State of Origin 2020: Wayne Bennett’s Maroon rookies rule

Queensland went into the State of Origin series as rank outsiders. They walk out of it in possession of the shield.

Valentine Holmes dives to score the opening try for Queensland Picture: Getty Images

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.

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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 toyed with NSW at times. He constantly tested their defensive line and masterminded two of the three tries.

He only played two minutes in Origin II but still managed to walk away with the Wally Lewis Medal as the player of the series. It was richly deserved.

“It wasn’t ideal with us last week (when they were beaten at ANZ Stadium),” Munster said.

“They were the better team on the night. Came back here for the decider and there is no better feeling than Lang Park.

“How good is this crowd? There is no better feeling than putting the maroon on. Just so grateful to be playing with such great players.”

If Munster was the architect of the first two 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.

“I am buggered,” Grant said.

“It is the best feeling ever.”

Rookie hooker Harry Grant scrambles to score what proved to be the match-winning try Picture: Peter Wallis

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. History is shown that hope is sometimes all you need in Origin.

There was still time for a grandstand finish. Isn’t there always? The Blues scored through Daniel Tupou and then Nathan Cleary 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 seat.

With little more than three minutes remaining, the Blues went on the attack and Josh Addo-Carr kicked ahead. Fullback Corey Allan was ruled to have taken out Addo-Carr and while a penalty try was not awarded, Allan was sent to the sin-bin.

Somehow the Maroons held on. Bennett, lured out of club football to take over from Kevin Walters, had conjured a miracle.

They had the shield back. The biggest crowd of the year had witnessed one of the biggest upsets.

“It is a different beast,” NSW centre Clint Gutherson said. “The crowd is loud, you can hardly hear anything. This is what you dream of as a kid but it would have been nice to be on the other end.”

The Maroons were on home turf but they had started the game as outsiders with the bookies and most of the experts. What they didn’t count on was the brilliance of 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.

The Blues were greeted by raucous boos as they appeared from the bowels of Suncorp Stadium. Soon enough, the jeers turned to cheers as Queensland got the start they desperately craved. Munster was the mastermind.

The Queensland No 6 ran the ball on the last tackle, Allan showed some slick hands and 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, James Tedesco hit back for NSW.

Allan should have cleaned up a Nathan Cleary bomb but spilled 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.

NSW’s cause took a huge hit midway through the half when 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 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. Munster kicked the ball to the right and Edrick Lee was there to pick up scraps, step inside cover and go over.