Queensland could have, should have — but ultimately didn’t — in Origin II

THERE’S only one thing more painful than losing when you are outclassed — that’s losing when you weren’t. That’s what will eat Queensland so deeply, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.

Slater showed Queensland what they’re now missing. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

THERE’S only one thing more painful than losing when you are outclassed — that’s losing when you weren’t.

That’s what will eat Queensland so deeply after 80 magnificent minutes of madness, featuring controversial calls, breathtaking attack, rough-house defence and unexplainable Ben Hunt brainsnaps ended with NSW winning their second series in 13 years at ANZ Stadium.

Could have. Should have. Might have, but ultimately didn’t. Queensland had their chances. Their dynasty is over but rest assured unlike the song played at full-time they are not on a highway to hell even though it feels like that for fans not used to such pain.

MATCH REPORT: How Queensland's dynasty was demolished

THE FUTURE: Ponga offers glimpse of what is to come

Slater‘s experience was essential. (Getty Images)

Queenslanders should never forget the night when one magnificent fullback Billy Slater kicked up his heels at age 35 and produced one of the games of his career and a young colt called Kalyn Ponga joined him to instantly produce the silk and steel of a champion of the present and future.

The Maroons did well to get as close as they did given none of their forwards made 100m and Hunt was substandard enough to place his future in jeopardy. It might just be Daly Cherry-Evans time after all.

This was the year when the bookies said the series was over before it started with a host of Queensland greats retiring.

They were right in the end but yet still Queensland are left with that empty feeling that a bit of poise and polish could have changed everything. Just when wave after wave of pressure left the Blues on their knees there was no Smith or Thurston to conjure the miracle play as the Blues won 18-14.

Klemmer pushed NSW hard. (Adam Head)

Now that dreadful word Bluewash is looming for the first time in 18 years as NSW bid for a cleansweep at Suncorp.

The Blues did well to win this series and they did it by doing a Queensland on Queensland.

They built mateship, they chose players with big hearts and small egos. They kept their training camps light and bright.

The game swung on that rarest of rugby league events — the penalty try delivered by referee Gerard Sutton after he declared that there was “no-one with cooee’’ of Boyd Cordner when he was felled by Ben Hunt chasing a grubber.

It was another tough night in SYdney for Ben Hunt. (AAP Image/David Moir)

Queensland can feel heartened that it has the nucleus of a team who will give the Blues a mighty shake anytime, anywhere.

Ponga had so much energy when he took the field in his Origin debut it looked as if he had spent the afternoon drinking coffee. He defended like a tiger, knocked Tom Trbojevic into Disneyland, threw a bold cut out pass, made a fabulous break and was everywhere when it mattered.

Queensland's Kalyn Ponga lies on the ground after game 2 of the State of Origin series. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Greg Inglis has at least another season in him. Cameron Munster seems to be growing by the match, Valentine Holmes was born for the box office, Dane Gagai grows a leg in Origin and Josh McGuire is as reliable as the sunrise. Willing Jai Arrow looks a ready-made long term staple.

But more forward power is essential.

Slater was in electric form. He may not have played for a month but he started the match as if he was shot out of a cannon making four promising runs in the first eight minutes and had no less than 10 threatening first half moments.

Slater showed Queensland what they’re now missing. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Far from being injured you would have thought his suspect hamstring was stretching like a rubber band and he shimmied and sizzled finding precious metres of space when most others were finding a blue brick wall, creating overlaps at will.

Is he really 35? Is it really 14 years since he made his Origin debut?

When he wasn’t terrorising the Blues defence he was standing at the back moving his arms like a traffic cop.

Big games are decided by small margins. Gagai was ruled into touch in the ninth minute with the sort of hairline decision that required five looks on the video that only seemed to heighten the confusion. Eventually it needed a split screen to gain a decision and even then it remained a matter of dispute.

When Brad Fittler was appointed Blues coach those who knew him best worried about his “looseness.’’

Little did they know it would become his greatest virtues. He threw open the gates of the NSW team and said anyone could be interviewed any day.

Fittler’s fresh approach has got the best out of NSW. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

It flushed out some interesting tales such as James Roberts talking about the day he left home at age nine.

Rather than put pressure on players it seemed to prick the balloon and proved an embarrassment to all those professional sporting teams who feed the media starvation rations out of fear it could distract them.

All his wacky theories such as getting players to train with their boots off created fun and laughter and while the players were chuckling and clowning they forgot all about the pressure.

Before the series former Blues coach Craig Bellamy said he had failed as a coach because he got too tactic orientated and treated it like a club game.

Fittler was North Pole to Bellamy’s South Pole. He concentrated on getting players who turned up for each other, who pulled off the desperate play, who rallied when all seemed lost.

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Originally published as Queensland could have, should have — but ultimately didn’t — in Origin II