State of Origin 2018: Seven moments that cost Queensland the series

QUEENSLAND claimed a deserved win in Origin III, but the cold hard fact remains that the series was already lost — here is where it all went wrong for Kevin Walters’ side.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — JUNE 24: Ben Hunt of the Maroons and teammates look dejected after a Blues try during game two of the State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on June 24, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

A CONSOLATION victory in Origin III was thoroughly deserved for Queensland, but the cold hard fact remains that the series was already lost when they won at Suncorp Stadium.

With eyes already looking towards the 2019 Origin series, here’s the seven moments that decided the series for Kevin Walters and his Maroons.

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CAMERON SMITH HANGS THEM UP

Cameron Smith’s shock rep retirement mere weeks before the series threw the Maroons into total disarray and forced them, for the first time in a long time, to rely on mortal playmakers instead of all-time legends.

Andrew McCullough is a tough, smart player who has acquitted himself well in his maiden series, but he’s not Cameron Smith.

Queensland have missed the Storm legend’s poise and decision making under pressure at so many crucial junctures in this series as, at last, they were the ones who wilted under the fire of Origin football.

Cameron Smith’s retirement shocked Queensland ahead of the 2018 State of Origin series.

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BILLY SLATER BREAKS DOWN

With Smith joining Cronk and Thurston in representative retirement, Billy Slater was the lone steady hand in the Queensland spine for Origin I.

Ben Hunt had nine minutes of Origin action to his name, Cameron Munster had one match and McCullough was on debut.

When Slater broke down with a hamstring injury two days before the match Queensland were forced to throw Michael Morgan at the back.

While Morgan did a serviceable job at the MCG the lack of experience proved impossible for Queensland to overcome and their attack suffered as a result.

Billy Slater’s injury rocked the Maroons ahead of Origin I.

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A 50/50 CALL COMES UP TAILS

Queensland had been on the ropes for much of Origin I but a length of the field intercept try to Valentine Holmes had them within striking distance of the Blues.

Moments before half-time a Ben Hunt grubber trickled over the dead ball-line after Dane Gagai and Josh Addo-Carr both had a crack at it.

Originally, the call was for a Blues drop out but swift video examination changed the decision to a 20-metre restart for the Blues.

It denied Queensland one last shot at the Blues line when snatching the lead just before half-time would have given them a critical advantage at a crucial time.

State of Origin 2018 Game 3

VIEW GALLERY

A TINY MOMENT WITH HUGE CONSEQUENCES

After Gagai and Latrell Mitchell traded tries in the early stages of the second half of Origin I the match was once again on a knife’s edge.

On the very set following the Mitchell try, Blues hooker Damien Cook made a foray from dummy half on his own 40-metre line.

As he crossed halfway he was claimed by Kaufusi and Hunt and looked as though he’d die with the ball but managed to pop a late offload to Boyd Cordner, who fired a quick pass to James Tedesco.

The Roosters fullback knifed through the middle of the field and was brought down on the 20, paving the way for James Maloney to pilot a kick over to Tom Trbojevic to score and give the Blues a lead they would never relinquish.

Tom Trbojevic scored a try at a key moment for NSW. Picture: Brett Costello

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MUNSTER LETS THE PRESSURE OFF BLUES

After Trbojevic scored his try and gave the Blues an 18-12 lead, Origin I evolved into an arm wrestle between the two sides with the ball staying in play for 12 sets of six.

That’s no penalties, no errors, no kicks into touch, just 12 straight sets of back-and-forth footy.

Queensland, through some good kicking and stout defence, managed to gradually win the field position battle and earn a goal-line dropout.

The Maroons had earned the good field position through 10 minutes of hard work but it was all for nothing when Cameron Munster made an error on the ensuing set.

It was Queensland’s last real chance to level the scores with Josh Addo-Carr crossing for his match-sealing try less than five minutes later.

Cameron Munster was left to rue a crucial error in Origin I.

THE STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF THE WONDER BOY

Kalyn Ponga attracted rave reviews for his Origin debut after he played 53 minutes in the middle of the field, a totally foreign role for the Knights fullback.

Ponga did a fine job and can be proud of his efforts, but the decision to play him in that position for so long indirectly torpedoed Queensland’s chances.

The Maroons had done well to dominate the opening 25 minutes of the match on the back of some inspired forward play and a litany of brilliant touches from Billy Slater.

In playing Ponga in the middle — and allowing him to settle in on one side in attack — Kevin Walters robbed his side of the two greatest weapons they had against the Blues on that night.

Ponga’s performance was held up as a bright spot for Queensland but as good as it was it was a Pyrrhic victory at best.

Kalyn Ponga took on a surprise role for the Maroons.

A CHANCE AT GLORY GONE BEGGING

For all of Queensland’s missteps through the first two matches they still had a golden opportunity to level the series heading into the decider when James Roberts was sin-binned with 12 minutes left in Origin II.

Despite running plays to great effect all night down their left side the Maroons then decided to leave Greg Inglis and Valentine Holmes in the garage, concentrating their attack down the right towards Will Chambers.

Chances were created, but why wouldn’t they attack where the Blues were weakest?

It was a failure of the playmakers and the direction they provided — ironically, the very same area that cost the Blues so many times in the past.