a chance to send us into the break all locked up, but his radar is off to the right.
A two point lead to NSW. I need a lie down. That was an absurd 40 minutes of Origin football.
33’ BLUES EXPLODE!
TRYTIME!
Welcome to State of Origin Jacob SAIFITI!
There were plenty of raised eyebrows when he got the call-up to replace Jordan McLean in the Blues squad, but Brad Fittler gets some serious vindication with his pick straight away.
Saifiti has already had half a dozen damaging runs - seriously damaging - and Api Koroisau does a wonderful job to isolate Saifiti against Queensland debutant Tom Gilbert.
It’s a bad miss from Gilbert, but did he even stand a chance? Saifiti was rampaging, and crashes over under the sticks.
That feels like good reward for NSW, who have had the best of the football for the past 10 minutes or so.
Cleary converts, and it’s NSW who leads 12-6.
27’ - TRYTI-----FORWARD PASS!
Queensland are denied for the second time tonight - this time Corey Oates is denied on the back of a forward pass.
It comes after some short-side trickery from Harry Grant, who feeds Tom Dearden - and it is his pass which releases Oates towards the tryline.
But it’s called forward and.... well, how you view that call might depend on which jersey you’re wearing right now. Because that was close.
“Geez that’s flat... that’s a 50-50 call that one,” says NSW great Andrew Johns.
And a word of praise for Junior Paulo, who finishes his first stint with a mighty 89 metres.
He has had an enormous impact having been thrown into the starting front row.
24’ - BLUES TURN IT UP A NOTCH
Things are starting to open up for the Blues here, with James Tedesco making a 40m break on the back of a dream offload from Angus Crichton.
Tedesco can’t find Luai on his outside, but from the next play Stephen Crichton forces a repeat set with a delicate grubber.
Cleary, Koroisau and Yeo are getting in rhythm and the Blues are winning the territorial battle for the first time this match.
However Queensland get off the hook after a frightening grubber from Cleary is fumbled in the ingoal - but Koroisau is found to be offside, and Queensland march back upfield.
20’ - BLUES’ LEVEL UP WITH PANTHER POWER
TRYTIME!
The Blues are level and it’s the Panthers connection that delivers once again for Brad Fittler.
Nathan Cleary takes it to the line and puts a perfectly weighted grubber past the Queensland defence, and trailing through is club and state halves partner Jarome Luai.
Luai stumbles and hits the deck, but recovers to plant the ball down and give Cleary a simple conversion.
You sense the Blues needed that, after what had been a frenetic start to the match.
Blues tie things up, and it’s 6-6.
13’ - MAROONS DRAW FIRST BLOOD
TRYTIME!
Queensland show the best passage of play of the match so far with Daly Cherry-Evans giving Jeremiah Nanai some space on the right edge, and that opens up room for Kurt Capewell to burst downfield.
His kick finds space before being difused by James Tedesco - but from the following play-the-ball Daniel Tupou is bundled back into his in-goal and a repeat set is the result.
Two tackles later, and Queensland draw first blood with Valentine Holmes continuing his brilliant series by crashing onto a superb short-ball from debutant Tom Dearden.
He burst through some flimsy defence from Stephen Crichton and Daniel Tupou, and converts his try to give the home side a 6-0 lead.
Two men down through concussion, no Cameron Munster, and given no hope... but this is just pure Queensland.
10’ – MAROONS DENIED, BLUES BATTERED
Let’s just catch our breath after the most frenetic opening minutes you could ever script.
Aside from losing three players to concussion in no time whatsoever, we’ve seen Kalyn Ponga throw a try away over the sideline, Queensland put incredible pressure on the NSW kickers – and now the opening try of the match, to Josh Papalii, disallowed.
The Maroons’ aerial superstar, Jeremiah Nanai, went up above James Tedesco off a Dearden bomb and looked to have offloaded to Papalii to score under the posts… only to be denied by the video referee, who spotted a knock-on.
Also, confirmation that both Selwyn Cobbo and Lindsay Collins are out for the night with failed HIAs.
And NSW are close to having another one off the field, as Tino Fa’asuamaleaui collects Matt Burton with a high shot. NSW gets a penalty, Fa’asuamaleaui avoids the sin-bin for a swinging arm… and Burton, for now, is allowed to play on.
4’ MURRAY GONE, COLLINS WOBBLY
This is absolute carnage.
We are four minutes in, and three players look like they’ve had their nights ended.
Cameron Murray is a confirmed OUT for NSW for the rest of the night after failing his HIA.
And as that news filters through, Queensland enforcer Lindsay Collins is rocked after copping the hip of Roosters teammate Daniel Tupou.
He struggles to his feet, falls back down, and he also looks like his night will be over.
This has been the most outrageous start to an Origin you could imagine.
“This is a throwback to the 80s… that’s three off,” says Andrew Johns.
We’re less than five minutes in, and injuries are wreaking havoc in this match – with Queensland, barely, winning the field position battle.
2’ TEMPERS FLARE AS PLAYERS KNOCKED OUT
Wow. An incredible start to the match - and inside 3 minutes, both sides have players off the field with concussion checks.
Just as in Game 1 - NSW look like they are going to lose a start backrower in the opening minute of the game.
Cameron Murray, making his first tackle in the match, suffers a heavy blow following a huge head clash with Queensland’s Corey Oates - and wobbles to his feet.
Unlike with Isaah Yeo in Game 1, where the Panthers lock was allowed to play despite appearing unsteady on his feet, Murray is immediately pulled from the game for an assessment.
Will he return? He’d be long odds based on the footage.
And it looks even more concerning for Queensland’s Selwyn Cobbo.
He was collected by the hip of teammate Pat Carrigan and was out cold straight away, as a brawl erupted to the side of his prone body.
The stretcher has been called for the young winger as doctors take extra care.
Both teams look like they could be down to 16 fit players for the rest of this match. What an extraordinary, explosive opening few minutes.
1’ – WE ARE UNDERWAY
The Welcome to Country has been done, the anthem is out of the way, and the Suncorp crowd booed themselves hoarse when NSW ran on the field.
And just like that, IT. IS. ON.
Queensland kick off as the smoke clears – with Junior Paulo making a meaty first carry for the first tackle of the game.
How good is his battle with Josh Papali’I going to be? I cannot wait.
7.59PM - SPECIAL MOMENT FOR BLUES
Peter Sterling will be a surprise face in the NSW Blues coaches box tonight.
The champion halfback has been invited by Blues coach Brad Fittler to experience the decider from inside the inner-sanctum.
Sterling has achieved almost everything in his career, but never sat inside the coaches box for a game.
Sterling, who won the 1986 series with NSW at halfback, presented the Blues squad with their jerseys on Monday night.
The Parramatta legend and respected analyst retired from 30-years of commentary with Nine last season.
7.40 – WHO WINS? A LAST MINUTE LOOK
Ok, so we have half an hour to go – 30 minutes until one of the best things on the sporting calendar.
A State of Origin decider.
It doesn’t get much better. But what can we expect from tonight’s match? Who will be showered with praise? And who will be taunted and booed until my throat is sore?
The betting for tonight’s contest would suggest it’s a done deal – they were heavy favourites even before one punter dropped $122,000 on the Blues to win at $1.34 half an hour ago.
But surely you, dear reader, don’t believe Origin deciders at Suncorp are won that easily?
So much of the talk the past few days has been around Queensland losing Cameron Munster, and less so Murray Tuilagi, to Covid – which will no doubt have an enormous impact.
But what about NSW losing a pair of starting front rowers – first Payne Haas, the No.1 prop in the game, and then Jordan McLean days before his Blues debut?
Big games are won in the ruck – if you want Nathan Cleary or Daly Cherry-Evans to weave their magic, you need to give them space – and NSW have lost of their best on that front.
Queensland have thrown young Tom Dearden into the cauldron from the opening minute, and that means Billy Slater has shown faith not just in his debutant playmaker – but also his dummy-half rotation.
Injecting Harry Grant into the action has turned Origin matches before, notably in the 2020 upset with the ‘worst Queensland side in 40 years’, and could again hold the key tonight.
7.10PM - TEAMS LOCKED IN
The final 17s have been locked in for the State of Origin decider – with Billy Slater
confirming his Cameron Munster replacement, and Brad Fittler finalising his
forward pack.
Munster will miss the clash after testing positive for Covid this week, with Tom
Dearden stepping into the shoes of Queensland’s talismanic star.
There’d been speculation Dragons star Ben Hunt could move from hooker to join Daly
Cherry-Evans in the halves, with Harry Grant elevated into an 80-minute hooking
role – but Slater has opted to show faith in his young No.6.
Slater has opted to drop powerhouse No.13 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to the bench – promoting Brisbane workhorse Pat Carrigan to lock.
Carrigan had an enormous impact on the Queensland side in Game 1 off the bench and has the leg drive to give the Blues pack headaches from the opening whistle, while Fa’asuamaleaui off the bench could be devastasting.
After promising no mind games, Billy Slater has certainly thrown up a couple of curly ones the past few days…
Queensland’s other Covid absentee, winger Murray Tuilagi, has been replaced by Brisbane’s
Corey Oates – as flagged earlier in the week.
Ready to ROLL 🔴🔵 #Originpic.twitter.com/LQhGkegQHt
— NRL (@NRL) July 13, 2022
JUST IN: The @TAB has taken a $122,000 bet on a NSW win at $1.34. @telegraph_sport
— David Riccio (@DaveRic1) July 13, 2022
Meanwhile, NSW will deploy Parramatta’s Junior Paulo in a starting role to combat
Queensland’s powerful pack – moving from the bench to the front row following a
cruel hamstring injury which robbed Jordan McLean of his Origin debut.
Blues coach Brad Fittler on Tuesday night named debutant Jacob Saifiti in the starting front
row as McLean’s replacement, but – not for the first time this series – has pulled
a last-minute switcheroo, with Newcastle’s Saifiti moving back to the bench.
6.13PM - ‘SCRAP THE RAT’
The Queensland camp was dealt a massive blow ahead of Game III, as Cam Munster was ruled out after returning a positive PCR test.
Cooper Cronk, speaking on the Matty Johns podcast, said the news had had a “massive impact” on the Queenslanders.
“If there’s a single player in the whole Origin series, on both sides, that you don’t want to miss a Game III decider, it’s Munster,” said Cronk.
“He debuted in an Origin decider… in 2020 under Wayne [Bennett] he was the best player on the field. He was best on in Game 1.
“From a Queensland point of view, it’s the worst player [to lose] and for New South Wales it’s the best thing.
“Let’s not sugar-coat it, it’s a huge loss.”
Players are required to complete a mandatory seven-day isolation if they test positive, even if they are fit and healthy.
But Paul Kent believes - in the interest of Origin - Munster’s Covid test should have dropped the positive Covid test in the bin.
“Drop [the test] in the bin, for sure,” he said.
“That’s the only thing that could bring Penrith undone this year.
“There’s no way you risk a whole season’s work. Could you imagine, grand final week, Penrith go to Fan Day on Tuesday and then on Thursday, eight of them come back positive?
“Covid is the only thing that brings the Panthers down this year.
“It’s really gutted this Origin game. [Munster] is their best player, without him they don’t win Game 1. It’s kicked it all in the guts.”
4:30PM — BLUES READY FOR HOSTILE TREATMEN
A confident Brad Fittler says he can’t see any other result than NSW producing the ultimate State of Origin series heist against Queensland.
Fittler is aiming to win his fourth series in five years with the Blues also on the verge of becoming just the third NSW team in 41-years of Origin football to win a decider in Brisbane.
Tonight’s blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium sold-out two weeks ago with 52,000 screaming Maroons fans preparing to create chaos for the Blues.
“For whatever reason, some team is going to come out here and want it that little bit more and it needs to be us,” Fittler said.
“It will be us.
“The way they’ve trained, the preparation they’ve put in, I can’t see any other result.’’
NSW captain James Tedesco said the Blues will take an ‘us against the world’ mentality into the most-anticipated match of the year.
“We’re not going to expect many calls to go our way and that’s just how it is up here,’’ Tedesco said.
“That’s not an excuse or reason, that’s just how it is.
“It’s just a different game up here.
“We spoke about it at the start of the week, it’s going to be louder, everyone is against us, a lot of booing and it will be hard to hear each other.
“But at the end of the day, we’re not going to get too overawed by the occasion.
The main thing is, it’s just us out there.
“No one is going to help us. There‘s going to be a lot of atmosphere against us, but the main thing is that communication.’’
NSW have been installed as short-priced favourites with the bookies following the loss of star five-eighth Cameron Munster for Queensland.
Fittler said the Blues have struggled as favourites in the past and it was time they dealt with the pressure of expectation.
“They’ve (current team) been through winning as underdogs and winning as a young group and then also being the favourites and winning and being the favourites and losing,’’ Fittler said.
“Game one gave us a real indication of some things that we don’t do well and that (favouritism) is most probably one of them.
“We might want to shake that tag.”
Fittler said the control of the ruck by referee Ashley Klein would play a key role in how the game was played, but stopped short of requesting a meeting with NRL referees boss Jared Maxwell.
“I can’t control Ashley Klein,’’ Fittler said.
“He’s a fair referee and I’m sure he’ll be fair tomorrow night.
“We did our due diligence and asked him (Maxwell) about things in the last game, but at the end of the day I find those things are a bit futile as well.”
Tedesco said his final message to the Blues would be focused on a relentless mindset.
“The big thing is, no matter what happens, we need to keep playing,” Tedesco said.
“If we’re down or in front, we keep playing footy, that’s what we’re here for.
“We’ve got a whole state behind us, let’s enjoy this moment.’’
2:50PM — NSW BLUES OUT AND ABOUT IN BRISBANE
2PM — REVEALED: EXPERT TIPS FOR ORIGIN DECIDER
1:30PM — MAROONS OUT AND ABOUT ON GAMEDAY
Maroons stretching their legs in the Brisbane CBD ahead of tonight’s #Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium. @9NewsQueensland@NRLonNinepic.twitter.com/Wn6Pza82xI
— Adam Jackson (@AdamJackson_9) July 13, 2022
12:45PM — BLUES BRACE FOR CLEARY BLITZ
—Brent Read
NSW are bracing for Queensland to launch a fresh blitz on Nathan Cleary on Wednesday night as the Maroons attempt to replicate the intense pressure that turned the Blues talisman into a nonentity in the opening game of the State of Origin series.
Cleary was quiet by his lofty standards in Origin I at Accor Stadium five weeks ago but he rebounded with a career-defining performance to help the Blues square the series at Optus Stadium in Perth.
That display has sent Maroons coach Billy Slater and his all-star brain’s trust back to the drawing board heading into the decider at Suncorp Stadium as Queensland adjust their plans to ensure they can heap pressure on Cleary every time he touches the ball.
Cleary has effectively become the multimillion-dollar superstar at the centre of an Origin game of cat-and-mouse. Queensland want to get their hands on him. Sit him on his backside. Rattle his ribcage. Rough him up. Put him off his game.
“They are going to make some adjustments, which is what we did after game one as well,” Blues skipper James Tedesco said.
“We probably weren’t prepared enough in game one to provide Nathan with a bit of protection and help him get top certain spots to get his best kick away.
“We probably glazed over that a bit in game one and in game two we learnt our lesson. We talked about what we had to do and we went out and did that.
“They are going to continue to get pressure on us from marker …. especially on Nathan on the last [tackle]. We have some options now with Burto [Matt Burton] coming in – he gives us that left foot on the left side as well.
“It is expected. Nath always expects to be under that pressure. We can all do a job there to protect him.”
The Maroons have been rocked in the lead-up to Origin III by the unavailability of their own talisman Cameron Munster due to Covid. His absence places more pressure on the shoulders of Kalyn Ponga and Daly Cherry-Evans to spark the Queensland attack.
The Blues have managed to largely avoid the Covid interruptions that have struck the Queensland camp, having stationed themselves on the far north coast of NSW before shifting camp to Brisbane on Sunday afternoon. They didn’t need to ensconce themselves in Maroons heartland to know that Queensland are gunning for their superstar No.7.
If they did need any reminding, Maroons legend Wally Lewis put them on notice when he suggested Queensland needed to make life uncomfortable for Cleary in the decider. Lewis, like the Queensland camp, recognise that if they can put the clamps on Cleary, they will go a long way towards winning the series.
“They did it in game one really well,” Blues forward Isaah Yeo said.
“They got at him really well. We understand he is the best player in the game. So they will try to get him off his game.
“We will have to do our best to handle that. It was a little bit easier when we were controlling things better.
“First game they really controlled the ruck and we evened it up in the second game. We just understand we have to do a really good job there and help him as much as we can.”
11:30AM — KARL STEFANOVIC’S JOKE ABOUT QLD KIDS FALLS FLAT
During a lighthearted segment with a group of young Queensland fans, Today host Karl Stefanovic seemed to take a joke too far.
Sports presenter Alex Cullen was streaming in live from outside Suncorp Stadium where the anticipated State of Origin decider is set to kick off on Wednesday night.
A crowd of kids adorned in maroon merchandise joined the presenter around 6.30am as he delivered the latest updates on the showdown game between Queensland and NSW.
Mid-script Cullen slapped a blue cap on his head, which was swiftly snatched by one of the young fans.
The kids took off in the opposite direction, with Cullen on their heels yelling for them to return the hat.
In a fit of laughter, Stefanovic delivered his line.
“Just be careful buddy,” Stefanovic joked.
“If they’re not in the game they’re stealing cars young Queensland kids.”
Stefanovic and co-host Ally Langdon awkwardly laughed off the joke.
Read the full story here
10:00AM — OFFICIAL START TIME
Official kick-off time for tonight’s Origin decider, according to @NRL run sheet, is 8.11pm. @telegraph_sportpic.twitter.com/66TTcRwruT
— David Riccio (@DaveRic1) July 12, 2022
9.45AM — REVEALED: WHY FITTLER CHOSE SAIFITI OVER RCG, KLEMMER
—Nick Walshaw
If you want to know why Jacob Saifiti is now – and forever – a NSW Origin player, have a read of the text message which confirmed it all last Thursday.
Back when this 26-year-old prop, having departed Origin camp to rejoin Newcastle, and seemingly no hope for the series decider, was messaged by a Blues staffer and told how, only minutes earlier, Jordan McLean had injured his hamstring in training.
So McLean is out, the text read, and you’re in.
Which for a kid who had dreamt, sweated and sacrificed his whole life to receive that very message, must have been some moment.
But the J-Saf reply?
“How bad is it?” the Knights prop asked of McLean’s bung hammy, concerned more for his mate than himself.
Bad, he was told.
“OK. I’m ready, brutha”.
All of which says plenty about why NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler has, not for the first time, gone against what you, Twitter and so much of League Land expected and picked this uncompromising Knights prop for a Blues debut.
Just like in 2018, he made an Origin player of Matt Prior.
Then a winter later, recalled the ageing Josh Morris.
Last year, it was Tariq Sims’ selection that everyone questioned.
While as recently as Origin II, Angus Crichton was the target.
And now, J-Saf.
A fella who, some have suggested, isn’t even among the top two props at Newcastle given the form of both Dave Klemmer and brother Daniel — both of whom were discussed for a recall.
Same as countless questions are being asked about why Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard isn’t being brought back for the Origin decider against Queensland, especially given his superior statistics when compared to Saifiti.
In fact, given all the focus surrounding the storylines above, J-Saf is right now readying for an Origin debut without anyone discussing exactly what it is that has him here.
Which is somewhat typical of his game, right?
Sure, his numbers aren’t the equal of other Origin candidates.
But Freddy has never picked on digits and decimal points — or not on them alone.
Especially given that when appointed head coach himself four years ago, his task was to resurrect a NSW side whose greatest knock, apart from being unable to beat Queensland, was having certain players too concerned about those same individual stats and records than that of the team.
Yet Fittler? He has always been far more focused on effort stuff.
Origin stuff.
Stuff that can be missed when you aren’t, say, the most capped NSW player ever.
This is why he wants Saifiti.
Even if like, say, with Prior, it turns out to only be for this one Wednesday night in July.
With Fittler aware that, yes, the Newcastle bookend runs hard and, importantly, boasts a quick play-the-ball.
But that alone isn’t what makes him the Knight’s reigning Best and Fairest.
Instead, it has as much again to do with how rather than simply waiting for his own turn to carry, J-Saf is always there supporting others, if only to keep one defender out.
Just as elsewhere he continually pressures kickers and, defensively, works overtime for the guy alongside him. Then over and over, gets back quicker than most for the toughest carries.
None of which improves a fella’s own statistics, but instead those around him.
Same as Blues players will tell you Saifiti carries with him a positivity, a willingness to make others better, that is impossible not to be swept up in.
It is an attitude he has displayed since first being called into Origin camp.
When despite being long odds to do anything but receive a tracksuit and run opposed, he has used every session to do all he could to make the players picked ahead of him better.
Which is why when that message finally arrived to say — gasp — he was in, that his childhood dream of playing Origin footy was here, Saifiti’s first thought was not for himself, but McLean.
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