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Queensland clean sweep ruined by Blues’ nine minute, three try blitz

NSW were staring down a slice of unwanted history in Origin III but the Blues have stunned the Maroons with an incredible nine minute onslaught.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
9 min read
July 12, 2023 - 10:36PM
Addo-Carr scored an incredible try. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Addo-Carr scored an incredible try. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The NSW Blues have dodged disaster, pulling off a 24-10 win in State of Origin game III in Sydney to avoid a 3-0 whitewash.

In front of a crowd of 75,342 despite the dead rubber, the Blues dominated with debutant Bradman Best scoring two of NSW’s four tries to claim a commanding win.

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Best was an “inspired selection”, scoring twice, running 126m and two line breaks as he starred at left centre.

After an action-packed first half, that finished 18-10 featuring brilliant solo tries from Blues winger Josh Addo-Carr and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow for the Maroons, the second half was an arm-wrestle.

Addo-Carr’s try in the 20th minute,

The ball came out wide with a quick pass from Bradman Best getting Josh Addo-Carr on the outside.

Famously “the fastest man in the world”, Addo-Carr sprinted away before kicking for himself, with the friendliest of bounces as the Blues go up 10-6.

Thompson added it was “Slater-esque”.

Maroons assistant coach Cameron Smith conceded: “That was magic!

“We all know how fast this man is. But the skill that he showed in this little piece of play down the left-hand side.

“What a play by the Blues!”

The match was set up for the Blues with three tries in nine minutes, which tore the heart out of the Maroons.

Maroons assistant coach Cameron Smith said: “They’re absolutely tearing the Maroons to shreds out there.

“Cody Walker on that left-hand edge is tearing apart the right edge of Queensland. There’s no communication at the moment between Valentine Holmes and Daly Cherry-Evans. They normally work so well together.”

Bradman Best has had one hell of a debut. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Bradman Best has had one hell of a debut. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The only score of the second half was Best’s second, when he followed a James Tedesco break and scored next to the post.

NSW legend Paul Gallen praised Best, who was a true bolter for the game.

“He’s an elite player he played Origin level with a fantastic debut, coming out of trouble defensively the Blues as an entire team particularly him were outstanding,” Gallen said on Nine.

“As far as criticism goes that comes with the territory. I have to say it was a bolt from the blue, probably wasn’t in any one’s mind to be picked, he went out there and had a blinder.”

But at the end of the day, the result will go in the history books as a 2-1 series win for the Maroons, despite the Blues’ game three victory.

Andrew Johns said during the commentary that: “It goes to show how hard it is to win 3-0.”

Blues five-eighth Cody Walker was named man of the match, while Queensland’s Reuben Cotter was named the player of the series.

9.45pm — Bradman Best scores a double

The Blues have broken the deadlock in the second half with Bradman Best streaking away for his second try of the night.

Best was a controversial selection in the centres for the match but appears right at home.

James Tedesco streaked away down the left hand side, before drawing in AJ Brimson and putting Best away to open up a 24-10 lead.

9.35pm — Arm-wrestle is on

The opening half of the contest was an open battle with the dead rubber opening up the attacking prowess from both sides.

But the first 20 of the second half has been much tighter with both teams still wanting the win.

The Maroons are playing for history while the Blues are playing for their future — and it’s starting to get tense.

After 60 minutes, it’s still 18-10.

Two minutes later, the Blues looked to have scored but a touch from Stephen Crichton saw the try taken off Isaah Yeo.

8.57pm — Blues lead by eight at halftime

It’s been an entertaining first half at Accor Stadium with the Blues taking an 18-10 lead to the break.

A penalty late in the first half for a ruck infringement gave NSW a more than a converted try lead but it’s been an entertaining match so far.

Five tries between the sides and plenty of action has given the Blues the edge to avoid a historic clean sweep. But Queensland have showed they’re never dead and eight points is nothing in the modern game — game on!

8.50pm — Queensland bounce back

Who thought this would be a war of attrition?

Queensland have scored the fifth try of the first half with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scoring another “Slater-esque” try with a kick for himself as he outpaced Brian To’o for the try.

In the 38th minute, it’s 16-10 and we’ve got quite the game on our hands.

8.37pm — ‘Tearing the Maroons to shreds’

Bradman best has scored and the Blues are on fire with three tries in nine minutes to open a 16-6 lead.

Too bad it’s too late for the series to be alive but this is the Blues side NSW wanted to see.

The Blues scored again when they went wide with Cody Walker putting Best through a hole 15m out as he barged his away across the line.

Bradman Best celebrates his first Origin try. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
Bradman Best celebrates his first Origin try. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Maroons assistant coach Cameron Smith said: “They’re absolutely tearing the Maroons to shreds out there.

“Cody Walker on that left-hand edge is tearing apart the right edge of Queensland. There’s no communication at the moment between Valentine Holmes and Daly Cherry-Evans. They normally work so well together.

“Valentine Holmes is stuck in two minds. He’s come in a few times to protect Daly Cherry-Evans when Martin is running that lead time. No time he was stuck in no man’s land and Best goes straight through for his first try in Origin.”

8.34pm — ‘One of the great Origin tries’

Josh Addo-Carr has handed the Blues the lead, scoring what Nine commentator Mat Thompson called “one of the great Origin tries”.

The ball came out wide with a quick pass from Bradman Best getting Josh Addo-Carr on the outside.

Famously “the fastest man in the world”, Addo-Carr sprinted away before kicking for himself, with the friendliest of bounces as the Blues go up 10-6.

Thompson added it was “Slater-esque”.

Maroons assistant coach Cameron Smith conceded: “That was magic!

“We all know how fast this man is. But the skill that he showed in this little piece of play down the left-hand side.

“What a play by the Blues!”

8.27pm — Blues strike back

Well that’s different.

The Blues have hit straight back after Queensland’s opening try.

After Josh Addo-Carr made a break to put the Blues in good field position, the side went out the other side with quick passing, including a tip on from Keaon Koloamatangi, gave Brian To’o enough time to race to score in the corner.

Stephen Crichton missed the kick but it’s 6-4 in the 17th minute.

But he corrected it a few minutes later after Queensland were penalised for tackling Mitchell Moses while he was kicking.

8.23pm — Queensland score first

NSW had an early try disallowed for off-side but Queensland have made no mistake from their first opportunity.

Cameron Munster kicked over the top but after the ball was batted back, it fell to David Fifita, who barged past James Tedesco to score the first try of the match.

It’s 6-0 in 13 minutes.

8.04pm — ‘They’ll be buggered’: Blues roasted

The Channel 9 commentary team has been talking up the NSWRL’s new centre of excellence and the Olympic walk into the stadium, but fans are questioning just how far they’ve got to walk.

As they were about to run out for the match, it didn’t seem that important for them to get their steps in but the side seemed to be coming from a mile away.

As they left the Centre of Excellence, they camera cut away, talking about the Queenslanders, before cutting back to the Blues, who were still walking.

“They’re still walking? They’ll be buggered,” Paul Vautin joked in commentary.

It raised some eyebrows for fans as well.

7.10pm — The teams are in

But arguably the most shocking thing is that there’s no surprises.

Both teams are 1-17 with the talk of a move to bring Spencer Leniu into the side all talk.

BLUES: 1. James Tedesco (c) 2. Brian To’o 3. Stephen Crichton 4. Bradman Best 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cody Walker 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jake Trbojevic 9. Damien Cook 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Liam Martin 12. Keaon Koloamatangi 13. Cameron Murray

Interchange: 14. Isaah Yeo 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Reece Robson 17. Clint Gutherson

MAROONS: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Xavier Coates 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Cameron Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c) 8. Reuben Cotter 9. Harry Grant 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Patrick Carrigan

Interchange: 14. Ben Hunt 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Moeaki Fotuaika 17. Corey Horsburgh

6.40pm — $50k up for grabs in 23-year Origin first

While the match is dead rubber, there’s no doubt both sides will be desperate for the win.

But although the action is set to be heated, both teams could raise some much needed funds for Sportsbet’s annual Try July campaign.

For every try celebration, Sportsbet will donate $5k to former league greats Nathan Stapleton or Daniel Anderson, who both suffered traumatic neck injuries.

But if one of QLD or NSW bring back the iconic “hand grenade” celebration from 2000 — the last time NSW claimed a clean sweep — Sportsbet will add $50k to the kitty.

What a moment in State of Origin history.
What a moment in State of Origin history.

However, celebrators beware, it may have sparked the Maroon’s eight-straight streak.

Speaking on SEN 1170’s The Run Home with Joel and Fletch, Steve Roach said he still “blames” Bryan Fletcher for the Maroons’ dominant run.

While NSW lost the 2001 series and drew 2002, NSW won three straight between 2003-5 before winning the eight straight.

But Fletch conceded “when they go into camp, on the first night they all sit around and watch the hand grenade”.

6pm — Blues question ‘no one wants to touch’

The NSW Blues head into the final game of the Origin series beaten, battered and with one final chance to avoid a disastrous clean sweep at home.

The Blues have been outplayed throughout the series, capitulating in game one, conceding two tries in the final 10 minutes despite having a man-advantage.

Game two was as one-sided as it gets with Queensland crushing NSW 32-6.

It leaves just game three for the Blues to avoid becoming the first team in 13 years to lose in a clean sweep — and futures of some of NSW’s biggest names in jeopardy.

Speaking on NRL 360 on Tuesday night, Queensland greats Corey Parker and Gorden Tallis said regardless of what the talk is around coach Brad Fittler and captain James Tedesco, their Origin careers are under threat.

Freddy has been under fire. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
Freddy has been under fire. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Parker said Fittler had to shoulder plenty of the blame with the underuse of Dally M Medalist Nicho Hynes in game one and Stefano Utoikamanu in game two, the latter reportedly being told he was “being rested” for the match.

“Respectfully speaking some of the decisions that have been made throughout the series in regards to who is playing where have 100 per cent contributed to a win or a loss,” Parker said.

“I mean you go through some of the messaging. Bradman Best has come into the team and congratulations to Bradman, I hope he goes great, looking to the future. Then they go with Cody Walker who is 33 and at the back-end of his career.

“Reagan Campbell-Gillard didn’t play the style of football they liked last year but he’s back into the team. Tevita Pangai Jr. played his small period and he was out of the team.

“Utoikamanu comes in, plays 10 minutes and now we’re told he’s rested … these decisions deadset play their part. Matt Burton has been part of the series for the first two games, had an opportunity and couldn’t get a gig.

“Liam Martin and Cam Murray (in) game one were your two best players yet couldn’t get on the field. Cam Murray was held off the field for 47 minutes in game two. These are the facts. I’m not making this stuff up.”

He later added: “Nicho Hynes played 10 minutes. He was brought into the team to play a style and couldn’t get his way back into the team.

“Hudson Young out, Tyson Frizell out. What is the messaging to these players? Honestly?”

The Roosters, NSW and Australian skipper has had a tough season. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images
The Roosters, NSW and Australian skipper has had a tough season. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Tallis also asked about Tedesco, who had been widely panned in his opening two matches of the series.

“The question no one wants to touch because it’s tough, Teddy what is he 32? [He has] played a lot of footy, a champion, probably will have a statue. Could this be his last game?” asked Gorden Tallis.

The Blues have no shortage of fullbacks in the side with Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic and Clint Gutherson all part of the Blues squad through the series, while Panthers champion Dylan Edwards has been in arguably the form of his career.

But Ennis has backed Tedesco to bounce back.

“He has got to play well, there’s no doubt about that and jeez you’d be brave to write him off,” Ennis said.

“What he’s been able to do in this game, particularly at this level, particularly in front of his home fans at Accor (Stadium).”

“He has to play well, it has been a year we didn’t expect from James Tedesco even at the Roosters.

“He has just been uncharacteristically quiet, and I feel like the Roosters form has somewhat seeped into his game at representative level.

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Originally published as Queensland clean sweep ruined by Blues’ nine minute, three try blitz

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/state-of-origin-game-iii-live/news-story/259fd17dfdcba65ebc68222bf4bda800