State of Origin: New South Wales defeat Queensland 14-4 to leave Suncorp Stadium with Origin shield
Take a bow NSW. With 52,000 Maroons fans and a loathsome Suncorp Stadium record against them, the Blues emerged victorious to claim the Origin shield in an instant classic.
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Take a bow NSW, you deserve it.
The Blues arrived at Suncorp Stadium ready to stare down 52,000 screaming Maroons and defy a loathsome record at the ground. They departed with the State of Origin shield in their keeping after a game that will be remembered as an instant classic.
For 80 minutes, they belted the tripe out of each other. It was brutal. It was heroic. It was unforgettable. It was historic – remarkably, for the first time in Origin history, a player was sin-binned from the interchange bench.
The moment that separated the two sides in the end was inspired by the individual brilliance of Jarome Luai and the speed of Bradman Best. The scores were level in the 65th minute when Luai stopped, propped and got on the outside of Jeremiah Nanai.
Luai raced downfield and floated a ball into the hands of Best, who brushed off Newcastle teammate Dane Gagai and prompted wild celebrations.
Best celebrated with his family in the stands after the game, when his mum, Tobi, revealed envisioned her son crossing the stripe.
“I manifested that. I saw it in my brain all week,” Toni Best said.
“So proud. I think I cried. I’ve screamed. I cried again. It’s very overwhelming, the pride that just bubbles up to the surface when you see a night like this come to fruition for all the years of hard work and dedication. To see it all come to the top is very overwhelming and really emotional.”
The Maroons’ defiance had been shattered. Zac Lomax kicked the goal and the Blues had a six-point lead. In commentary, NSW legend Andrew Johns pleaded for halfback Mitchell Moses to control the game. He did better than that.
Three minutes later, Moses took the ball to the line, speared between Harry Grant and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and beat Reece Walsh to score.
Moses kicked the ball high into the stands. The same stands that had been screaming for Blues blood had gone silent. NSW had won’t of their past 13 deciders at the ground. There was no sugar-coating it – they didn’t know how to win at Suncorp. They do now.
Coach Michael Maguire had another crowning moment in his career. He won the mental battle and his players backed it up with their performance on Wednesday night.
Back-rower Angus Crichton was named player of the series.
“I would like to say thank you very much to Queensland. Great series,” Crichton said.
“Thank you to all the coaches for believing in us and giving us a chance to come up here and do something special. Thank you to my family, my beautiful partner Chloe.
“And thank you to my teammates. Boys, it’s comin’ home!”
THE DRAMA
There had been talk of fireworks in the build-up to the decider but no-one could have predicted what happened when Daly Cherry-Evans and Luai came together in the 31st minute.
What started as a push-and-shove quickly escalated into something more dramatic as Jeremy Nanai rushed in to get involved, sparking a melee involving players from both sides, including those on the respective benches.
Even Haumole Olakau’atu, dressed in a blazer as part of the extended squad, ran in to become involved. When the dust had settled, Ashley Klein sent Nanai to the sin bin and remarkably gave Cameron Murray a spell as well – Murray was on the interchange bench when the drama kicked off.
NSW captain Isaac Yeo was stunned, asking Klein what he was supposed to do.
“You sort it out – you play with 12,” Klein replied. Olakau’atu was evicted from the field of play for his involvement with the Maroons.
There was still time in the half for the Maroons to take the lead, albeit in the final throes of the half. Spencer Leniu had made another impact off the bench but he went too far on the stroke of halftime, taking out Cherry-Evans after raw Maroons skipper had put up a bomb.
Given the chance to get on the board, Queensland took it and Valentine Holmes gave the home side a slender lead. As the sides made their way off at halftime, Cherry-Evans and Yeo approached Klein.
He gave them short shrift after being confronted for the umpteenth time in the game.
”It’s not a good look for what we want our game to look like,” Klein said.
MOSES PARTS THE MAROONS
Mitchell Moses came into Origin with his representative career under the spotlight. He departed as a fully-fledged Origin player.
Moses was magnificent in Melbourne and you could argue he was even better at Suncorp Stadium. His kicking game was crucial in the first half as the game descended into a war of attrition. Field position was vital and Moses was king. Then the second half arrived and Moses went to work. At one point, he looked in trouble as he received treatment for what seemed to be a foot injury.
If there was a doubt over his fitness, it was gone soon after when he chased down a flying Reece Walsh, who looked destined to run the length of the field.
Moses then took control. The Maroons were still a hope when Moses got the ball and saw a chance.
He didn’t waste it as he showed strength to spear between Queensland defenders and force his way over.
The Blues were in command. Sadly, one of the nights of his career ended with Moses on the sidelines with doctor Nathan Gibbs amid fears he had suffered a torn bicep.
Dylan Edwards was a worthy player of the match winner.
He made 238m from his 26 runs in a flawless performance.
“Definitely didn’t expect that,” Edwards said of the accolade.
“We had a great bunch of boys that really ripped in tonight, came to work hard and do our state proud and our families proud. We did that.”
MADGE THE MASTERMIND
We saw another side to Michael Maguire in this series and it may just be the making of his rebirth as an NRL coach.
Maguire orchestrated an upset at Suncorp Stadium. He did it by showing a side of his character rarely seen. Maguire messed with Billy Slater’s mind. At times during the series, Slater looked rattled.
Maguire spoke about glass houses. He taunted the Maroons and his players loved it. After a flogging in Origin I, he rebuilt his side and they responded with two remarkable wins.
In Melbourne, they were irresistible. At Suncorp, they were impregnable. Queensland couldn’t find a way through.
They banged on the Blues door and were turned away time and time again. NSW would not be denied as they produced one of the greatest wins in their history.
Winning at Suncorp Stadium is never easy. It is even harder in a decider. The Blues had done it.
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