State of Origin Game II: Ruthless Blues set up mouth-watering home decider
NSW are 80 minutes away from claiming their first back-to-back State of Origin series since 2005 after a Tom Trbojevic treble embarrassed Queensland on a historic night in Perth.
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This was the West Side Story that guaranteed a show stopper in Sydney.
On Western Australia’s first-ever Origin stage, NSW crushed Queensland to send this series to a blockbusting decider in Sydney.
Last night’s match was a titanic triumph for the Blues and Origin football in rugby league-starved Perth.
Maybe now Queensland coach Kevin Walters will acknowledge and utter those three unspeakable words – New South Wales.
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With the series on the line, the Blues came out aggressively from kick-off and never relented, belting the Maroons 38-6 to take a massive psychological advantage into the deciding game at ANZ Stadium on July 10.
“Our focus is now game three in Sydney – can’t wait,” NSW skipper Boyd Cordner said.
Victory was a personal triumph for NSW coach Brad Fittler, who made seven changes from the side beaten in game one.
Led by a three-try performance from Manly’s Tom Trbojevic, a two-try effort by winger Josh Addo-Carr and a scintillating performance from fullback James Tedesco, NSW ran riot.
Addo-Carr ran for 227 metres, Tedesco 186 metres.
This six-tries-to-one victory was Perth poetry.
The only downside was halfback Nathan Cleary failing to return after halftime with an ankle injury. Ever-reliable Wade Graham played in the halves alongside James Maloney.
“Fortunately we came away with the points tonight,” Graham said.
Last night’s match drew a record Optus Stadium crowd of 59,721.
Driving and swirling rain hit midway through the first half. A few scarpered for cover, but most of rugby league’s new true believers in Perth didn’t care.
The large crowd was segregated last night – one end all blue, the other a wave of maroon. The noise deafening. It was among the most extraordinary nights in Origin’s 39-year history.
FEARLESS FREDDIE
Victory was coach Brad Fittler’s only way to push his critics back into their hole. Making seven changes – three enforced — from the side that lost in Brisbane proved profound.
Fittler, who coached last night from the sideline, staked his reputation on ripping apart that team that malfunctioned in Brisbane – and it may be a defining moment in his Origin coaching career.
With Daniel Saifiti and Paul Vaughan, Fittler gambled with just two recognised props.
Before kick-off, he executed his plan by starting Jake Trbojevic at prop, giving debutant Dale Finucane a start at lock and bringing Vaughan off the bench. That too was a masterstroke, especially when the rain set in.
“Once we got ahead, the conditions really helped us,” Fittler said.
“They were under pressure to score points. I’m so excited.”
It was courageous, gutsy and victorious.
MANGLED MAROONS
After years of arrogance and cockiness, it’s nice to see some anxiety and alarm in Queensland’s camp. Let’s see whether they retain their famous ‘pick and stick’ policy.
Queensland are now just 80 minutes from losing successive series to NSW. Now they know what we endured for a decade.
“The best thing is we get another chance,” Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans said.
There must a thin yet increasing layer of sweat appearing on the forehead of a nervous Walters.
Queensland couldn’t even benefit from a dubious first-half penalty try.
“It hasn’t been Queensland’s greatest night,” said former Maroons legend, Paul Vautin.
Cricket legend Adam Gilchrist appeared in the middle of Optus Stadium last night and told the crowd pre-game: “Queensland never give up.”
Not long after, they did.
MAGIC MALONEY
This was vintage Jimmy. He had two try assists inside the opening 20 minutes – one from a kick, the other a pass. He also forced a repeat set from his first kick.
But balancing the ledger was a forward pass off a drop-out and another to unmarked winger Addo-Carr, who was denied a try.
Maloney kicked a 40/20 in an eventful first half. That’s what you get with Jimmy.
“It’s awesome, can’t wait for Sydney,” Maloney said. “The job ain’t done yet.”
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