State of Origin 2020 game 3: Queensland clinch series victory for the ages
Cameron Munster and Harry Grant starred as an inexperienced Queensland side beat NSW 20-14 to take the 2020 series, Daly Cherry-Evans taking a shot at the side’s detractors post-match.
- Bennett’s rookies rule
- Munster named player of the series
- Dramatic end to series
- Tedesco knocked out
- 54-year first for Rabs
Queensland have won the 2020 State of Origin series, taking the decider 20-14 at Suncorp Stadium. Read how it all unfolded below.
Brent Read 10.40pm: Wayne Bennett’s Maroon rookies rule
Big Artie would be proud. Oh, so proud. Queensland went into the State of Origin series as rank outsiders. They walk out of it in possession of the Origin shield, having produced one of the finest performances in their recent history.
The 40th year of Origin produced a performance for the ages. Queensland coach Wayne Bennett had spoken about the legacy of the inspirational Beetson — Queensland’s inaugural captain — in the lead-up to the decider.
It was another colossus who led Queensland to victory on Wednesday night. Cameron Munster made his Origin debut at Suncorp Stadium three years ago and tore the Blues to shreds.
This was arguably even better given the quality of his support cast and the class of the opposition. Munster, name man of the series, toyed with NSW at times. He constantly tested their defensive line and masterminded two of the three tries.
The third was all about Harry Grant, who came off the bench to torment NSW and score the try in the second half that proved the difference.
When he scored, Queensland looked home and hosed and they should have ended the game only for Valentine Holmes to drop the ball with the line open. That mistake gave the Blues hope.
There was still time for a grandstand finish. Isn’t there always? The Blues scored through Daniel Tupou and then kicked a penalty goal.
The difference was six points with eight minutes remaining. Nearly 50,000 spectators and millions of viewers were on the edge of their seats.
Read the full match report here.
Adrian McMurray 10.31pm: Munster named player of the series
Cameron Munster wins the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series. He’s pumped, and drops an f-bomb during his speech. He calls out Cleary for his huge year. Nice stuff. Cleary comes to the stage with Tedesco out of action. He’s booed by the crowd, which was unnecessary. DCE then gets up to take the shield.
“On behalf of the worst ever Queensland team: thank you very much!” he concludes.
Great stuff.
"And on behalf of the worst ever Queensland team, thank you very much." 💀😂😂
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) November 18, 2020
The Decider - LIVE and exclusive on @Channel9. #9WWOS #Origin pic.twitter.com/9EbIgOoRYC
That’s it from us for the Origin series. There will be plenty of Origin content on the site and app tonight and in tomorrow’s print edition. Thanks for joining us for what’s been a crazy series at the end of a wild season.
Adrian McMurray 10.14pm: Queensland clinch dramatic Origin victory
NSW are trying to manufacture something … Paulo drops the ball and Jake Friend carries it into touch. The Queenslanders are celebrating, but NSW challenge the Paulo dropped ball! It’s ruled a Friend knock on … but with no time remaining, that ends the play. That was confusing … Wow – late drama and Queensland have done it. They win tonight 20-14, and take the series 2-1. Incredible.
Adrian McMurray 10.10pm: Queensland laying over the ball
Queensland are – unsurprisingly – laying all over the ball. NSW get repeat sets and force a drop out. Around a minute to go, Queensland ahead 20-14.
Adrian McMurray 10.09pm: Allan sent to sin bin
NSW go side to side. Yeo puts in a kick, Addo-Carr gets around the Queensland defence, gets a foot to the ball and is taken out by Allan. Addo-Carr was too far out to say for sure he would’ve got there … but it kinda looks like he would’ve got there. The bunker says he was too far out to consider it a penalty try, but Allan is sent to the sin bin for a professional foul. NSW on the attack with three to go, Queensland leading 20-14.
Adrian McMurray 10.03pm: Walker knocked out
Yeo makes a break but is cut down by Su’A. Cleary loses it in a tackle, ball back to Queensland. Unfortunate incident when Walker is knocked out courtesy of some friendly fire. There’s a big stoppage in play with the medicab out to take him off. Here’s hoping he’s OK. Queensland lead 20-14 with just under five minutes on the clock.
Adrian McMurray 9.56pm: NSW back within six
Queensland bring Su’A on for Brenko Lee, with Capewell moving to the centres and Su’A in the back row. They blow a chance to put it beyond the reach of NSW with Holmes dropping it over the line.
NSW march down the other end … and Grant is pinged right in front of the posts. NSW take the two, Cleary kicks it and it's 20-14 the way of the Maroons with 7 minutes to go. There’s a second streaker for the night! It’s all happening! BIG few minutes coming up.
Adrian McMurray 9.50pm: Hope for NSW
Hold the phone – the Blues are in through Tupou! Walker and Gutherson link up, in a carbon copy of the Holmes try in the first half. Cleary adds the extras, and Queensland’s lead is cut to 20-12 with 13 minutes to go.
The @NSWBlues hit back!
— NRL (@NRL) November 18, 2020
STRAP IN 👊#Origin pic.twitter.com/YLmZaDglKi
Adrian McMurray 9.45pm: Grant scores, Queensland on cusp of victory?
TRY! Queensland move further in front via Grant. He collects a Welch offload and dives to the line … it’s sent up to the bunker and replays show he just gets the ball to the line. A great reward for a sensational debut. Holmes converts, Queensland lead 20-6 with 16 minutes to go.
Welcome to #Origin, Harry Grant! 😠pic.twitter.com/rQJsWToh6z
— NRL (@NRL) November 18, 2020
Adrian McMurray 9.38pm: Queensland go further in front
Frizell is penalised for offside and the Maroons elect to take the two. Big endorsement of the NSW defence with that call! Holmes nails the kick, Queensland lead 14-6. The scoreline doesn’t reflect the Maroons’ dominance, which I suppose is a good thing for the Blues. Anything can happen from here.
Adrian McMurray 9.35pm: How much pressure can NSW absorb?
Queensland bring Friend back on but Grant stays out there at lock. I like it – something different. There's no way Bennett could’ve taken him off anyway given what he’s bringing. Collins has been immense for the Maroons off the bench.
NSW are defending well, but how much pressure can they absorb? Queensland are getting several repeat sets deep in NSW territory. Queensland lead 12-6 after 55 minutes.
Adrian McMurray 9.26pm: Queensland continue to roll on
We’re back for the second half! Grant makes a break for Queensland and kicks through, but the chasing Holmes can’t get to it. Dangerous signs for NSW, however.
An incredible passage of play is sparked by Grant. A series of offloads leads to a chance on the left, Gagai passes late to Holmes who would’ve scored if he’d collected it. A Finucane error gives the ball back to Queensland, and again they go left, but DCE’s pass misses Holmes and rolls into touch. Queensland lead 12-6 after 46 minutes. The Maroons are well on top.
Brent Read 9.10pm: The view from Suncorp Stadium at HT
Queensland have one hand on the State of Origin shield thanks to the brilliance of five-eighth Cameron Munster.
Having missed all bar two minutes of Origin II due to a head knock, Munster returned for the decider and dominated the first half as the Maroons took a 12-6 lead into the break at Suncorp Stadium.
If the Blues are to mount a comeback, they will need to do so without their captain and best player after James Tedesco was forced from the field midway through then half due to a head knock of his own.
The score was 6-all when Tedesco departed, the Blues No 1 having scored a try of his own in response to Queensland’s opener.
Having got his side back in the contest, Tedesco was helped from the field by trainers after collecting the knee of Maroons front rower Josh Papalii in a sickening moment. Maroons forward Jai Arrow appeared to taunt Tedesco on the ground before realising the seriousness of the situation and signalling to the referee.
The Maroons, cheered on by a crowd of nearly 50,000, dominated large passages of play but were forced to combat some resilient NSW defence.
The Blues had run out to raucous boos. Soon enough, the jeers turned to cheers as Queensland got the start they desperately craved. Munster was the architect.
The Queensland No6 ran the ball on the last tackle, debutant fullback Corey Allan showed some slick hands and Valentine Holmes went airborne to score in the corner. Four minutes later a fan with a few too many under his belt interrupted proceedings when he raced onto the field. The brief interruption worked against the Maroons as moments later, Tedesco hit back for NSW.
Allan should have cleaned up a Nathan Cleary bomb but spilt it. Daly Cherry-Evans had the chance to clean it up but dawdled and Tedesco planted the ball.
Cleary converted and the scores were level.
The game was back in the balance but the Maroons finally found a way to breach the Blues with three minutes remaining in the half thanks to the brilliance of Munster.
Trapped in a corner, with seemingly nowhere to go, Munster kicked for himself, regathered and then kicked again. Desperate NSW defence prevented the try but from the next play, Munster kicked directly across field, Brenko Lee touched the ball backwards and Edrick Lee was there to pick up scraps, step inside cover and go over.
The Maroons had the lead and they would take it to halftime, leaving the field to the adulation of the locals.
Adrian McMurray 9.03pm: Queensland lead at halftime
And that’s where things remain at halftime, Queensland on top 12-6. There’s confirmation by the way that Tedesco won’t be back. Plenty of talking points from the first half. Can NSW win without Tedesco? Was that a knock on from Brenko Lee before the Edrick Lee try? And how good is Munster? This one could still go either way.
Adrian McMurray 9.00pm: Munster magic puts Queensland in front
Queensland are in again! Munster starts it all down the left, kicking through the line, regathering before kicking again. Tupou comes across field to tidy it up but the ball falls back to Queensland hands. The Blues are shot to pieces and Munster spots it, kicking to the cousins Lee posted out on the right. Brenko gets a hand to it, Edrick gathers and dives over. It’s sent up to the bunker, and it’s cleared for a knock on! Holmes converts, Queensland lead 12-6 after 38 minutes.
HOLLYYYYY! What on earth?!?
— NRL (@NRL) November 18, 2020
Big Edrick Lee is here to play 😤
QLD take the lead.#Origin pic.twitter.com/vXLI7j0GrP
Adrian McMurray 8.53pm: Queensland target NSW’s reshuffled right side
Allan and Yeo trade handling errors, as Queensland bring Harry Grant on. The Maroons are enjoying a good period, well on top, until Cleary kicks early in the set for a 40/20. Great vision and execution from the halfback, what a play.
It doesn’t lead to anything – a desperate tackle from Collins knocking the ball loose from Walker. Cleary is pinged for holding down in the tackle, and there’s a bit of a scuffle. Nothing comes from it, and Queensland go on the march.
Queensland keep going to their left, targeting Yeo at right centre – Munster could cause some real damage. They work there from a scrum and Holmes almost makes it through but is bundled in to touch. Gould, in commentary, suggests NSW need to rethink their backline. I’d be inclined to agree. 6-all after 35 minutes.
Adrian McMurray 8.37pm: Tedesco knocked out
Munster kicks it out on the full from the ensuing kick-off … eek!
Nothing came of it for the Blues though. Queensland build some good pressure, trapping Wighton in the corner of the field. NSW are given a hand working their way out of trouble though, Welch pinged for offside and Papalii isn’t happy.
Minutes later, a huge moment when Tedesco cops a Papalii knee in a tackle and is down. Arrow shakes a prone Tedesco … bad look. The fullback is groggy and assisted from the field. The NSW skipper won’t be back tonight you’d imagine. Yeo goes on, with Gutherson moving to fullback. Huge, huge blow for the Blues. 6-all after 20 minutes.
Adrian McMurray 8.24pm: NSW hit back quickly
Queensland are building nicely here. But their attack fizzles out when Friend chips into the arms of Haas near the tryline. Fa’asuamaleaui is pinged for offside, allowing NSW to work their way out of a dangerous situation.
NSW work their way down field courtesy of a set restart. Cleary ends the set with a kick towards the in-goal … Allan knocks on, Cherry-Evans goes to pick it up from an offside position but Tedesco gets a hand to it! It’s sent up as a try, and that’s confirmed by the bunker. Cleary nails the conversion, and it’s 6-all after 10 minutes. That was out of nowhere … game on.
This is CRAZY 😱
— NRL (@NRL) November 18, 2020
Who other than Teddy to score a try like this?!#Origin pic.twitter.com/qk4gCsS9jd
Adrian McMurray 8.17pm: Holmes opens the scoring
Queensland work it into good position, and their left edge go to work. It takes less than four minutes and we have a TRY! They opt not to kick on the last, going down the short side. Muster to Allan, who joins the line, who throws a lovely pass to Holmes who dives spectacularly in the corner. He nails the sideline conversion, Queensland lead 6-0 after 5 minutes. Moving Holmes to the wing has paid dividends almost instantly. The crowd are loving this … how do NSW respond?
Adrian McMurray 8.10pm: NSW get the decider underway
Here we go! Rabs, broadcasting from Sydney, is joined by Phil Gould and Paul Vautin in commentary. NSW receive a typically hostile reception, and the crowd are up and about for Queensland. Jeez, it’s incredible to see such a packed stadium. It’s easy to forget what a big crowd brings to an occasion. Onto the anthem then, and Casey Barnes is singing in jeans, T-shirt and a cap … a relaxed vibe then. The last decider NSW won at this venue was 2005. Nathan Cleary kicks off. We’re on!
Adrian McMurray 7.44pm: World record crowd for decider?
Incredibly, tonight could well set a new world record for a COVID-19 pandemic crowd.
The record currently sits with New Zealand – the second Bledisloe Cup match between the All Blacks and Wallabies attracted 46,049 at Eden Park in October.
Suncorp Stadium has a capacity of 49,750 tonight – let’s see if that’s met. Regardless, it’s pretty wild to think that we’ve got a packed stadium for this one. Imagine being told back in March, as the nation shut down amid the first wave, that we’d have a full house for an Origin decider!
Adrian McMurray 7.15pm: Confirmed teams are in
The final teams have landed, and as expected, both sides haven’t changed from yesterday’s team update. Queensland already announced their changes and will field four debutants (Grant, Allan and the cousins Lee) while NSW are as per program, 1-17.
Adrian McMurray 7.05pm: All on the line tonight?
We’ve been running this idea past the entire digital team at The Australian for weeks now … it’d make things interesting.
Anyone thinking that @AnnastaciaMP and @GladysB should have a little wager(borders opening) on the decider tonight??? Let’s see how many RETWEETS we can get 🤷ðŸ¼â€â™‚ï¸ðŸ˜‚
— Cameron King (@CAMKINGY) November 18, 2020
Adrian McMurray 6.56pm: Teams hit Suncorp Stadium
Both sides are in the house! NSW of course had to fly into Queensland today. We’ll have the team news for you in about 15 minutes.
Arrived. #QLDER pic.twitter.com/QliHtUYwBv
— Queensland Maroons (@QLDmaroons) November 18, 2020
The Blues are here.....@wwos @NRLonNine pic.twitter.com/P5kofb3voe
— Peter Psaltis (@peterp79) November 18, 2020
Business â°#Origin pic.twitter.com/HhP06QpRnV
— NRL (@NRL) November 18, 2020
Adrian McMurray 6.40pm: The brave NSW fans infiltrating Suncorp Stadium
While Queensland – and Suncorp Stadium – is off limits for those from greater Sydney, some 2000 NSW fans from regional areas and other states will make their way to tonight’s decider.
According to ticket data obtained by The Daily Telegraph, 2222 tickets have been purchased by fans with a NSW postcode.
While there are bound to be some NSW fans living in Queensland in attendance tonight, Queensland will have even more of an advantage than usual among the 50,000-strong crowd.
With some general admission tickets not offered due to pandemic protocols and corporate suites slightly down on their usual capacity to ensure the 2 sqm rule is enforced, the revised ground total will be 49,750.
Brent Read 6.10pm: Smith tips Grant to leave his mark
Former Queensland captain Cameron Smith has tipped his protege Harry Grant to have a big impact as the Melbourne hooker prepares to make his State of Origin debut in the decider at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
Grant, earmarked to become Melbourne and the Maroons’ long-term hooker, will start off the interchange bench and coach Wayne Bennett is playing his cards close to his chest when it comes to outlining how he plans to use the 22-year-old.
Bennett is expected to give Jake Friend a rest at some point in the game, Smith suggesting just prior to halftime would be the ideal moment to introduce Grant to the action.
“He will go good,” Smith said.
“I am not sure how Wayne is going to use him, as far as what period of the game he will come on, but I am sure what he will want from him is to bring his running game and energy onto the field.
“He is a really good kid and he is going to get through a lot of work in defence. From my point of view, I would probably stick him on a tad before halftime depending on how the game is going and how Friendy is travelling.
“I would say ‘hey mate, get out there and give us a bit of spark’ and see what happens.”
Grant is among four new faces brought into the Queensland team for the decider. Corey Allan will play fullback while cousins Edrick and Brenko Lee will be on the wing and in the centres.
The Maroons are on home turf – a crowd of close to 50,000 is expected to attend the game after the Queensland government threw open the gates – but will need to bounce back from a shellacking in the second game if they are to win the series.
Queensland won the opening game at the Adelaide Oval but were badly beaten at ANZ Stadium last week. That defeat prompted Bennett to make further changes to his line-up.
Aside from the four new faces, he welcomed back prop Christian Welch after he missed Origin II due to concussion. Five-eighth Cameron Munster is also expected to play a more prominent role given he only played two minutes at ANZ Stadium before leaving the field after a head knock.
NSW have won the past two series and will start Wednesday night’s third and deciding game as short-priced favourites.
Plenty of interest will likely centre around the rematch between young forwards Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Payne Haas. The pair traded blows at the end of Origin II, spending time in the sin bin. Bennett lambasted the media for building up their rivalry leading into Origin II but said he hadn’t felt the need to speak to Fa’asuamaleaui about keeping his emotions in check as they prepare to meet again.
“I haven’t said much to him actually, at all,” Bennett said.
“He’s not someone you’ve kind of got to talk to a lot. He’s pretty well motivated and a pretty easy to coach guy, he wants to do his best for you.
“He’s 20 years of age and we’ve got a decade of him, that’ll be good hey. Looking forward to that. He’s only going to get better and he’s not going to be intimidated by anybody, so let’s get out there and see what happens.”
Adrian McMurray 5.00pm: Border closure creates 54-year first for Rabs
The Queensland border closure had led to Ray ‘Rabs’ Warren being forced to call tonight’s Origin decider off the TV.
For the first time in his 54-year broadcasting career, the voice of rugby league will call the match from Nine’s Sydney studios after being knocked back by Queensland health authorities for an exemption to enter the Sunshine State.
While Andrew Johns and a production crew flew into Brisbane on a charter flight on Wednesday morning, Warren will remain behind for his 96th consecutive Origin call, something he’s not entirely comfortable with.
“I’ve never called off the tube in my 54 years,” Warren told The Daily Telegraph.
“But in the climate that we’re in, there are some things you have to do – some things people have to do. I think I can get through it OK.”
The exemptions for Johns and the Nine crew to enter Queensland were only granted on Tuesday night, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The technical personnel were only given the green light as their positions couldn’t be filled in Brisbane.
According to Queensland Health, greater Sydney and Melbourne remain designated COVID-19 hotspots, meaning residents of those areas can’t enter Queensland without an exemption.
Will Swanton 4.45pm: $5 memory that turbocharges Josh Addo-Carr
Perhaps NSW has an extra man out there. Perhaps Wally Carr is whispering go, go, go in Josh Addo-Carr’s ear. The Blues flyer used to rake in the pocket money from his grandfather — sometimes five dollars, sometimes 10 — every time he scored a try as a kid, and he’s still crossing the stripe like he’s on commission. He goes and goes and goes.
Like the clappers. Born to run. What a beauty he is. I’m shocked he’s only 25 years of age. He seems an accomplished 30-something. If he keeps going at this giddy rate, a dust-churning rate comparable to Looney Tunes cartoons in which the Road Runner is bolting from the up-and-in defence of Wile. E Coyote, he’s going to set State of Origin tryscoring records that will never be broken.
Granted another decade of fitness, he’ll go, go, go past Queensland legend Greg Inglis as Origin’s greatest tryscorer.
Wally Carr was a mighty Aboriginal boxer who fought in RSL clubs and circus tents and anywhere else that allowed a man to put up his dukes. Addo-Carr called him Pop. When Pop visited a Melbourne Storm training camp at Geelong, he was meant to be there for four hours. They were so smitten by his humility and the power of his life story that he was asked to extend his stay to four days. Pop had 100-plus fights and held eight Australian titles, a tough and proud bloke who literally fought, tooth and nail, to make something of his life.
Read the full story here.
Brent Read 4.30pm: Bennett’s babes chasing history
History beckons for Queensland on Wednesday night. Regardless of the result at Suncorp Stadium, they will finish the State of Origin series having debuted 14 players – including four on in Game III – making the Maroons the greenest outfit in 40 years of interstate rivalry.
Their hopes of snatching the shield with an upset will rest to a large extent on two of those new faces. Coach Wayne Bennett on Tuesday confirmed that South Sydney’s Corey Allan would play fullback, a move that will result in Valentine Holmes returning to the wing – a position where he has previously flourished.
In a further reshuffle, Kurt Capewell has shifted from the centres to the backrow for Jaydn Su’A who drops back to the bench to replace Moeaki Fotuaika. That opens the way for Storm centre Brenko Lee to come into the side while fellow debutant Edrick Lee moves onto the wing to replace the injured Xavier Coates.
Harry Grant will make his first appearance off the interchange bench and his debut shapes as the most exciting for Queensland since Kalyn Ponga was handed a maiden jersey more than two years ago.
Read the full story here.
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