State of Origin 2018 game 2 match report: NSW vs. Queensland at ANZ Stadium
NSW have finally wrested back State of Origin supremacy after scoring a pulsating 18-14 win over Queensland in front of a raucous and delirious sellout crowd of 82,223 at ANZ Stadium.
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NSW have finally wrested back State of Origin supremacy after scoring a pulsating 18-14 win over Queensland in front of a raucous and delirious sellout crowd of 82,223 at ANZ Stadium.
Victory gave the Baby Blues an unbeatable 2-0 series lead.
NSW players rushed to celebrate on the Queensland goal line as the siren sounded in the background as they created history.
NSW winger Josh Addo-Carr, wearing a Blatchy’s Blue wig. actually climbed the fence and walked halfway up the ANZ Stadium grandstand to embrace family.
They were incredible scenes of raw emotion.
At the post match press conference, NSW coach Brad Fittler pushed PC to one side and shared a Tooheys New with five-eighth James Maloney, who was also wearing a blue wig.
“It’s a great thing that happened — it was awesome,” Fittler said. “It’s a good dressing shed, we’ve been in a lot of bad dressing sheds. They players were very good, it was a really strong performance.”
It was the Blues’ second win in 13 long and painful years and came after playing with 12 men late in the match with James Roberts sin-binned.
Down a man while leading 18-14 with 10 minutes remaining, petrified of another late Queensland miracle, the Blues dragged their backside from tackle to tackle, ruck to ruck, to hold out the Maroons and create their own legacy.
This time, Queensland’s late charge was repelled.
There were two magic, try-saving tackles — Nathan Cleary on a runaway Valentine Holmes, and, on the other flank, James Tedesco on a flying Kalyn Ponga. It was special stuff that defined this new era.
“I have been here a few times before and felt the pain,” NSW five-eighth James Maloney said. “This is special — I’ll remember this one. Hopefully it’s the start of something.”
They can now rightfully sit alongside some of the legends to have won series for NSW.
The win was justification for the bold decision from NSW coach Brad Fittler, assistant coach Danny Buderus and adviser Greg Alexander to pick 12 rookies in the series.
With 15,000 Blatchy’s Blues cheering from the northern end of ANZ Stadium, NSW came back from a 10-0 deficit to score 18 unanswered points and secure the first series win since 2014.
Game three at Suncorp Stadium on July 11 is now a dead rubber, although NSW will be aiming to become the first Blues side to win 3-0 since 2000, when they were captained by Fittler.
“Unbelievable,” said Blues centre Latrell Mitchell. “It’s probably the biggest game of my life, I’m speechless.
“We dug deep and did it for our state. We all wanted to play for each other. It’s the best ever.”
Queensland’s dynasty could be over.
“The best ever — I love it,” NSW halfback Nathan Cleary said.
The ground announcer roared just before kick off: “Are we ready NSW?”
Are we what.
Ready for NSW’s 17th win in the past 26 games at ANZ Stadium.
NSW finished the match beat and buggered, skipper Boyd Cordner forced from the field through concussion. He courageously wanted to play on.
“To win a series — it’s all a blur,” said NSW hooker Damien Cook. “It’s still sinking in.”
The most contentious Origin moment of the game — perhaps in the past decade — came in the 32nd minute when NSW were awarded a penalty try to Cordner, the first since Mal Meninga way back in 1981.
With NSW attacking Queensland’s line, Maloney, who had a fine game, grubbered for Cordner but he was deliberately taken out by Maroons halfback Ben Hunt.
Even with no Queensland player within five metres of the ball or Cordner, it was still an incredibly brave call from video referee Steve Chiddy.
Although there didn’t appear any doubt Cordner would have scored, Queensland players were filthy at the decision.
Referee Gerard Sutton told Maroons skipper Greg Inglis: “There was no one else within cooee.”
Maroons coach Kevin Walters claimed it wasn’t a try.
“I have been watching rugby league for a long time. We have to respect the decision but it’s not to say it was the right decision. It was a tough call,” Walters said.
Fittler added: “It was a brave call but it was the right call. It was a try every day of the week.”
Walters said Queensland’s options during the 10 minutes Roberts was sin-binned played a factor in the loss.
“We came up with some plays that weren’t quite right for the situation,” Walters said.
Queensland appealed for a penalty try in exactly the same spot just 11 minutes from full-time when Roberts took out Gavin Cooper as he chased a Hunt grubber.
Tom Trbojevic easily collected the ball so the penalty try was denied and Roberts was sin-binned for a professional foul.
But the Blues held their nerve a man down to see out the match.
“This hurts,” said Maroons skipper Greg Inglis. “I know we could have had it but we shot ourselves in the foot.
“It was there for the taking but we didn’t do the little things. NSW played for 80 minutes, we played for 75 minutes.”
Queensland started the match with renewed focus and intent.
They looked to have scored first through a set piece to winger Dane Gagai in just the ninth minute but his legs were deemed to have crossed the sideline at the same time as the ball was grounded, forcing the on-field decision of try to be overturned.
Queensland weren’t to be denied though in the 13th minute.
With Cameron Munter and Billy Slater involved, Maroons winger Val Holmes scored after Blues winger Tom Trbojevic was caught infield and Holmes strolled over for a 4-0 lead.
At that point, Queensland had enjoyed 65 per cent of possession. And it didn’t get any better for NSW.
At the 20-minute mark, Slater shifted to the right edge before centre Will Chambers sent Gagai down the sideline and over for a superb try.
They were all over NSW, Slater was at his very best. Holmes nailed the conversion to give Queensland a shock 10-0 lead.
The Blues were under the pump and had to score next — enter winger Josh Addo-Carr.
Running on the sixth tackle, Maloney threw a long, flat ball to Addo-Carr, who stepped past two and took another over the tryline.
It was his second try in his second Origin game. And it was a crucial try to calm down the Blues.
Maloney drilled the conversion, Queensland’s lead back to just four points.
In the 29th minute, Queensland star Kalyn Ponga was thrown into the game to replace Jarrod Wallace. He played in the halves.
Ponga made what looked like a matchwinning break late in the game only to be cut down by NSW fullback James Tedesco.
And then the biggest moment of the game arrived when Cordner’s penalty try. It was a defining moment. Maloney’s conversion gave NSW a 12-10 lead.
NSW pushed further ahead when centre Latrell Mitchell forced his way over from first receiver for a sift try in the 50th minute.
It was only a week ago Mitchell left Allianz Stadium in a neck brace while playing for the Sydney Roosters. Maloney’s conversion gave NSW an 18-10 lead.
At that point, NSW had scored 18 unanswered points.
Queensland though, as always, wouldn’t submit.
In the 63rd minute, maroons centre will Chambers crossed out wide, the conversion reducing NSW’s to just two points.
But it was the last time they’d trouble the scorer as the Blues reigned supreme.
Full-time NEW SOUTH WALES 18 (1 penalty try) (J Addo-Carr B Cordner L Mitchell tries J Maloney 3 goals) bt QUEENSLAND 14 (W Chambers D Gagai V Holmes tries V Holmes goal) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 82,223. Game 1: NSW 22 bt QLD 12 Game 2: NSW 18 bt QLD 14 Series: NSW lead QLD 2-0
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Originally published as State of Origin 2018 game 2 match report: NSW vs. Queensland at ANZ Stadium
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