State of Origin 2022: Blues halves fail to fire as Maroons get up to old tricks in the ruck
In a game as close as the Origin opener, a call by the referee either way can change the result – these decisions prove how fickle the game can be.
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The weak minds weren’t tested by the wind. The gale forces that were predicted – and forecast by NSW coach Brad Fittler to put the fear of God into players on both sides – never eventuated as the opening game of the State of Origin series began with a Queensland victory.
The minds were instead tested by a series of lineball decisions that may prompt the NRL to fast-track their testing of multimillion-dollar ball tracking technology.
Rugby league can be a game of centimetres. Millimetres even. Within the space of a few minutes in the latter stages of the opening half at Accor Stadium, two passes demonstrated how fickle the game can be.
Seven minutes before the break, Daniel Tupou soared to take a bomb and passed infield to James Tedesco, who streaked away to score. The celebrations didn’t last long – referee Ashley Klein felt the Tupou pass ball had travelled forward and the try was denied to howls of protest from the Blues fans.
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Not forward but ayee #origin#StateofOriginpic.twitter.com/0G6sLuVM5f
— â™ ï¸ (@acemc89) June 8, 2022
Minutes later, Harry Grant jumped out of dummy half and passed to Kalyn Ponga. His pass hit the deck but Selwyn Cobbo reacted to pick it off his toes and kick infield for Dane Gagai.
The replay on the big screen prompted more howls of protest from the Blues faithful. This time in dismay at the pass from Ponga, which looked dubious. It could have gone either way. It went Queensland’s and the locals weren’t happy.
Tedesco made his feelings known to Klein, who responded matter of factly. “I’m just ruling it as I see it James,” he said. Clearly, the Blues’ faithful saw it differently.
That’s the problem with forward passes – not everyone sees them the same. Technology would eliminate the second guessing, hence the NRL’s desire to trial ball-chip technology in the background.
“Interesting to speak to (referees boss) Jared (Maxwell) and (hear) his view on the ball going forward and Junior Paulo being held (back at the scrum),” Fittler said.
“At the end of the day, I don’t know if it made the difference in the game.”
They have used it in the women’s game and some NRL matches on the quiet. They have been gathering evidence to support its introduction. Some day soon, it may go to the ARL Commission for their approval.
ARLC chair Peter V’landys and his fellow commissioners were high in the stands at Accor Stadium, sharing a corporate box with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the man he succeeded, Scott Morrison.
A penny for their thoughts? Had forward pass technology been in play at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night, it may have played a part in the outcome of the opening Origin game.
As it was, the result ended up in the hands of the stars of the show as the Maroons’ $4 million spine led them to victory. Who said money can’t buy success? Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans were the difference makers for the Maroons as they overcame injury to win in Sydney for the first time in five years.
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When one took a play off, the other tormented the Blues. Fittler and his players had spoken about the need to work together to keep Munster in check.
They failed miserably. Munster’s dancing feet left Blues defenders in a spin. He came up with big play after big play.
When he wasn’t giving them hell, Cherry-Evans weaved his magic. Then, it was a third member of the spine who sunk the dagger into the Blues 15 minutes into the second half when Ponga shot a tracer-like pass to Valentine Holmes.
Ponga with a PERFECT pass 🎯#Originpic.twitter.com/H0KDwaxrKA
— NRL (@NRL) June 8, 2022
There was no question over Ponga’s bullet. The only howls from the NSW crowd were in disbelief at the brilliance of the Queensland fullback. The Maroons were relaxed and in control.
At one point in the second half, assistant coach Johnathan Thurston caught a paper plane thrown from the stands and shared a laugh with fans in the stands.
As good as Queensland were, the result came down to the final seconds as Isaah Yeo was dragged down agonisingly short of the tryline.
Another inch and he would have scored. Origin I was a game of centimetres.
ANALYSIS: NO SOUR GRAPES, THE BETTER TEAM TRIUMPHED
- By Paul Crawley
Billy Slater, take a bow. That was a tremendous coaching performance from a bloke in charge of his first game.
And Brad Fittler, you have nothing to be ashamed of.
That was a hell of a game of rugby league. And both coaches should be proud of the performance of their teams.
From the opening kick off where Josh Papali’i steamrolled Isaah Yeo, to the final desperate play when the Blues tried to pull the game out of the bag but fell agonizingly short.
In the end the better team won on the night.
Yes, Blues fans have every right to be blowing up about that shocking no try call against NSW in the first half, when a forward pass was called on Daniel Tupou that denied James Tedesco a legitimate try.
But it wasn’t Freddy’s selections that cost NSW victory.
It was a game decided one dodgy call, and moments of brilliance and desperation.
That and the genius of Cameron Munster and Kalyn Ponga.
Credit where credit is due, the Queenslanders just won it fair and square.
While the Blues did appear frustrated at times, they also showed tremendous spirit to fight to the very last second.
There is no question Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans got the points over Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai on the night, and that pretty much was the case across the field.
But you seriously have to congratulate both teams.
NSW’s back three never stopped all night.
Tedesco finished with 21 runs for 236m. Tupou 24 runs for 178m. Brian To’o 23 runs for 173.
Jack Wighton at left centre was a standout for the Blues in the first half after getting the nob to start over Penrith’s Stephen Crichton.
Would the likes of Jake Trbojevic and Josh Addo-Carr changed anything? I doubt it.
Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic certainly would have, but that was the strike power the Blues were down on.
The easy thing would be to throw it back on the coaching but it would also be unfair.
Only a metre at the death separated the teams when Yeo was pulled down short on that final play.
No one went into this Origin opener under more pressure than the rival coaches.
Slater did a fabulous job to rectify the disaster that was Origin I last year in Townsville when the Maroons went to the break trailing 20-6 and ended up losing 50-6.
This time they went to halftime up 6-4 and Billy’s ice-cool composure obviously rubbing off on his squad.
He had been forced the deal with the loss of Xavier Coates to an ankle injury before Jeremiah Nanai was also forced from the field.
But Slater’s rotations were superb.
And whatever he said to get Munster up for the game certainly worked.
Munster praised his coach after the game, explaining how Slater’s attention to detail had been key.
You never expected it to be anything but.
It is going to be tough for the Blues to fight back.
But don’t blame that loss on coaching.
That was just a brilliant game where one team had to lose.
FITTLER’S SUBTLE SLEDGE FOR ORIGIN REFEREE
- By Dean Ritchie
This was a superstar match-up that became a bash-up.
Queensland halves Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans pulled down NSW’s pants during a shock 16-10 win in State of Origin I before 80,512 fans at Accor Stadium.
This was the Maroons’ first win in Sydney since 2017, and places them just 80 minutes from reclaiming State of Origin supremacy and pride.
To come to Sydney and steal victory, this was Blue murder.
Munster and Cherry-Evans totally dominated NSW’s halves, Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, the Maroons pair playing some exhilarating eyes-up footy.
NSW’s halves were at ‘sixes and sevens’.
Former NSW coach Phil Gould told Munster: “You played with more free spirit than the NSW halves.”
Cleary’s kicking game was ineffective as NSW crashed to a loss which gave Billy Slater a first-up win as Queensland coach. Luai tried but couldn’t spark his Blues.
Munster carved up the Blues while Cherry-Evans scored a crucial try early in the second half to set up the Maroons upset victory.
Cherry-Evans doubled Cleary’s stats while Munster has become the elite player of this Origin era.
“We wanted to come back from last year and show what this jersey meant to us,” Cherry-Evans said. “We knew what it takes and we were all there for each other.”
NSW coach Brad Fittler said slow play the balls contributed to his side’s, at times, disjointed attack.
“Playing off slow rucks is a hard thing to do,” Fittler said. “I thought Queensland won the ruck. They did a really good job there; they got in tight and held on and Ashley (Klein, referee), didn’t want to give penalties away. I think we got our first penalty with 17 minutes to go.
“We should have done a better job and we should have held them down longer. Simple.”
Cleary added: “We were trying to move the ball too much.”
NSW was behind 16-4 in the 71st minute before Blues forward Cam Murray scored his first Origin try to ensure a thrilling finish.
During a late NSW comeback, Munster stripped the ball from Blues centre Stephen Crichton to reclaim Maroons momentum.
“The number six jersey for Queensland inspires generations,” said Immortal Andrew Johns.
NSW skipper James Tedesco described Munster as “dangerous.”
“We were going one-out to a spot to try and create a play. We weren’t pushing for each other on that play to create that quick ruck,” Tedesco said.
The finish was pulsating as NSW pushed hard for victory but Queensland was entitled to their three-tries-to-two victory. This was an epic win which stunned the critics.
“This was one of the hardest games I’ve played,” Munster said. “We know NSW will chance their arm in game two in Perth.”
Queensland now travel to Perth for a potentially series-clinching game on June 26.
NSW will consider changes for game two with Nicho Hynes, Jacob Saifiti and Tyson Frizell — part of the extended squad — to be considered.
Asked about possible changes, Fittler said: “It’s pretty early.”
And in a further blow for NSW, Crichton was placed on report for a dangerous throw on Munster. It was Crichton’s first Origin tackle after replacing Kotoni Staggs, who came off with a shoulder injury.
Fittler made several last-minute changes, starting Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Liam Martin and pushing Junior Paulo and Cam Murray to the bench.
This win helped erase some of the horrid memories from 2021 when the Maroons were defeated by a combined total of 94-26.
NSW backrower Isaah Yeo was stunned after tackling Queensland giant Josh Papalii in the first carry of the game. Yeo stumbled back into the defensive line but was only checked medically three and a half minutes later. He remained on the field.
It was frantic and fast early with few stoppages.
The player who many thought would be demoted to the bench scored the opening try from right centre. Canberra’s Jack Wighton — who plays five-eighth at club level — carried two defenders over to score a try which ended the early-game nerves for NSW.
Queensland winger Xavier Coates came off in the 29th minute with what appeared to be an ankle injury with Kurt Capewell shifting to centre with Val Holmes to the wing.
Pushing down the short side, Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga threw a loose pass which was collected by winger Selwyn Cobbo, who then showed considerable skill to kick ahead for Gagai to score a wonderful try.
Cherry-Evans scored a solo try from a scrum win nine minutes into the second half to give Queensland a 12-4 lead. And then the Maroons shocked the large crowd when Holmes scooted over in the 55th minute after a sublime pass from Kalyn Ponga.
FULLTIME: Queensland have pulled off a State of Origin ambush – stealing game one in Sydney with a courageous, backs-to-the-wall performance.
The injury-hit Maroons triumphed 16-10, through inspirational performances from Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans and a handful of underrated forwards who lifted tenfold, like Rueben Cotter and Patrick Carrigan.
NSW stormed home and came within an inch of an Isaah Yeo try right on fulltime that would’ve sent the match to extra time – but, like much of what NSW did for most of the night, it was just a touch short.
Queensland lost Xavier Coates to an ankle injury early in the first half, and briefly went down to 15 men when Jeremiah Nanai also went off with an injured ankle – but each time the dug deeper, scrambled harder and pulled off the Origin plays.
Queensland can close out the series at Suncorp on June 26.
71ST MINUTE TRY: We have a grandstand finish coming!
Cameron Murray crosses with just over eight minutes remaining to bring the score back to six points, following Nathan Cleary’s conversion. Queensland lead 16-10.
A sharp dart from dummy half from Damien Cook puts the Queensland defence in two minds, and Jarome Luai capitalises with a superb short-ball for Murray who bursts through a huge gap and wrong-foots Kalyn Ponga.
NSW have attacked the left side without luck for much of the night … but it’s given them a shot at one of the great escapes, with timerunning out.
64TH MINUTE: What has Billy Slater put in the Queensland water bottles? He’s sprinkled a bit of magic potion in there, for sure.
Queensland are defending their line like their lives depend on it – somehow stopping Brian To’o from metres out as maroon jerseys appear from everyone to block the power-packed Panther’s charge.
And seconds later you see Jeremiah Nanai – who 15 minutes ago, looked like he was facing months on the sidelines with a serious ankle injury – pops up and takes a run. Then lays on a brutal tackle.
NSW are unravelling, too. Nathan Cleary hasn’t played this badly since the 2020 Grand Final and the forward pack have been absolutely thundered by Queensland’s little known stars – think Cotter, Carrigan and, in the last five minutes, the resurrected Jeremiah Nanai.
55TH MINUTE TRY: Queensland are absolutely thriving right now – and they have a THIRD try. This one to Valentine Holmes.
A beautiful cutout pass from Kalyn Ponga finds Holmes on the chest and he skips past Daniel Tupou to put another nail in the NSW coffin.
This is turning into a Queensland avalanche – despite being down to 15 players.
Holmes cannot convert, however, and Queensland leads 16-4.
50TH MINUTE TRY: Cameron Munster, you absolute magician. And Daly Cherry-Evans is the beneficiary – slicing through from a scrum to extend Queensland’s lead to eight points.
The Storm star flat out embarrassed the NSW defensive line, running 40m from a standing start, dancing through flimsy defence – breaking four, five … maybe six tackles along the way?
“I’m shaking my head that was on another stratosphere,” says Andrew Johns.
“He’s not playing reserve grade – he’s playing the best players in the world and he’s making them look silly.”
His run is finally brought down by James Tedesco, but after a NSW attempted intercept results in another scrum … Queensland strike.
Cherry-Evans walks through some non-existent NSW defence and sets up an easy conversion for Valentine Holmes.
It’s not without controversy though – Junior Paulo is complaining that he gets held in the scrum, and the Accor Stadium crowd erupt in loud boos as the vision is shown on the big screen.
They aren’t taking the try away though – and Queensland are well in control at the 50 minute mark.
43RD MINUTE: Oh no … this looks awful.
Jeremiah Nanai is down and in terrible pain – chasing Brian To’o off a blockbusting kick return, Selwyn Cobbo swings around and collects the Cowboys backrower in the legs.
The right ankle buckles and Nanai hits the deck, immediately clutching at his leg.
He has to be assisted from the field and causes another major reshuffle for the Queensland backline.
It’s the worst start possible for Billy Slater and the Maroons.
They’re already a man down – and playing an edge backrower in the centres at that – and now lose that man, pushing Reuben Cotter into the centres.
Backs to the wall stuff for Queensland here.
41ST MINUTE: A huge 40 minutes coming up. Want to know how big it is? The winner of game one wins the series nearly three quarters of the time.
The Blues will feel a bit aggrieved to go into the break down by two points, having twice crossed the tryline only to be pulled back for infringements.
Queensland have played an incredibly gutsy half of footy – as they always do. Pat Carrigan has been arguably the best player on the field through the first 40 minutes.
But they’re down a man and that will likely start to bite over the next 40 lung-busting minutes.
Here we go baby.
HALFTIME: NSW DENIED …. AGAIN!
That’s another dagger blow for the Blues – with a second try scratched off, as Junior Paulo crashes over only for the video referee to overruled it for obstruction.
It was so nearly a huge break for the home side on the stroke of halftime – Queensland can’t back up their try with a completed set, and NSW didn’t look the gift horse in the mouth.
Paulo skipped through the Queensland defence to crash over. If it looked a little too easy, it’s because it was.
Cameron Murray was in no-man’s land after hanging around in the Queensland defensive line, and he is pinged for obstruction.
The Blues fans don’t like it. But it’s the right call.
Meanwhile, Cameron Munster has a ping at field goal with seconds left in the half … and it’s wide!
The end of a helter-skelter 40 minutes of Origin footy.
Queensland have the edge, 6-4. But they’ve lost Xavier Coates … how big a factor will that be as the match winds on?
38TH MINUTE TRY: And it is a little bit of Selwyn Cobbo magic! He does a brilliant job scooting down the right wing, putting through a pinpoint grubber … and who is there? Dane Gagai.
It’s his 12th Origin try and there are few more reliably tryscorers at the level. He loves Origin football.
But that was all about Cobbo – beautiful hands to scoop the low pass off the ground, and then kicks off his wrong foot with incredible precision.
“He has the world at his feet,” says Andrew Johns.
Valentine Holmes converts from near in front, and Queensland lead 6-4.
It’s a devastating double blow for NSW, who moments earlier were denied a chance to extend their lead when James Tedesco was back for a forward pass.
Roosters teammate Daniel Tupou had leapt high aboveValentine Holmes to take a cross-field bomb, and frees the arms for a deft offload to Tedesco – but it is a fraction forward and the Blues are stripped of a tryscoring chance.
29TH MINUTE: Xavier Coates is off the field – and there are genuineconcerns he might be done for the night.
Footage shows him limping on the sideline, with serious concerns he has suffered the dreaded syndesmosis after getting tangled up in a tackle.
“Xavier Coates is gone. He cannot go wrong. He can hardly run,” says Andrew Johns.
A fourth substitution for Billy Slater – who brings Jeremiah Nanai on, in the centres, with clubmate Valentine Holmes going to the wing.
Will Coates be back? It looks unlikely.
And even if he comes back, it’s put an enormous amount of pressure on Slater’s bench and substitutions.
Queenslanders digging deep. It’s what Origin is all about, right?
Xavier Coates won’t return, video brings concern for high/medial ankle sprain (syndesmosis INJURY). Traumatic mechanism brings possibility for at least a moderate sprain, likely facing multi-week recovery #Originpic.twitter.com/XQgNtuFI4v
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 8, 2022
23RD MINUTE: Queensland are facing some serious injury concerns – and Billy Slater has already burnt three substitutions … and the game is only 23 minutes old.
Electric winger Xavier Coates has spent the past few minutes hobbling in backplay and is far from 100 per cent.
On the other side of the field, Blues back Kotoni Staggs is down and receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, Slater has brought on Lindsay Collins and bench hooker Harry Grant. That’s three chances in the opening quarter. Queensland throwing everything they have into the first half.
21ST MINUTE: Hit of the NIGHT!
Pat Carrigan – fresh off the bench, and with a belly full of fire – has buried tryscorer Jack Wighton with what Rabs Warren might describe a DEAD SET BELLRINGER.
Maybe that’s why Billy Slater brought him on so early? “Well he’s certainly made an impact with his first tackle,” deadpans Slater in the commentary box.
“Patty’s certainly made himself known out there.”
Meanwhile, Daly Cherry-Evans is having a tough night – he has twice thrown passes that have gone to ground off the hands of teammates.
He’s putting his outside backs under pressure with tough balls as the NSW defence gets in their face.
14TH MINUTE: The Blues draw first blood – and it comes through malignedcentre Jack Wighton.
It all came off the back of a sloppy Queensland error. Val Holmes turned the ball over inside his own 30 and that gives NSW their best field position of the night.
Less than 60 seconds later, the ball is shifted to the Blues’ left and a sharp pass from Jarome Luai puts the Queensland defence on the back foot – and with Dane Gagai and Selwyn Cobbo back-pedalling, Wighton, a controversial selection at left centre in some quarters, splits the defence and barges his way over from close range.
Nathan Cleary, from the sideline, overcooks his kick and it pings the left upright.
NSW lead 4-0. It’s been a tense opening passage – but proof that errors are worth twice as much in an Origin. Do. Not. Make them.
Meanwhile, Billy Slater has pulled the trigger on his first interchange: Josh Papalii is off, and Brisbane’s Pat Carrigan comes on.
12TH MINUTE: The first penalty of the night goes to Queensland – with Selwyn Cobbo dragged into touch, but not before referee Ashley Klein had given the ‘held’ warning.
“That’s a tough one, because at clubland that’s fair game,” says Andrew Johns in commentary.
Brad Fittler shakes his head ruefully in the box.
NSW escape with a Queensland error as Tino Fa’asuamaleaui spills the ball under heavy pressure following a bullet pass from close range by Daly Cherry-Evans.
“He’ll be disappointed with that one Daly Cherry-Evans – he’sput his front rower under all sorts of pressure,” adds Johns.
10TH MINUTE: Queensland are building to something here.
Daly Cherry-Evans steps around Reagan Campbell-Gillard and makes a half-break through the middle of the Blues defence to put the Maroons on the front foot.
Cameron Munster’s short kick dribbles too far, and boy did NSW need that. Queensland were breathing down NSW’s neck.
The air comes out of Queensland’s bubble even more when NSW win a six-again for a ruck offence, but there’s no end product as the cross-field kick at the end of the set for Daniel Tupou is knocked on by the Roosters winger.
10 minutes gone and we’re scoreless.
6TH MINUTE: The Blues enjoy – and blow – the first chance of the match, care of a six-again, as they shift the ball right and find space on Queensland’s left edge.
In the fourth minute, just as it appears Liam Martin has been put through a gap, the big Panther – promoted from the bench – leaves the pass behind.
Meanwhile, Isaah Yeo has been assessed by the on-field doctors over his early head knock and been cleared to continue – video footage has also cleared the NSW workhorse.
That seems a little surprising, given the threshold for which players have been hauled off the field for head knocks in the past.
8.17PM: We are ON! And there’s enormous drama in the first tackle!
Nathan Cleary launches the ball into the Sydney air and Origin is underway, and Josh Papalii charges back at a 1000 miles an hour – and knocks key Blues man Isaah Yeo onto his backside.
The Panthers lock, and crucial Blues link man, appeared to stumble as he got back to his feet but has managed to stay on the field for the time being.
It’s been a frenetic start to the match with Payne Haas running over the top of Cameron Munster in the Blues’ opening set.
7.58PM: Maroons debutant Reuben Cotter has breathed a sigh of relief, with his first child not arriving yet.
Cotter spent his first week in Camp Maroon stressing about whether his heavily pregnant partner Mackenzie Falco would go into labour in the lead-up to his State of Origin debut.
Falco is due on Saturday with the couple’s first baby.
However she has managed to hang on and will be watching her partner make his Origin debut from the comfort of their Townsville home.
Cotter’s family made the trip from Sarina, south of Mackay, to Sydney to watch the North Queensland Cowboys forward start at lock.
Cotter will be on the first flight back to Townsville on Thursday as the couple eagerly await the baby’s birth.
BLUES DROP SELECTION BOMBSHELLS
7.14PM: Final teams are IN – and the Blues have pulled a pair of swifties … but not the one we expected.
Despite speculation that Queensland could promote star hooker Harry Grant from the bench – or NSW could find room at left centre for debutant Stephan Crichton – they will line up 1-17.
That means versatile St George Illawarra and Maroons star Ben Hunt will start the game at hooker as named by debutant coach Billy Slater.
However the Blues have made a major selection switcheroo bringing two players off the bench – but neither named Stephen Crichton.
Instead Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Liam Martin have been called on to handle the early exchanges, with Junior Paulo and Cameron Murray dropping back to the bench.
It also means Blues coach Brad Fittler hasn’t wavered from his call to deploy Canberra’s Dally M medal winner Jack Wighton in the centres.
Blues: 1. James Tedesco 2. Brian To’o 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Jack Wighton 5. Daniel Tupou 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Payne Haas 9. Damien Cook 16. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 12. Tariq Sims 15. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 10. Junior Paulo 11. Cameron Murray 14. Stephen Crichton 17. Ryan Matterson. 18th man: 18. Nicho Hynes
Maroons: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Dane Gagai 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 9. Ben Hunt 10. Josh Papalii’i 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Felise Kaufusi 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Harry Grant 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Patrick Carrigan 17. Jeremiah Nanai. 18th man: 19. Jai Arrow
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