Video analysis: How Maroons rookie’s 77th minute adjustment denied the greatest comeback in Origin history

Blues star Brian To’o was just one Queensland rookie away from sealing back-to-back Origin series for NSW. Maroons rookie Robert Toia and his right edge partners had other ideas. WATCH THE ANALYSIS

Brian To’o was centimetres short of becoming the first player to score four tries in an Origin game which would have also resulted in the biggest come from behind victory in Origin history.

So close but yet so near for To’o and the Blues.

While the first try was a nice piece of luck as To’o pounced on a grubber kick, his two second half tries were almost an exact copy of each other as NSW took advantage of a new-look Maroons right edge.

They almost stung them for a third time which would have been To’o’s third try in 32 minutes. However, it was not to be.

The Blues’ comeback was sparked by To’o’s try five minutes into the second half as NSW tried to arrest a horror opening half.

Robert Toia, along with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Tom Dearden, helped keep Queensland’s series alive. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

TRY ONE

The play started with a play the ball in line with the black dot and three metres out from Queensland’s line. NSW shifted left with Reece Robson passing to Nathan Cleary.

Cleary’s halves partner Jarome Luai created all the space when he received the ball from Cleary with the assistance of two lead runners.

Luai moved to the outside and managed to attract the interest of Queensland centre Rob Toia.

Toai bit in just enough which forced his winger Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to come in off his wing.

Luai’s pass found Latrell Mitchell whose quick instincts to get the ball to To’o allowed the winger a clear 12-metre path to the try line. NSW trailed 26-10.

To'o first try.

TRY TWO

This time the play started just to the right of the goalposts and about four metres out from the Queensland line.

NSW were trailing 26-14 at the time with 16 minutes left as they started to close the gap on a nervous Queensland.

This time it was Connor Watson at dummy half who threw a long ball to Cleary.

Luai received the ball much closer than To’o previous try but still did enough to create space for his outside men.

An Angus Crichton lead-decoy run caught Toia in-field again with Tabuai-Fidow unable to rush up quick enough to stop Mitchell from passing to To’o.

To’o had a little bit more work to do this time and avoided the oncoming cover defensive efforts from Toia and Kalyn Ponga to score. NSW trailed 26-18.

To'o second try.

NO TRY

The Blues seemed destined to close out the game with To’o to walk away with potential man of the match honours.

NSW had a centre field scrum about 11 metres from Queensland line with just three minutes left.

Queensland led by two and NSW had all the momentum. Cleary shifted to Luai who this time used Mitchell as a lead-running decoy.

He passed the ball out the back to Dylan Edwards. This time though Toia was able to bounce off the Mitchell lead run to cover Edwards. Edwards passed to To’o who had seven metres to try to win the game.

The fact that Toia was able to bounce off from Mitchell and cover Edwards allowed Tabuai-Fidow to hold his defensive position and line up directly opposite To’o.

Tabuai-Fidow and Toia combined to halt To’o – with some late assistance from Tom Dearden – to quash the Blues hopes of a spectacular win by just centimetres.

Readjustment to stop To'o match-winner.