State of Origin Game 3: QLD Maroons win 20-18 over NSW Blues, Tom Trbojevic player of series | Match Report
NSW may have won the series, but they lost the game, and the fault lies not with the men on the pitch but the man who could not be on it.
Nathan Cleary reaffirmed his status as the world’s best halfback – from his hotel room on the Sunshine Coast.
On a contract worth $1 million, the injured NSW and Penrith playmaker’s stocks have only risen after the Blues stumbled at the finish line of this year’s State of Origin series.
The Blues’ bid to secure their first 3-0 series clean sweep since 2000 fell short after first-time halves combination Mitchell Moses and Jack Wighton struggled to drive NSW home.
It was the first time since 2016 that a NSW side had played without Mitchell Pearce or Cleary – and, if only so narrowly, it showed.
What is also evident is that Penrith can’t win the premiership without their man Cleary (shoulder) and fellow injured five-eighth Jarome Luai (calf).
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We now know why Cleary is consistently the first man picked by NSW coach Brad Fittler.
Wighton and Moses began Wednesday night’s match in frantic fashion. On debut in the Blues jersey, Moses had been given the keys to the NSW attack throughout his week-long preparation in camp at Kingscliff.
Standing beside him in the halves, Wighton was given his first shot at the six jersey after playing from the bench in Origin I and II.
The Blues’ first attacking set led to dead-ends and lacking in cohesion. It led Maroons legend Billy Slater to immediately comment about the Blues’ missing link – Cleary. If he could sense the Blues were slightly off, so could the rest of Queensland.
Wighton also produced a crucial first-half kick that rolled dead in-goal to give Queensland a seven-tackle set.
“Off the pace” is how former NSW Origin half Peter Sterling described the early stages of Wighton and Moses’ offence.
In fairness, the Maroons were vastly improved from those that surrendered the shield 76-6 from Games I and II.
Referee Gerard Sutton’s lack of control over the ruck also frustrated the Blues’ ability to play with width in their attack – a key ingredient behind the selection of Cleary and Luai.
NSW coach Brad Fittler lamented during the match that he wished Sutton would clean-up the ruck so that “we could play some football”.
It was an insight into the coach’s frustration in his team’s ability to attack.
It was the Penrith duo’s ability to get early ball to their fast and powerful centres in Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell that was monumental in the Blues wrapping up the series in such emphatic fashion by Game III.
But, Wighton and Moses just didn’t possess the same potency to provide the football their attacking weapons crave.
Moses and Wighton never stopped trying. Moses’s kicking game improved in the second half, while Wighton skipped over to score and bring the margin back to two points.
“There was a couple of six-agains (kicks) I wish I had the chance again, but overall I really loved (playing five-eighth),’’ Wighton said.
Prior to the match, Fittler spoke to his players about lifting the Origin shield after a loss. He told them it would simply feel like receiving a piece of wood.
The coach would no doubt be proud of his team to secure the series 2-1.
But Fittler will also be confident that if NSW are to dominate the Maroons again next year, Cleary is the man to lead them.
HOW NSW 'BLUE' CHANCE TO OWN UNTOUCHABLE ORIGIN HISTORY
What a sad way to finish, NSW.
After two stunning performances, the Blues couldn’t sustain their winning excellence and fell agonisingly short of a historic clean sweep on the Gold Coast.
After a two-game aggregate of 76-6, NSW almost deserved its whitewash, damn it.
Maybe the praise and accolades affected NSW, but it was a flat series end for NSW after what had been a hyped opening two games.
The game was wonderful, the second half brilliant, but victory alluded NSW.Inspired by two-try hero Ben Hunt and the irresistible Kalyn Ponga, Queensland – having played all three games in their home state – finally showed some resolve, gumption and courage to topple NSW 20-18 in a dead rubber.
Blues skipper James Tedesco was forced to hold aloft the Origin shield in Queensland and before few fans.
But NSW shouldn’t be too despondent.After unexpectedly losing last year’s series, the Blues did enough in those opening two games to reclaim interstate supremacy.
It was NSW’s third series win in four years. Yet the Blues desperately wanted the three-nil result.
“It wasn’t to be, it’s unfortunate, it’s a disappointing way to end it,” said NSW centre Tom Trbojevic, who was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal for best player of the series.
Blues five-eighth Jack Wighton said: “We wanted the clean flush.”
Tedesco added: “It wasn’t our best night tonight. To all our family and friends back in lockdown, this one is for you.”
There have only been seven clean sweeps in 39 years of three-game Origin series.
After being criticised, questioned and dissected, Queensland deserved its win against the odds and expectations.
The Maroons’ damaged culture has been mended.Queensland finally managed to place some pressure on NSW.
The Maroons played with a new energy and attitude.
Blues centre Latrell Mitchell missed a 50m penalty goal in the 79th minute to level the score at 20-all. It gave NSW an aggregate series win of 94-26.
New halfback Mitch Moses couldn’t impose himself on the game in a disjointed NSW attack.
The second half was chaotic and spiteful at times. It was a super game of footy.
“It was good not to give them that clean sweep,” Maroons star Cam Munster said.
A near empty stadium at the presentation shouldn’t diminish what the Blues achieved.
This side will, without doubt, be ranked among the finest of all time.
The speed, power and physicality of this team will forever be remembered by NSW fans.
Maroons hooker Ben Hunt was involved in multiple key moments in the second half – two tries and some match-defining defence.
Often maligned, Hunt scored twice in the second half to nudge his side past NSW in what was a tight tussle.
He made a real difference out of dummy half.And returning fullback Kalyn Ponga was also brilliant.“Ponga is an absolute superstar,” Andrew Johns said.
Ponga said: “I’m stoked to get the win. We had a lot to play for.”
The scoreline shifted back and forth throughout.
Showing amazing footwork and raw power, Mitchell started scored early for his sixth try in seven Origin games.
It was Hammer Time a few minutes later when debutant Maroons centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored untouched.
Maroons star Val Holmes injured his right shoulder on halftime and did not return in the second half. Queensland led 8-6 at halftime.
Normal transition resumed eight minutes into the second half when halves Moses and Jack Wighton combined on the same side of the field for a Wighton try before Hunt charged over from dummy half for a try.
And the score swung again when NSW debutant Api Koroisau scored from a super Moses kick.
But NSW fell just two points short.Referee Gerard Sutton thought the game was all about him, awarding 15 restarts and penalties in the opening 37 minutes. Oh, for a Bill Harrigan.
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Originally published as State of Origin Game 3: QLD Maroons win 20-18 over NSW Blues, Tom Trbojevic player of series | Match Report