State of Origin 3: Iconic photo shows why NSW Blues can’t compete with Maroons

After more than four decades of Origin epics, one trait still gives Queensland an edge over NSW. Two legends reveal what makes the Maroons special.

Stephen Crichton taken down by Daly Cherry-Evans in an iconic Origin tackle.

NSW, it’s time to end the humiliation and show some of that famous Queensland spirit.

And this is the image Blues players should be shown ahead of Wednesday night’s third State of Origin match in Sydney.

It clearly shows the determination and desperation of nine spirited and ravenous Queenslanders who chased down NSW’s Stephen Crichton in game two.

That’s right, nine players who refused to give up on the pursuit of Crichton who was eventually run down by Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.

Cherry-Evans is 4233 days older than Crichton — but that didn’t matter.

Nine Maroons chase down Stephen Crichton with only one other Blues player in the picture.

“Don’t let your teammate or your state down” said former Queensland player and coach Michael Hagan. “Don’t give up – that’s the Queensland motto.”

Maroons legend Chris Close added: “The photo epitomises what Origin means to Queensland.”

Down two-nil, NSW must win Origin III to salvage whatever pride remains in an embarrassed state.

There were other key moments in this year’s series where NSW’s urgency collapsed – Lindsay Collins running past five NSW defenders to outleap James Tedesco and set up the match winning try in Adelaide.

And Maroons star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scoring from a Murray Taulagi kick in game two when the only defender patrolling the back field was prop Payne Haas.

Shown a photo of nine Queensland players stalking Crichton, Close said: “It represents what we’ve tried to foster from the very first game.

“If you look at that photo, there it is right there – nine Queenslanders trying to look out for each other and not one of them has given up the chase. Not one has pulled back.

“There was one player (Cherry-Evans) who was probably questioning his ability to get there when he took off but not once did he give up. In fact, he was going that fast when he got there he went straight past him (Crichton).

Stephen Crichton chased down by the Maroons. Picture: NRL Photos

“Not only are we out there playing for each other and ourselves, we are out there playing for every man, woman and child in this magnificent state we live in.

“That can’t be just spoken about – it’s got to be felt and inherited.

“Everyone wanted to talk about Daly Cherry-Evans’ tackle and we should have been talking about it, the effort that he gave.

“Well done Daly, but well done to other guys who made the effort as well. You can tell by their body language that none of them had given up and some were probably 30 metres from (Crichton), sprinting as hard as they could.

“I know it means something to NSW, it means a lot to them. But there is something different in Queensland and I can’t put a finger on it or explain it. I can only feel it. I still can’t find the right words after 43 years.

“We have people in and around the team that care and we’ve had that from day one.”

Asked about “effort plays”, Maroons coach Billy Salter said: “You can probably go through the whole team and each individual has had a couple throughout the series.

“Reuben Cotter has them every time he takes the field. Lindsay Collins is another.

“Everyone is contributing to the results. We’ve got a fantastic group of young men who are performing accordingly. They are a pleasure to work with.”

The nine Queensland players chasing Crichton were Cherry Evans, Tabuai-Fidow, Taulagi, Cameron Munster, Xavier Coates, Harry Grant, Val Holmes, Jeremiah Nanai, Harry Grant and Reece Walsh. Only winger Brian To’o is in the frame for NSW, 10 metres behind Crichton.

The Greatest State of Origin Editions

The Greatest State of Origin Editions