State of Origin 2020: Maroons’ miracle in Adelaide

Queensland were the most despised outsiders in the recent history but conjured a victory when all hope was apparently lost.

Queensland five-eighth Cameron Munster shrugs off NSW hooker Damien Cook to score Picture: Brenton Edwards

Where better for a miracle than the City of Churches? Queensland were the most despised outsiders in the recent history of State of Origin at Adelaide Oval, but on Wednesday night they conjured a victory when all hope was apparently lost.

It wasn’t quite an act of God, but Wayne Bennett is clearly a rugby league messiah. Bennett, parachuted in as Maroons coach when Kevin Walters took the Brisbane job, showed once again why he is the Origin oracle.

He turned a rag-tag squad of players into matchwinners. NSW were the shortest-priced favourites since betting on Origin games began more than 20 years ago. At halftime, the bookies looked on the money.

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The Blues led by 10 points and seemed on their way to victory. But the second half was all about Queensland. They hassled NSW into errors, They created something out of nothing. They defied the critics and found a way to win 18-14 against a Blues outfit that was apparently unbeatable.

Few wins in Queensland’s proud Origin history have tasted as sweet. The second game of the series will be played next Wednesday and NSW coach Brad Fittler will head to ANZ Stadium with question marks over his side’s ability to retain the Origin shield.

He will also have to deal with the fallout from another head knock suffered by captain Boyd Cordner, although he passed his head injury assessment and finished the game.

Cordner has suffered a series of head knocks this season and there were genuine concerns when he made his way to the dressing room in the 18th minute. There was genuine surprise when he reappeared 15 minutes later to rejoin the game.

Even with their captain back on the field, the Blues were clueless at times in the second half. Their halves created little to nothing. Contrast that with the work of Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans, who were in everything as the Maroons were rampant after the break.

Munster handed Queensland a decisive lead with 14 minutes remaining when he toed ahead a reckless pass by Daniel Tupou and raced 35 metres to score.

Few players encapsulated the moment more than Kurt Capewell, who came up with a crucial player in the second half and turned up in defence when he was needed.

Queensland winger Xavier Coates is hit in a tackle by Jack Wighton Picture: Getty Images

He was the architect of the try that put Queensland back in the game in the 50th minute. Capewell wouldn’t have been there if Queensland had all their players available. Yet he brushed off the attention of Clint Gutherson and kicked ahead, the ball sitting up for AJ Brimson to score.

The Maroons had a skip in their step and four minutes later they were in again when Ben Hunt sparked a move that Dane Gagai continued and Xavier Coates finished.

Munster then chimed in and the comeback was complete, although there was still time for NSW to set up a thrilling finish when Josh Addo-Carr scored in the corner.

The Maroons finished with Felise Kaufusi in the sin-bin but even that couldn’t tarnish one of Queensland’s greatest victories.

There was no sign of what was to come in the first half. Queensland had the worst possible start to the night when centre Brenko Lee was ruled out with a calf problem only hours before the game.

Gold Coast rookie Phillip Sami was drafted into the side.

Having weathered an early storm, NSW scored twice in the opening stanza to seemingly take control of the game.

Queensland spurned an early chance to take the lead when Cherry-Evans shanked what looked a simple shot at goal. They were made to pay.

The Maroons had three successive shots at the NSW line but came away empty-handed and the Blues were rewarded for their defensive fortitude as they marched down the other end to open the scoring.

Damien Cook, who had blotted his copybook by dropping the ball from the kickoff, was the mastermind as he kicked for himself and regathered to plunge over the line.

Queensland had dominated the player but NSW led where it counted – on the scoreboard. Midway through the half, the Blues picked up their second try with a simple backline movement. Addo-Carr had been denied by the video referee earlier in the contest but there was no doubt as he took advantage of some smart work by James Tedesco and Clint Gutherson to scored in the corner.

The Blues were leading 10-0 and seemingly in control, albeit with their own injury count climbing as Cameron Murray left only seconds after entering the fray with a knee problem.