State of Origin game 3: James Tedesco snatches series with late winner for NSW
What a way to win an Origin series. With the scores tied and only seconds left on the clock, James Tedesco surged past a desperate Queensland defence to claim the shield for NSW.
That’s not a try, that’s a miracle.
Blues fullback James Tedesco scored one of the most dramatic last-ditch tries in State of Origin history on Wednesday night to give NSW a spine-tingling 26-20 win over Queensland at ANZ Stadium.
With the scores locked at 20-all after another Maroons fightback, Tedesco scored with just 32 seconds remaining to send the 82,565-strong crowd into an absolute frenzy.
Trailing 20-8 with 10 minutes to go, Queensland rallied late to score two tries and were just about to send the game into golden point before Tedesco finished off a sweeping backline move to save the Blues.
MORE ORIGIN
REPEAT: Why King Freddy reigns supreme in NSW
TALENT: Kanga-Blues! NSW the superior rugby league state
NSW were paying $1.01 in live betting with the TAB when 12 points clear in the second half.
Tedesco’s try revived memories of the greatest try in Origin history — Queenslander Mark Coyne’s effort to score on the siren to beat NSW in 1994.
“What a finish — that’s why we’re the best state,” NSW skipper Boyd Cordner said. “Teddy, he’s a freak. It’s an amazing feeling to wrap it up in front of our own fans.”
In one of the all-time wonderful moments in Origin, NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce threw a pass inside the final minute to centre Tom Trbojevic, who then sent winger Blake Ferguson away.
Ferguson tiptoed down the sideline after being ankle tapped just keeping his footing long enough to fire a pass back inside to Tedesco.
The Blues fullback had to reach back to reel it in, but stepped the on-rushing defence and headed for the corner. He dived over to score, giving the Blues the win and their first Origin series winning streak since 2005.
The NSW players, coaching staff and fans went berserk.
“He (Tedesco) plays the big games so well, he’s pretty good, pretty good,” said NSW coach Brad Fittler. “He’s pretty special.”
Surely Tedesco can now lay claim to being the best player in the world. He was justifiably awarded the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series.
Tedesco had 18 runs for 222 metres, including 10 tackle busts, two offloads, four linebreaks and two tries.
“He goes pretty good, he’s probably been the standout,” Maroons coach Kevin Walters said, still not mentioning anything to do with NSW by name.
In the first half, with NSW stagnant, he ran 50 metres from a Ben Hunt kick. The Blues score moments later.
It was the defining moment in the first half.
And then Tedesco roared into the game once again in the 52nd minute when he swung past, through and over three defenders in a blistering 20-metre run to the tryline.
Then came the matchwinner. Tedesco ran for nearly 650 metres in the series.
“Unbelievable,” Tedesco said. “I thought it was going to golden point for all money. It’s massive.”
To the raucous and constant chant of “New South Wales, New South Wales”, the Blues sealed a 2-1 series win after losing game one in Brisbane.
“To fight back was really brave,” Walters said. “To be beaten the way we did inside the last minute, disappointing. I’m just really proud to be a Queenslander. The sun will come up and it will be shining in Queensland.”
JUBILANT JUNIOR
After seven ill-fated attempts, he finally delivered NSW’s Pearce de resistance.
Maligned Pearce manoeuvred NSW to secure his side a win.
While Tedesco was the star yet again, Pearce can now exorcise his 12-year Origin demons.
Pearce wasn’t brilliant by any means, but he grew into the game and was effective throughout the second half.
It was his first series win in eight attempts, his sixth victory in 19 games.
This was a small yet significant step in Pearce attempting to redefine and rewrite his own dour State of Origin history. He can boast to having won a premiership and an Origin title.
GO FREDDY
Two series, two wins. NSW coach Brad Fittler is the Blues’ golden boy.
Criticised heavily during the series, Fittler showed courage and gumption to make some tough calls and decisions. They all worked.
He was a NSW hero when playing, now again as a coach.
“It was just awesome,” Fittler said. “To have that moment was just fantastic. They worked so hard for each other.”
BAD LUCK BOYS
NSW forward Wade Graham came from the field with 15 minutes remaining with a hamstring injury.
It was severe setback for NSW and Cronulla. He will have scans on Thursday.
The second negative was a second horror concussion to centre Michael Morgan, who copped some friendly fire with teammate Josh McGuire. Morgan could now be stood down for up to six weeks.
TIME TUNNEL
This was pure Origin theatre. For the first time, NSW warmed-up at the nearby NSWRL Centre of Excellence playing fields last night and walked through a once abandoned tunnel onto ANZ Stadium.
Never before has a team played on ANZ Stadium and not entered the field from the traditional western side dressing rooms. The tunnel, built for athletes competing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, now has large photos of NSW legends on the walls.
Blues players walked through the tunnel for kick-off, television cameras capturing every step and shown on the ANZ Stadium big screen, sending the huge crowd into a pre-game frenzy. NSW used the old dressings for halftime and again after full-time.
Storm coach puts end date on career
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has opened up on his future and putting a potential finishing date on his legendary career.
Search delayed: Inside the 72 hours that left Blues coachless
Less than 72 hours after outlining his plan to defend the State of Origin shield in 2025, Michael Maguire signed a three-year deal with the Broncos. DAVID RICCIO reveals when the Blues will begin scouting for Maguire’s replacement.