Live coverage: State of Origin Game 3
It was supposed to be the end of an era. But Queensland reinforced their dynasty with a 22-6 win over NSW, clinching their 11th series triumph in 12 years.
The “Queenslander” rallying cry has never been so loud.
The Maroons may have won 10 of the previous 11 State of Origin titles, but the hunger for victory never dies north of the NSW border, writes Nicole Jeffery. The sellout crowd came to see their team extend the Blues’ misery into a second decade — they left fully sated.
NSW’s dominant victory in the opening match at Suncorp Stadium was a distant memory as the Maroons reinforced their dynasty with a 22-6 win in the third-game decider. The brilliance of Queensland’s old guard combined with the next generation of Valentine Holmes, who scored a rare hat trick of tries, and debutant Cameron Munster to wrap up the series.
The ongoing bad news for the Blues was that five-eighth Munster made a stunning debut replacing retired champion Johnathan Thurston, and is clearly the man to direct traffic as Queensland’s golden generation exit the stage in the coming years.
When last night’s match began, the Queenslanders had led for just two of the first 160 minutes of football, yet they were 1-1 in the series, their reputation as the great escape artists enhanced yet again with their last-gasp victory in Sydney three weeks ago. In hindsight, that was the turning point. The men in maroon switched on and the men in blue switched off.
The Maroons played expansive, running football from the start and were rewarded. The old firm of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk took total command of the match.
Smith had publicly berated himself for poor games leading into this match and he was inspired, running, dodging and conducting his highly skilled orchestra.
Slater and Munster set up the first try for Holmes, and Cronk engineered the second, sending a shallow 40m cross-field kick on to the chest of Holmes.
The Blues needed to score before halftime to restore confidence but the onslaught continued. NSW coach Laurie Daley had his head in his hands after 35 minutes. They were two tries down at halftime (12-0) and Daley admitted his team “should have been dead’’ at that point.
They came out with more intensity in the second half and centre Josh Dugan launched something of a comeback by scoring his team’s first try off a bomb to narrow the margin to six points. That was as close as it got.
Holmes got his third and forward Jarrod Wallace scored on debut. The first great roar of the night had come after a moving tribute to Thurston, who took centre stage before the match to say farewell, a chronic shoulder injury denying him a departure in the decider. It only got louder from there.
QUEENSLAND 22 (V Holmes 3 J Wallace tries C Smith 3 goals) bt NEW SOUTH WALES 6 (J Dugan try J Maloney goal) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin, Gerard Sutton. Crowd: 52,540.
Game 1: NSW 28 bt QLD 4
Game 2: QLD 18 bt NSW 16
QLD win series 2-1
• View the player ratings for Origin 3 here.
Watch highlights in the video below.
10.19pm: HOW THE NIGHT UNFOLDED
Maroons captain Cameron Smith has paid tribute to his injured teammate, Johnathan Thurston, labelling him the best player to ever don a Maroons jersey.
“I’m supposed to go lift the shield up now, but I’m going to invite my little mate Johnny Thurston up here,” Smith said.
“It was unfortunate he couldn’t finish here tonight in front of his beloved Queensland fans, but I’ve got to tell you, I don’t think I’ve come across a more passionate Queenslander.
“Mate, I reckon you’re the greatest person to have ever put on a Maroon jersey. I want to wish you all the best for the future mate. Let’s lift this shield up together.”
10.08pm: Maroon matchwinner
Queensland winger Dane Gagai has been named the man of the series ... the first winger to receive the Wally Lewis Medal.
The Newcastle flyer ran for 577m over the three matches and scored two tries in Origin 2.
9.58pm: Mighty Maroons do it again
Queensland has made it 11 series victories out of the past 12, defeating New South Wales 22-6 off the back of an inspired performance from its Melbourne spine — Billy Slater, Cameron Munster, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith — and a hat-trick of tries from Valentine Holmes.
Speaking to Darren Lockyer after the fulltime siren, Slater reveals the extent of his ankle injury, which almost kept him out of this deciding Origin match.
“I’ve been horizontal for the past three days trying to get the swelling out ... but a little ankle sprain wasn’t going to keep me out of this one,” he said.
“Everyone has injuries and I’ve had my fair share, but I’m pretty happy right now.”
A devastated Blues five-eighth James Maloney said his team “needed to be better”.
“It’s horrible. You’re never going to win the game playing like that. New South Wales deserves better. Laurie deserves better,” he said.
9.55pm: Take the 2, Cameron
With two minutes remaining, Queensland gets a penalty for a play-the-ball infringement and it’s no surprise the Maroons opt to kick for goal from just 37 metres out, almost directly in front.
Cameron Smith’s attempt is just offline, but importantly, the ball was kicked dead and more than a minute was wiped off the clock.
Just 40 seconds left. The Maroons are home.
Margie McDonald 9.50pm: Record crowd for Suncorp
Just six minutes to go and the Queensland crowd of 52,450 — a record for Suncorp Stadium — senses victory.
The last time that many people packed in to the rectangular ground in suburban Paddington was in 2015 with 52,500 patrons.
9.40pm: TRY! Qld 22 NSW 6
Is that all she wrote? Playing in just his second Origin game, prop forward Jarrod Wallace scored one of the easiest tries he’ll ever score in his career ... once again, it was all thanks to Cameron Munster, and once again, it seemed to come out of nothing.
Munster looked to be contained 10m out from NSW’s line but he was able to offload in the tackle, his pass raching Wallace on the bounce and the prop strolled over untouched for Queensland’s fourth try of the night.
Cameron Smith converted close range and Queensland looks to have the match ... and the series ... in their grasp.
9.33pm: TRY! Qld 16 NSW 6
It’ll go in the book as Valentine Holmes’ third try of the match, but it was as much Cameron Munster’s four-pointer as Queensland surged to a 16-6 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
With not much doing on NSW’s 40m line, Munster jinked between three defenders and charged into open space before passing wide to Holmes. The Cronulla winger juggled the pass but managed to regather before the ball touched a NSW defender, and he beat the tackle to cross in the corner.
Cameron Smith was unable to convert from the sideline, but NSW still need two converted tries to get themselves in front.
9.22pm: TRY! Qld 12 NSW 6
Don’t write off the Blues just yet, folks.
Centre Josh Dugan flew high to steal a James Maloney bomb straight out of the arms of Queensland winger Valentine Holmes and score under the posts.
Maloney converted and there’s now just six points in it.
Plenty of time for both teams, with 29 minutes still on the clock.
9 .20pm: Slater, Slater ... SLATER
Oh so close for the Maroons less than four minutes into the second half, with Billy Slater ghosting across field and finding space inside NSW’s 20m zone.
A basketball-style pass to Will Chambers and it seemed like Queensland was certain to score ... but Chambers knocked on 10m out and let NSW off the hook.
The chance for Queensland came directly from a NSW mistake — captain Boyd Cordner knocking on on halfway.
9.05pm: History against NSW
Question: When was the last time a New South Wales team came back from 12 points or more down to win a game?
Hints:
* Bob Hawke was Prime Minister
* There was no “National Rugby League”; and
* Blues coach Laurie Daley couldn’t legally have a drink. He was 17.
Answer: It was all the way back in Game 3, 1986.
8.58pm: HALFTIME — Queensland 12 NSW 0
“It was a perfect 40 minutes of football from Queensland,” was the verdict of former NSW coach Phil Gould as the two teams made their way to the dressing room for half time.
And it’s hard to argue with that assessment, with the Melbourne connection — Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Cameron Munster and Billy Slater — all starring as Queensland went to the break with a handy lead.
8.54pm: Let off for Blues
Well, now we’ve seen everything. Maroons prop Tim Glasby picked up a loose ball that had ricocheted off the face of backrower Matt Gillett and proceeded to dash 40m before being brought down in a desperate James Maloney tackle just 10m out.
Queensland looked certain to score as they spread the ball wide but as Valentine Holmes crashed over for what would have been his third try of the night, the whistle was blown for a forward pass.
Still Queensland 12-0 with two minutes left in the first half.
8.44pm: TRY! Queensland 12-0
Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk, take a bow. The Melbourne trio laid on Valentine Holmes’ second try of the evening with some brilliant individual play. Cameron Smith — notably running the ball regularly tonight — made a bust up the middle of the ruck and put Billy Slater into space. He passed to Josh Papalii, who was brought down inside the 20m. Enter Cooper Cronk, who put in a pinpoint crossfield kick which hit Holmes squarely on the chest, the Cronulla winger strolling over for the four-pointer.
Smith converted and all of a sudden, it’s Queensland 12, NSW 0 with 28 minutes gone.
8.31pm: TRY! Queensland 6-0
Who says Michael Morgan isn’t a centre? The Cowboys’ five-eighth sliced through out wide to put winger Valentine Holmes into space. Holmes still had plenty of work to do, with three defenders coverging as he raced for the corner ... but he was able to dive over and plant the ball, with the video referee confirming he’d maintained control of the ball.
Cameron Smith was able to convert from the sideline to give Queensland a 6-0 lead after 16 minutes.
8.26pm: Still no score
Queensland were given the first opportunity to put points on the board inside 12 minutes, with the Blues’ James Maloney in an off-side position when he picked up a bomb dropped by fullback James Tedesco.
Maroons skipper Cameron Smith chose to kick for touch, despite the penalty being awarded just 15 metres out, albeit on a difficult angle.
New South Wales were able to keep their line in tact ... a Queensland kick going over the dead ball line.
8.17pm: First penalty to the Maroons
After four-and-a-half minutes, we’ve got our first penalty of the match. It goes to Queensland after Billy Slater is grabbed by the ankle when trying to get back to his feet after a tackle.
It’s been cautious, mistake-free football from both teams so far, but already Queensland debutaant Cameron Munster has made a couple of strong runs.
8.10pm: Paulini performs anthem
Beautiful rendition of the Australian national anthem by Paulini, who’s starring in the Australian stage production of The Bodyguard.
Paulini rose to fame during the first season of Australian Idol, way back in 2003 ... a year in which the Blues claimed a 2-1 Origin series victory.
Margie McDonald 7.52pm: Moving tribute to Thurston
As if the Queenslanders needed any other emotion to stir them up, in walked Johnathan Thurston, right arm in a sling but wearing his formal Maroons outfit to be farewelled from the Origin arena by the sell-out crowd.
While two of his three young daughters Frankie and Charlie danced on stage, looking at their images in the giant video screens, Thurston thanks all his coaches and teammates over the years in the Queensland colours.
“It’s been a great journey,” he said, thanking wife Samantha for all her sacrifices as well.
Earlier this week, Thurston had told his teammates not to make the decider all about him and his retirement after 37 ORigins, but to win the game three decider in the 2017 series for themselves.
The Maroons might not need the Thurston inspiration: overall Queensland have dominated Origin deciders, winning 12 — including the past six — compared to NSW’s four.
7.50pm: Fifita is ready: Daley
Hear from the @NSWRL Blues coach before the #Origin Decider!#NRL pic.twitter.com/ztRGk0dOjs
— NRL (@NRL) July 12, 2017
Blues coach Laurie Daley said Andrew Fifita’s media ban this week was all about ensuring the hulking prop was focused on his vitally important role for New South Wales tonight.
“He’s been good. We just want Andrew focused on his footy. We need him to carry the ball strongly, as he did in game one,” Daley told Brad Fittler in his final interview before tonight’s match.
“All the indications are that he’ll do that and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
Earlier, Blues legend Steve “Blocker” Roach said he expected a massive game from Fifita, whose influence in game two was nullified by the Queensland forwards.
“Fifita, I expect a big game from him. He’s burning after game two. They shut him down pretty well, but let’s see if they can do it again tonight,” Roach said.
Daley said his team was prepared for Queensland to “be up in our faces” during the match.
“If we play our best, I think we can win, I’ve got no doubt about that. I think that showed in the first two games, but we’re under no illusions that this is going to be a different game altogether. They’ll be up in our faces and they’ll be doing some things that we really need to be handle and can’t be frustrated by that. If we handle that part of the game, I think we’ll be okay.”
Nicole Jeffery 7.35pm: Support from swimmers
Australia’s most decorated Rio Olympian Emma McKeon reports that the Australian swimming team will be watching from Eindhoven in the Netherlands, where they are in a training camp ahead of the world championships, starting in Budapest on July 23. They will be united then, but divided today. Most of the swimmers are Queenslanders, but the McKeons are Blues, hailing originally from Wollongong.
7.30pm: Munster’s big test
Queensland coach Kevin Walters is confident debutant Cameron Munster will handle the huge pressure that comes with wearing the Maroons’ famous no.6 jersey.
Munster’s Melbourne combination with Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater was pivotal in the selection of the Rockhampton product in tonight’s series decider.
“This is a different level for him. He’s been great for the Melbourne Storm the past 18 months. Tonight’s a big step up for him but we’re confident (in) what he can bring for us,” Walters told Paul Vautin in a pre-match interview.
“We need him to be really strong defensively and what he does in attack, that’s up to him. He sort of bounces around all over the field. But defensively, we know they’re going to come down that left edge of ours and he’s got to stand up there and be really strong.”
The @QLDmaroons coach chats to Paul Vautin before the #Origin Decider!#NRL pic.twitter.com/wnjfZxmNRQ
— NRL (@NRL) July 12, 2017
7.08pm: “I ask you, is he any good?”
With a name like Bradman Best, he was born to be a champion.
So it was fitting that the young three-quarter was the centre of attention in the under-16s Origin clash at Suncorp Stadium, scoring the matchwinning try for the Blues as they came back from a 12-4 halftime deficit to win a thriller.
If the main game tonight is as close as this one, we’re in for a treat. The scores were locked at 16-16 in the dying moments when Queensland attempted to seal victory with a field goal.
But when the shot missed, Blues fullback Albert Hopoate pounced — slicing through some desperate Maroons defence before passing to Best, who raced away to score the matchwinner.
FULL-TIME
— NSW Blues 🔵 (@NSWRL) July 12, 2017
A Bradman Best try has SEALED IT for the NSW Under-16s - they are CHAMPIONS!#uptheblues pic.twitter.com/URENhsPtac
Brent Read 6.56pm: First blood to Maroons
Queensland has had its first victory of the night after winning the toss. NSW will kick off and run left to right in the first half.
6.40pm: Fifita is ‘burning’: Roach
Look out, Queensland.
New South Wales legend Steve “Blocker” Roach reckons game one star Andrew Fifita is ready to produce his best after a quiet game two in Sydney.
“Fifita, I expect a big game from him. He’s burning after game two. They shut him down pretty well, but let’s see if they can do it again tonight,” Roach said in a pre-match interview.
He said the entire New South Wales pack needed to muscle up and take control of the middle of the ruck, something they simply could not do against a Queensland pack this year missing the likes of the injured Matt Scott and the retired Corey Parker.
“(For) two-thirds of the series, New South Wales have been the better team through the middle, there’s no doubt about that. We need to do that for the full 80 minutes. Let’s hope the boys are burning after what happened in the last 20 minutes of game two,” he said.
“It’s up to Mitchell Pearce and also (James) Maloney to grab those blokes by the scruff of the neck and say ‘hey boys, we aren’t going around them here, we’re going through them’ and that’s where New South Wales’ success has been — through the middle of the field, back on the inside with (James) Tedesco just trailing through. That’s been their strength.”
Roach warned that it may take players from both teams some time to adjust to a surface still recovering from the Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn title fight 10 days ago.
“We were all hoping for a fast ground after the fight last week with Pacquiao and Horn. I think the ground looks a little bit broken up. It’ll take the boys a little while to get their footing here,” he said.
BLUES NEWS 🔵
— NSW Blues 🔵 (@NSWRL) July 12, 2017
Your look at Suncorp Stadium before tonight's #Origin decider!#uptheblues pic.twitter.com/0VMOKqGQuV
6.30pm: Maroons lead in under-16s
It’s halftime in the Queensland vs New South Wales under-16s clash at Suncorp Stadium, and the Maroons are in front.
Our 16's have the edge going into the second half. #QLDER pic.twitter.com/TmOmr4Oe5B
— Queensland Maroons (@QLDmaroons) July 12, 2017
6.24pm: Support for the Blues
Big night tonight woohoo. Come on the Blues. #NSWBlues good luck to all
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) July 12, 2017
Go the Blues! #NSWRFS #UpTheBlues #NSWBlues #StateOfOrigin #NRL pic.twitter.com/qfcbVp2uAs
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) July 12, 2017
.@KurtFearnley is behind the VB Blues, all the way from the U.K! 🇬🇧#uptheblues
— NSW Blues 🔵 (@NSWRL) July 12, 2017
🎥 More: https://t.co/Jr4c6vQA5z pic.twitter.com/DrBKQOiqek
6.15pm: The combatants
A re-cap on the team line-ups for tonight. For the first time since 1996, New South Wales has this year retained the same 17 for all three Origin matches. It’s a much different story for Queensland, who’ve lost centre Darius Boyd and five-eighth Johnathan Thurston to injury. That sees Michael Morgan switch from the bench to centre, with Melbourne’s Cameron Munster to make his debut wearing the famous no.6 jersey and Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt taking Morgan’s spot on the bench.
6.01pm: Maroons draw first blood
Queensland fans will be hoping it’s an omen for the rest of the night, with the Maroons’ under-16 team taking an early lead in their clash with the Blues.
Centre Will Evans crashed over after a period of sustained pressure from the home team, with fellow centre Ezraa Coulston duly converting to make it a 6-0 lead after just seven minutes.
You can watch a live stream of the under-16s clash here if you’re a Queensland fan and here if you’re a Blues fan.
5.50pm: So Farah way from Origin
Sure, the NSW selectors went in a different direction when they dumped loyal servant Robbie Farah in favour of Nathan Peats for this year’s Origin series.
But Farah’s fans are still loyal, as you can see from this tweet from The Australian’s rugby league writer, Brent Read, just a few minutes ago.
A word of advice for this New South Wales fan ... if you’re keen for a drink before the game, might be a good idea to avoid Caxton Street. Your welcome there will be as frosty as the beer.
They still love you here in Queensland @robbiefarah pic.twitter.com/y2Mh7n79Ju
— Brent Read (@brentread_7) July 12, 2017
5.30pm: Fit Slater ready
Queensland expect veteran fullback Billy Slater to produce a signature display after declaring him fully fit and ready for Wednesday night’s State of Origin decider.
Slater sent a scare through the Maroons when he rolled his ankle on Sunday but has been cleared to play after training for 20 minutes in their Tuesday night captain’s run.
Queensland assistant coach Anthony Seibold said the Melbourne Storm star had ensured he would be right to go at kick-off since suffering the training mishap.
“Billy’s fine,” Seibold said on Wednesday.
“He’s a meticulous professional and he’s been on the game, ready, pretty much flat out for 48 hours, so he’s in good shape.”
Slater’s improved fitness is a major relief for a Queensland team already missing playmaker Johnathan Thurston and fellow Test backs Darius Boyd and Greg Inglis.
While shoulder surgery has stopped Thurston making an on-field swansong at his official Origin farewell, his presence in the Maroons camp since Sunday has been influential and inspirational, according to Seibold.
“We wanted to make sure that there was enough time for that emotion to dilute before the game because as JT said it’s not about him tonight it’s about the guys doing their jobs individually and collectively,” Seibold said. Thurston has been working closely with Maroons debutants Cameron Munster and Ben Hunt.
“To have him talk to Cameron, Michael Morgan, Ben Hunt, those guys, is invaluable for us,” Seibold said.
Seibold said Munster, Queensland’s third five-eighth in as many games, was not being thrown in the deep end as he would be playing alongside clubmates Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Slater.
After losing game one 28-4 and being down 16-6 in the second half of game two, a Queensland series victory — their 11th in 12 campaigns — would be among the most remarkable victories in Origin history, Seibold said.
“We’re really confident in what we can do,” he said.
AAP
5.20pm: Can bench lift?
Writing in The Australian today, Margie McDonald revealed that Queensland coach Kevin Walters has called for more impact from his bench players in tonight’s deciding State of Origin match.
Josh Papalii (32 minutes), Coen Hess (19) and Tim Glasby (25) had only limited time on the field in game two.
“We need to get more out of Josh Papalii and more out of Coen Hess,” Walters said.
“I think the (Blues bench) has been a strong point for NSW in the opening two games. The time for the talk has ended. We need action.”
You can read the full story here.
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