State of Origin 2018 Game III live: Billy Slater leads Qld to epic win over NSW
Billy Slater ended his stellar State of Origin career with a parting gift to Maroons fans, in the form of an epic victory | VIDEO
Welcome to our coverage of State of Origin III from Suncorp Stadium. Queensland have avoided a whitewash with a gripping 18-12 win over NSW.
Slater the GOAT goes out on top
Billy Slater wanted nothing more in his final Origin game than to pass on to his Queensland team-mates “that old winning feeling” and how sweet it was as the Maroons won a cliffhanger at Suncorp Stadium to deny NSW a series clean sweep, Wayne Smith reports.
Leading Queensland for the first time at the age of 35, their oldest skipper ever save for the original State of Origin captain Artie Beetson, Slater hit the mother lode to go out a winner as his young side hung on in the face of seemingly irresistible NSW pressure to win 18-12.
So the new reality still asserted itself as the Blues took the series 2-1 but certainly the manner in which the Maroons took the early lead, then surrendered it in limp fashion but then clawed their back into control through two second-half tries suggested that Origin football will be alive and vibrant for many winters to come.
Slater was named man of the match and man of the series, and while there were a number of Queensland players who might have challenged him for that award – halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster – there wasn’t a single spectator among the 51,214 who begrudged the veteran fullback the honour.
He almost scored the opening try and then held the Maroons together when they blew an 8-0 first half lead to allow NSW to hit back with two tries just before the break to lead 12-8. Not only had the Blues conceded 64 per cent of the ball to Queensland in the opening stanza but they also had a man in the sin bin, James Maloney. Yet still they poked their noses in front at the break.
It was Slater who ensured they didn’t panic and with Cherry-Evans looking and playing at times like a young Darren Lockyer and Munster channelling the calm and direction of Jonathan Thurston, the Maroons began their second half fightback. First it was Valentine Holmes equalising out wide with his second try of the night and then Cherry-Evans put the Maroons back into the lead after Munster had offloaded brilliantly to second-rower Gavin Cooper.
But at that point, there still was 28 long minutes to play as NSW, though out on their feet from their early huge defensive effort, mounted raid after raid. All to no effect.
At one point when Queensland had blown its massive early dominance, Slater looked like being painted as a billy goat.
In the end, he was hailed as Billy GOAT – the Greatest (Fullback) of All Time.
Below: how game three unfolded:
10.15pm: Slater man of the series?
Queensland champion Billy Slater has been named man of the match and man of the series despite playing just two of the three games in a losing team.
Slater was good early in game two and again played well in the dead rubber, but this decision has to leave some league fans scratching their heads.
10pm: Qld win epic encounter!
The Maroons have held on in the second half to close out a thrilling victory. They repelled wave after wave of Blues attack in the final few minutes to seal victory. Billy Slater goes out a winner.
Qld 18-12 NSW
9.58pm: Holmes heroics
Valentine Holmes pulls off one of the plays of the year, intercepting a wild pass from James Maloney at full stretch just metres out from his own tryline as the Blues press for the equaliser.
Qld 18-12 NSW
He's everywhere, @val_holmes1!
— NRL (@NRL) July 11, 2018
The @QLDMaroons lead 18-12 with three minutes to go. #Origin #NRL pic.twitter.com/QXovILfyCA
9.50pm: NSW barely hanging on
A forgettable few minutes from James Maloney. He tries a chip kick in his own 10m zone that gifts possession to Qld, then knocks on with the visitors on the attack just metres from the opposition line. Ten to go and the Maroons lead.
Qld 18-12 NSW
9.37pm: Maroons over again!
Daly Cherry-Evans caps a superb comeback to Origin with a try under the sticks in the 58th minute. Cameron Munster makes a break and offloads to Gavin Cooper, who passes back inside to DCE. NSW started the half well but are tiring after the defence they were forced to do in the first 40 minutes.
Qld 18-12 NSW
What a try!
— NRL (@NRL) July 11, 2018
The @QLDMaroons lead 18-12 with 21 minutes to go. #Origin #NRL pic.twitter.com/zkmWlmrz6B
9.30pm: Qld score in the corner!
A brain explosion from NSW back-rower Tariq Sims gifts Qld a penalty while the Blues are in possession. He tackles Ben Hunt at marker and the home side go on the attack.
Some smart work by Billy Slater puts Valentine Holmes over in the right corner in the 52nd minute. He cannot convert the try and we’re locked up.
Qld 12-12 NSW
That's a double for @val_holmes1!
— NRL (@NRL) July 11, 2018
We're all locked up at 12-all. #Origin #NRL pic.twitter.com/IIhypo7HA7
9.26pm: Maroons go close
NSW apply early pressure after the break but Qld are able to repel the attacking raids. Nathan Cleary gives away a penalty and the home side go close to scoring. An error hands the Blues a reprieve.
Qld 8-12 NSW
9.17pm: Second half is underway
The Blues will receive the kick-off to open the half. Five-eighth James Maloney will be able to return from the sin-bin after 16 seconds of the second half.
Qld 8-12 NSW
9pm: NSW lead at half-time
NSW head to the sheds with a lead, 12-8, after a superb defensive performance in the first 40 minutes. Underlining the possession disparity, NSW made 217 tackles to Queensland’s 130.
8.59pm: Blues cross again!
An incredible last few minutes to the first half, as hooker Damien Cook puts fullback James Tedesco over with a lovely short ball from close range. It came on the back of NSW’s sole penalty in the first 40 minutes. So, a short-handed Blues outfit, which has tackled itself to a standstill, will lead at half-time
Qld 8-12 NSW
Result for the @NSWRL, right on the buzzer!
— NRL (@NRL) July 11, 2018
NSW lead 12-8 at HT.#Origin pic.twitter.com/BNKRGQwLh4
8.55pm: Tommy Turbo with the intercept!
Manly star Tom Trbojevic picks off a Cameron Munster pass near his own tryline in the 37th minute and runs 90m to get NSW back in the game against the run of play. Nathan Cleary converts and somehow, the Blues are alive.
Qld 8-6 NSW
Touche!@NSWRL hit back just before HT.@QLDmaroons lead 8-6 with 90 seconds to go until the break.#Origin pic.twitter.com/UJ5cLajs3q
— NRL (@NRL) July 11, 2018
8.45pm: Maloney sin-binned!
Queensland are camped on the NSW line, courtesy of five repeat sets in the opening 30 minutes. Another kick is put through but Billy Slater is run off the ball by James Maloney. The ball ricochets off the upright and is grounded in-goal by Jack de Belin. Referee Gerard Sutton checks for a penalty try but the home side will have to suffice with a one-man advantage. Valentine Holmes converts the penalty from in front.
Qld 8-0 NSW
It's off to the sin bin for @jim_jim86!@QLDmaroons lead 6-0 after 30 minutes. #Origin pic.twitter.com/1nTBBy0ZGR
— NRL (@NRL) July 11, 2018
8.35pm: Maroons dominant
Recalled halfback Daly Cherry-Evans is pulling the strings in expert fashion and Queensland are well on top after 20 minutes. DCE has forced two dropouts and another couple of close calls as NSW barely hang on. They need to weather the storm.
Qld 6-0 NSW
8.24pm: Qld score first!
It’s that man again, flying winger Valentine Holmes. He intercepts a James Tedesco pass on his own tryline intended for Blues winger Josh Addo-Carr and runs almost 100m to score. A valiant chase from Tyson Frizell is for nought. Holmes converts his own try and the Maroons are up after 12 minutes.
Qld 6-0 NSW
An intercept for @val_holmes1 and he goes for a run!@QLDmaroons lead 6-0 after 12 minutes. #Origin pic.twitter.com/GqChTnFTtl
— NRL (@NRL) July 11, 2018
8.16pm: Close call!
Almost the perfect start for Queensland and Billy Slater in the 4th minute. Daly Cherry-Evans puts a crossfield kick up near the NSW line, Slater goes up, takes the kick and crosses for what looks to be a try. The video replay shows a tiny knock-on into Blues halfback Nathan Cleary, however, and the four-pointer is disallowed.
Qld 0-0 NSW
8.12pm: Kick-off
We’re away in game three. Queensland get first use of the ball.
8.01pm: Kick-off runs late
The teams are still preparing to take the field, meaning the game will be delayed. (To the surprise of no-one).
A line-up of former Queensland captains on stage at Suncorp Stadium has apparently resulted in a fall for Trevor ‘The Axe’ Gillmeister. The bloke once got out of his hospital bed to play for his beloved Queensland, so we’re pretty sure he’ll be OK ...
7.50pm: Smith takes to the podium
Cameron Smith gets a huge cheer from the Queensland crowd at he is honoured just before kick-off of game three. The 35-year-old speaks of his pride at being picked to represent his state, and urges the current team to send Billy Slater off a winner.
7.45pm: Latest odds
Queensland have firmed late in the betting and are now rated a $2.08 chance, with NSW listed at $1.75. Billy Slater and Blues hooker Damien Cook are joint favourites to be named man of the match, at $7.
7.10pm: NSW make a late change
The teams are in and lock Jack de Belin has been moved to the bench for game three, as Jake Trbojevic takes his place in the starting side.
The teams:
Final teams for #Origin III. #NRL pic.twitter.com/0Dz8rQ3gQu
— NRL (@NRL) July 11, 2018
6.55pm: Good omen for the Maroons
Queensland’s under-20s team has broken a six-game losing streak to NSW, thumping the visitors 30-12 in the curtain-raiser.
The home side was coached by Justin Hodges, who represented Queensland 24 times.
6.45pm: No walk to the park
NSW caused a stir when they walked from their hotel in Melbourne to the MCG before game one of the series, mingling with fans as they went.
They repeated the exercise for the short stroll from their lodgings at Sydney’s Olympic Park to ANZ Stadium prior to game two, but Brisbane and its locals are another matter.
Some of the lubricated locals along Caxton Street, near Suncorp Stadium, could pose a potential problem, so the boys are taking the bus this time around.
No walking this time for the baby Blues!#Origin | TONIGHT 7.00pm EXCLUSIVELY LIVE on @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/K0RQEmL0IP
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) July 11, 2018
6.25pm: Farewell gift?
Billy Slater is hoping to inspire the underdog Maroons to victory tonight in his 31st and final State of Origin game.
He’s captaining Queensland for the first time, at the age of 35, in the absence of injured skipper Greg Inglis.
Billy Slater jumping on the @QLDmaroons bus as a player for the last time. He’s a legend up here. @BigSportsBrekky @TK_BSB @tabcomau @MarlowLuke @mattjenkinstab @AndyHurleyaust @Quinny_1 #stateoforigin #brisbane pic.twitter.com/Rev0gObrsS
— Dave Stanley (@daveystan1) July 11, 2018
6pm: Blues chase slice of history
Current NSW coach Brad Fittler was captain of the Blues the last time they completed a 3-0 series win with victory at Lang Park, back in 1996.
Fittler kicked the field goal that ultimately sealed a 15-14 win at the old Lang Park. He’ll be hoping for a bit of that magic tonight.
The @NSWRL have achieved 3-0 series victories in Brisbane on two occasions: 1986 and 1996#Origin pic.twitter.com/rHDi2pq0jH
— NRL (@NRL) July 11, 2018
5.25pm: ‘Congratulations Bill’
More on Cameron Smith, who has taken time out to send best wishes to clubmate and fellow great Billy Slater:
Best of luck to the @QLDMaroons boys tonight! Special mention to Bill leading the side as skipper in his last game for QLD. Congratulations to you, Nicole and the family mate, enjoy it! @BillySlater #Origin #QLDER pic.twitter.com/lT0AhojyHJ
— Cameron Smith (@camsmith9) July 11, 2018
Brent Read 4.55pm: Smith ‘scared’ of Baby Blues
Cameron Smith will be honoured before kick-off at Suncorp Stadium tonight but NSW coach Brad Fittler was in no mood to pay tribute to the former Queensland captain yesterday, instead questioning whether he retired because he lacked the stomach to take on the Baby Blues.
Fittler believes Smith may have been afraid of what was brewing south of the border with NSW selecting 11 rookies for the opening game of the series at the MCG. Read more here
Brent Read 4.30pm: Walters’ reputation on the line
There has been a view in some quarters that the true indication of Kevin Walters’ coaching ability would become apparent after the retirement of Queensland’s biggest names. That day has now arrived and the Maroons have been found wanting. Read more here
Brent Read 4.03pm: Weather rains on Blues parade
NSW’s plans to play a more expansive game at Suncorp Stadium tonight have been hijacked by the weather.
The Blues, with the State of Origin series in their keeping, have spoken about getting early ball to their outside backs as they attempt to take advantage of defensive flaws in the Queensland backline.
However, they may be forced to adjust that plan amid grey skies and afternoon showers in Brisbane.
The greasy conditions are likely to work against excessive ball movement, although the Blues can afford to throw caution to the wind given they hold an unassailable two-nil lead in the series, having won the opening two games at the MCG and ANZ Stadium.
Those wins have prompted talk of a new era for NSW given they have enjoyed precious-little success over the 12 years leading into this series.
Blues supporters believe the tide has turned and NSW players have spoken about keeping the foot on the throat of a Queensland side which is in the throes of generational change following the representative retirement of Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith.
Fullback Billy Slater will also end his Origin career following tonight’s game, his 31st in a Maroons jersey and his first as captain.
There will be no sentimentality emanating from the NSW camp as they attempt to send Slater out a loser and silence a crowd which is expected to nudge towards 50,000.
“It would be awesome to have a win and lift the trophy,” NSW centre Latrell Mitchell said.
“It is a good thing knowing we have done what we have. I don’t think we want to take backward steps.”
Mitchell has been one of the shining lights for the Blues in this year’s series, terrorising Queensland centre Will Chambers with his size and power.
Chambers is among a group of players who are on thin Origin ice heading into tonight’s game, Queensland hierarchy suggesting it has become a case of perform or perish for a host of Maroons players.
Asked what he expected as he prepares to make his Origin bow at Suncorp Stadium, Mitchell said: “Just a whole lot of Queenslanders yelling at us. That’s all I expect. It is another game of footy.
“I am there to do what I have to do, and have fun. I am going to enjoy the atmosphere and soak it up. People have their say and opinion but at the end of the day I am doing what I am doing.”
While Mitchell has been one of the stars of the series for NSW, halfback Nathan Cleary has had a steady introduction to the arena.
The 20-year-old halfback has taken a back-seat and allowed five-eighth James Maloney to play the more dominant role, the NSW No.6 heading into the game as the favourite to win the Wally Lewis medal as player of the series.
“It’s a pretty cool stadium,” Cleary said. “The stands go straight up so it feels like the crowd is on top of you. It’s hard to imagine but you can kind of picture it in your head.
“You assume it is going to be full and everyone is going to get into the hate. It’s a natural thing. I am looking forward to it.
“I have had Melbourne, Sydney and now with Brisbane. It’s pretty crazy.”
Asked whether he planned to take a bigger role in the final game, Cleary said he would do whatever was necessary for the Blues to complete a clean sweep.
“It’s a good opportunity but at the end of the day the idea is to win so I will be doing whatever I can to help us win, whether that is getting more of the ball or playing a support role,” he said.
‘I am easy. As long as we win the game I will be happy.”
4.00pm: Arrow, Papalii to start
Queensland coach Kevin Walters has confirmed Jai Arrow and Josh Papalii will start in the front row in tonight’s State of Origin III, ruling out run-on changes to the Maroons pack.
NSW mentor Brad Fittler had predicted bench forwards Tim Glasby or Jarrod Wallace would be promoted to the starting line-up but Walters insisted his team would be as announced for the dead rubber.
Queensland jumpers will be on the line in stand-in skipper Billy Slater’s 31st and final Origin with Walters confirming good performances at Suncorp Stadium will be rewarded in game one of next year’s series.
AAP
3.45pm: ‘I’ll play until I’m dropped’, Maloney vows
NSW veteran James Maloney has vowed to play representative rugby league until he gets dropped as he strives to cement a vacant halves spot in the Kangaroos team.
The 32-year-old Maloney will run onto Suncorp Stadium for State of Origin III as the oldest player in the Blues line-up.
The match marks the farewell of Queensland champion Billy Slater, who announced his decision before game one that this series would be his last in the representative arena.
But Maloney has no intentions of following in the footsteps of Slater, Cameron Smith and Darius Boyd to solely focus on club football.
With just 11 Origin matches and three Tests against his name, the Penrith playmaker is keen on squeezing as much as he can from the rest of his career. Slater, Smith and Boyd have played upwards of 20 games for Australia.
“I’ll probably get dropped before I actually retire from it,” Maloney said. “Obviously the guys you’re talking about that have done it recently — (Johnathan) Thurston, (Cooper) Cronk, Smith, Billy — they’ve played a hell of a lot more rep footy than I have.
“They’re probably at a different point. I’ll just keep taking them when they come.”
A prime contender to take out this year’s Wally Lewis Medal as the player of the Origin series, Maloney is also likely to be in consideration for possible Tests at season’s end.
Injured Maroons star Michael Morgan partnered Cronk in Australia’s most recent Test — their World Cup final win over England.
However, current Queensland five-eighth Cameron Munster could also come into calculations, as well as Blues halfback Nathan Cleary.
Maloney was part of the Kangaroos’ World Cup squad as a back-up playmaker. “I’ve been on the fringe there. With some guys that have had the jerseys for so long not being in there, it’s a good opportunity,” he said.
“But that’s not really a focus (right now). You know it can happen and hopefully it can, but you just go through the process.
“Hopefully having a series win in Origin has a good impact on what you do there. Not just me, but hopefully there’s quite a few of these Blues, if they finish the season well, can find themselves in them jerseys.”
AAP
3.30pm: Oates in return of the giants
Frustrated back-rower Corey Oates has earned comparisons with Queensland wingers Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri ahead of his State of Origin return.
Stand-in Maroons skipper Billy Slater gave a compelling case for Oates to stay in the backline, saying the Brisbane star reminded him of the Maroons’ giant wingers of the past.
Oates has been welcomed back by the Maroons for tonight’s Origin III in Brisbane, slotting on to the left wing in a backline reshuffle caused by centre Greg Inglis (broken thumb).
But Oates complained upon his arrival at Camp Maroon that he had become frustrated on the wing and wanted to become a back-rower.
Slater had no problem unleashing Oates in his new-look back-line, saying the lanky 23-year-old was cut from the same mould as ex-Broncos Sailor and Tuqiri. In the re-shuffle, Cronulla flyer Valentine Holmes was moved from left to right wing with Dane Gagai shifting into the centres for Inglis.
“He is a different winger to Dane and Valentine but he brings a lot of power,” Slater said.
“He is a big guy and hopefully he can get our sets off to a really good start. I have seen big wingers play Origin before — Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri.
“When he has had the opportunity before he has delivered. It’s good to see Oatesy get another chance.”
Oates played the last of his four Origins in game one last year. Slater also backed under-fire centre Will Chambers to respond in Origin III after a running battle with NSW’s Latrell Mitchell.
Chambers has been out-pointed this series in a lively and sometimes spiteful niggling act with the powerful Mitchell, who is aiming to become the third Blue to score a try in all three matches of a series.
It had led to calls for 30-year-old Chambers to be cut for Origin III and for Queensland to look to the future after NSW won their second series in 13 years.
“I disagree with that (calls for Chambers to be axed),” Slater said. “I know Will pretty well. He’s a fantastic player, one of the best centres in the game. I am sure he will respond really well.”
Additional reporting: AAP
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