NSW has inflicted absolute embarrassment on Queensland with Maroons legends left furious by the damning result.
NSW has inflicted an historic, humiliating series defeat on Queensland in another Origin bloodbath on Sunday night.
After Queensland stole the 2020 series with one of the most magical upsets in Australian sport, the Blues have put the Maroons back in their place with a 160-minute rugby league masterclass.
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It was perfect revenge for Blues coach Brad Fittler’s team.
Having destroyed Queensland 50-6 in the series opener in Townsville, the Blues compounded the pain with a 26-0 win in Game 2 at Suncorp Stadium.
The extraordinary records achieved by the combined 76-6 scoreline across the two games, include:
Queensland was nowhere near it – and the post mortem will get ugly.
There were tears at full time with Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans struggling to find words when interviewed on the field.
A shattered Cherry-Evans took deep breaths in between some of his words as he paid credit to NSW.
"Yeah. Can't believe it's over," he said.
"Mate, they were just too good. Scoreline reflected that. Mate, such a shame."
He went on to tell Maroons legend Darren Lockyer: "They had all the answers and we didn't have the answers, mate. It's a shame it's all done."
It came after Blues legend Andrew Johns publicly questioned the Manly halfback's performance. "There's going to be a big debate about the halfback position with Cherry-Evans," he said in commentary for Channel 9.His tears will not be the last shed by the Queensland side after such an emphatic defeat.
Rugby league reporter Steve Zemek posted on Twitter it is going to be a miserable day for Queensland.
"This is going to be a very dark day for Queensland Origin," he posted. "NSW are playing Origin footy - great intensity, coming up with big plays. Queensland have lost all the intensity they showed for the first 15 mins. This is hurting."
Journalist Matt Bevan also posted: "When you consider how bad Queensland are playing you have to keep in mind this game is being played in their impenetrable Lang Park fortress and NSW supporters are literary banned from entering the state".
The Blues broke Queensland's back with three tries in 20 minutes mid-way through the first half and they never took their foot off the Maroons' necks for the rest of the game in a performance that was entirely complete.
Latrell Mitchell was the chief destroyer early, while Tom Trbojevic, James Tedesco and Cameron Murray were also brilliant.
While the Blues' attack was blistering, the Maroons' was broken.
The back five of Tedesco, Brian To'o, Mitchell, Trbojevic and Addo-Carr was described by Blues legend Andrew Johns as the best NSW has ever seen.
It was the polar opposite in the Maroons' shed. Even with Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster, Queensland never threatened. Their only sniffs at points came on the back of small NSW errors or lucky bounces. Even then, the Maroons couldn't convert.
The home team's misery was summed up by a passage of play where Valentine Holmes put through a grubber early in the tackle count - and caught his teammates by surprise with winger Xavier Coates having to come from miles away to try and chase it down.
It was an ugly sight for Maroons legend Billy Slater.
“They’re just on different pages at the moment,” Slater told Channel 9.
Meanwhile, former Maroons coach Paul Vautin described Queensland's attack as slow.
"I think we are a slow and sluggish team. I really believe we just don't have enough pace and we were gone after 10 minutes, so it makes you wonder," he said.
NSW has extended its lead on the back of some nice footwork by Josh Addo-Carr.
The Storm winger stepped inside two Queensland defenders before diving over the line in the 70th minute.
It came just minutes after Queensland had multiple sets in the Blues' red zone, but failed to come away with points.
MR DOUBLE. 🔥
— NRL (@NRL) June 27, 2021
Reeeeeaaaal smooth with it. #Origin pic.twitter.com/Jso43mI4gU
Queensland was denied their first points when Tom Trbojevic made a desperate lunge to stop Xavier Coates scoring in the corner.
A cut out ball from Cameron Munster gave Coates a free run down the sideline from 15m out, but Trbojevic came from nowhere to knock the ball out of his hands just inches from the try line.
TURBO SAYS NO ✋
— NRL (@NRL) June 27, 2021
My goodness. HOW did he stop that?! #Origin pic.twitter.com/jdMOVmJyAI
It kept NSW ahead 20-0 after 55mins.
Latrell Mitchell has run 90m in a wild intercept try.
The Rabbitohs star plucked out a cut-out ball from Valentine Holmes and then darted 90m with Xavier Coates unable to chase him down before the try line.
His try put NSW ahead 12-0 after 25mins.
Josh Addo-Carr has crossed over the try line to give NSW first points in the 12th minute.
Nathan Cleary spotted a 3-on-2 out wide for the Blues and two simple passes allowed Addo-Carr to stroll over untouched.
The try came after Latrell Mitchell turned the momentum of the game on its head with a one-on-one strip on Maroons winger Kyle Feldt. Legend Andrew Johns called Mitchell's strip a "big play".
Mitchell was responsible for another massive moment minutes later when he forced a line-drop out with a punishing, dragging tackle on Valentine Holmes.
Foxx pulls the LEVER 😤
— NRL (@NRL) June 27, 2021
The Blues make themselves KNOWN at Suncorp 🔥🔥🔥#Origin pic.twitter.com/E6h8EJPAk6
The Blues led 6-0 in the 13th minute.
Queensland Health have been forced to introduce a number of last-minute restrictions for fans heading to the game in Brisbane.
In a Facebook post released at 5pm, state officials decreed all fans wear masks while entering and exiting the Stadium, which seats roughly 52,000 people. Spectators have been urged to check-in using the state’s contact tracing service and social distance
“It is vital that anyone heading out to watch the game at a pub or club tonight check-in with the Queensland check in app,” the official post read.
The announcement collected over 1,600 comments from confused fans in under an hour.
Fans were furious at the snap decision announced barely three hours before kick-off, teeing off at the peculiar rule allowing fans to remove masks while seated.
Some criticised the obvious conundrum presented by thousands of mask-less, cheering fans seated side-by-side, while others sat scratching their head at why an at-capacity sporting event was still allowed to be held with borders still shut to Sydney.
“The rules just keep getting sillier and sillier,” David Ellis wrote. “I am sure the virus is only catchable when walking through the gates there’s no chance you can catch it sitting down in your seat.”
“That doesn’t make sense, you could be sitting next to someone who has it, yelling and screaming, tiny droplets exiting your mouth but you don’t need to wear it, while sitting down,” Marie Sombo said.
The full list of restrictions:
– Masks must be worn on arrival to Suncorp stadium and especially on exit.
– The only time spectators don’t need to wear a mask is when they are seated.
– Masks will be available on arrival.
– Please check in using the Queensland check in app.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's latest post of support for the Blues has fans scratching their heads after Sunday's dramatic lockdown measures.
A photo of her alongside NSW coach Brad Fittler was met with anger by some people on social media, but it was explained from the outset that the photo was captured earlier this month.
Go Freddy and the @NSWBlues. Let’s wrap the series up tonight! pic.twitter.com/U89qkHmX5q
— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) June 27, 2021
It sparked much less debate than the photo of the NSW Premier ahead of the State of Origin series opener.
Queensland has announced their side for Game 2, confirming Valentine Holmes will play at fullback while Xavier Coates will play on the wing after the incredible selection drama surrounding Reece Walsh and Ronaldo Mulitalo.
There were no other late surprises.
Teams
Maroons: 2. Valentine Holmes 20. Xavier Coates 3. Kurt Capewell 4. Dane Gagai 5. Kyle Feldt 6. Cameron Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Christian Welch 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Josh Papali’i 11. Jai Arrow 12. Felise Kaufusi 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Ben Hunt 15. Moeaki Fotuaika 16. David Fifita 17. Francis Molo 18th man. Coen Hess
Blues: 1. James Tedesco 2. Brian To’o 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Tom Trbojevic 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Damien Cook 10. Junior Paulo 11. Cameron Murray 12. Tariq Sims 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Jack Wighton 15. Angus Crichton 16. Payne Haas 17. Liam Martin 18th man. Apisai Koroisau
Ronaldo Mulitalo was brought into the Maroons starting side on Saturday as a replacement for injured fullback Reece Walsh but the Blues questioned his eligibility at the eleventh hour.
The Sharks winger was born in New Zealand and reportedly lived there until he was nearly 14. Revised Origin eligibility rules approved in 2012 mean players needed to have resided in either NSW or Queensland before their 13th birthday to be able to compete in the interstate contest.
The NRL released a statement on Sunday morning saying Queensland had withdrawn Mulitalo “after being uncertain of his eligibility” to play.
Mulitalo has represented Queensland at Under-18 and Under-20 level, but his forced withdrawal has forced Queensland to turn back to Xavier Coates, who was dropped after the series opener.
Meanwhile, Wests Tigers legend Benny Elias has declared Queensland has been busted cheating in the late hour drama.
The Blues great said desperate Queensland officials tried to select Mulitalo despite his murky eligibility.
His comments come as reports claimed Mulitalo had to stand down when unable to provide concrete proof of his residency In Queensland before the age of 13.
The Australian reports there were even inconsistencies in the NRL contracts he has signed. NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said in the report "there was conflicting information" in the contracts registered. Mulitalo is also reported to have said he no longer has the passport he carried at the time of his first trip to Queensland.
Elias says it doesn't change the fact Queensland "cheated".
"The definition of eligibility is very clear," he told Fox Sports News.
"And they’re desperate, they’re cheating, there’s no doubt about that.
"It’s cheating and it’s wrong. If it went to court it wouldn’t even be negotiable."
The day of high drama has included:
– NRL supremo Peter V'landys declaring Queensland "couldn’t provide that evidence " when asked to prove Mulitalo's eligibility.
– Rugby league guru Phil Gould described the entire situation as "absolutely farcical" suggesting the eligibility rules need to be changed; and
– Mulitalo has spoken out just hours ahead of kick-off to declare he is "heartbroken" and p***ed off" about his eligibility being questioned after so many years of representing Queensland in junior rugby league.
Maroons legend and assistant coach Johnathan Thurston hit out at NSW’s role in questioning Mulitalo’s eligibility as the furore ramped up on Sunday morning.
“He’s been in our under-18s Maroons, he’s played for the under-20s Maroons, he’s been a part of our emerging Origin team for a number of years,” Thurston said before the announcement was made.
“It’s very unfortunate at this stage — but that’s just standard NSW, isn’t it?”
After the bombshell development was confirmed, Thurston said Queensland still believes Mulitalo is eligible, revealing the 21-year-old is “a broken man”.
“We still haven’t given up hope of him playing in the series given the fact that we couldn’t get the right documentation to prove that he was here before he was 13,” Thurston said.
“The NRL made the call that if he does play the game will be null and void so hopefully we can get that documentation over the next week or so and he can be back in camp.
“I know the QRL are doing everything in their power to hopefully get the right documentation so he can finish out the series.”
Asked to confirm whether Thurston was implying documents existed that prove Mulitalo was eligible to play for Queensland, Thurston replied: “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
NSW coach Brad Fittler denied the Blues had done anything untoward to contribute to the situation. He said a story that emerged on Saturday detailing Mulitalo’s football journey alerted journalists he may not be eligible, and everything snowballed from there.
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