State of Origin 2019 Game 3: A giant leap for Blues-kind

A Tedesco try with just 32 seconds on the clock has given NSW a thrilling victory | VIDEO

James Tedesco after scoring the winning try. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“Unbelievable,” said NSW fullback James Tedesco after his match-winning try with just 32 seconds on the clock as the Blues secured a thrilling 26-20 victory to seal this year’s State of Origin series.

The win sealed the first back-to-back titles for the Blues since a trio of triumphs from 2003-05.

The Blues received good luck messages on the big screen from Scott Morrison, Australian cricketers Steve Smith and Pat Cummins, champion jockey Hugh Bowman, cage fighter Rob Whittaker and surfers Layne Beachley and Sally Fitzgibbons.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian among the crowd at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium. Picture: AAP

Penalties punctuated the early stages. Queensland debutant Corey Norman laid on the first try with a superb grubber kick for Felise Kaufusi. The Maroons led 6-2 and the Blues, starting short-odds favourites, were reeling. The crowd was silenced, to a degree, until prop Paul Vaughan steamrolled over for a crucial try shortly before halftime. With the series level at one-all, the scores were 8-all with 40 minutes to play.

Blues coach Brad Fittler and halfback Mitchell Pearce after the game. Picture: Adam Head

Maroons centre Will Chambers made a blinding 50-metre run early in the second stanza but lost possession. He responded by throwing the ball at the head of Blues hooker Damien Cook, starting some jostling best described as handbags at 10 paces. It was the sort of tense match destined to come down to what everyone calls an Origin moment — a moment of brilliance or a brain snap that decides the result.

The series-winning team. Picture: Brett Costello

It was potentially a night of redemption for Blues halfback Mitchell Pearce, who was attempting to win his first Origin series at his eighth attempt.

Pearce was efficient but it was Blues fullback James Tedesco who blew the game wide open with a blistering try in the 52nd minute. With three defenders to go around, he applied the afterburners and went straight through them.

Ben Hunt, left, among the shattered Queensland players. Picture: Getty Images

Then in the 60th minute, Cook took off from dummy-half, swerved, weaved, found open space and scored after a 40m run of pure speed. The Blues were on their way to their second straight series win under Fittler before the almost obligatory Maroons comeback.

Two rapid-fire Maroons tries levelled the scores before James Tedesco scored the match-winner.