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If there was ever question mark over a lack of NSW spirit, that rumour was ripped out of the Origin relics. Michael Maguire and his men triumphed to an emphatic series victory, headlined by a gutsy deciding win – but it wasn’t without controversy.
Bradman Best and Mitch Barnett proved vital additions to the Blues side, while the selections of Kalyn Ponga, Felise Kaufusi and Dane Gagai did little for the Maroons.
The crowd noise was immense as the fixture, which promised biff and blood – lived up to the hype with an 80-minute grudge match of supreme intensity.
Cameron Murray. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
It was the spontaneity of Jarome Luai which split the game open, with the No.6 darting through a hole in Queensland’s right edge defence to find a rampaging Bradman Best.
Angus Crichton, Spencer Leniu and Payne Haas brought the grunt, getting into the grill of Daly Cherry-Evans and Reece Walsh.
Mitchell Moses left the field late with a torn bicep – but the No.7 packed a match-defining punch in his final moments, taking on the line and stepping through Harry Grant to seal the deal.
After three seasons as Maroons head coach, Billy Slater has been dealt his first losing hand. The Queensland legend was pumped with pressure post the game two loss – and was undoubtedly forced to chance his arm.
Slater shifted his forward pack moments before the first whistle, with Moeaki Fotuaika, Harry Grant and Felise Kaufusi all taking places in the starting side.
“I was disappointed after Melbourne, I don’t feel disappointed right now,” Slater said post game.
“It didn’t feel like we got the bounce of the ball or the rub of the green.
“I’m sure the referee will review his own game. I’m sure his boss will review his game. I just think that’s their job.
“You can’t win everything. I’ve been around the game long enough to know you can’t.”
He hit back at criticism that Ponga and Walsh together on the field seemed to get in each other’s way.
“Why not? I’ve played with Karmichael Hunt, Kalyn’s played alongside Reece Walsh. Sometimes you can go with the traditional or you can actually be innovative and think of different ways to play the game,” he said while adding he was not affected by the media noise in the lead-up to the match.
“Yeah. I get it (the storylines), I work in the media. But sitting here in this position, I honestly don’t hear it.”
Queensland managed to put it up to the Blues in the first 40 – going blow for blow in a brutal, fatiguing half. Yet, his selection of Ponga backfired big time. He was warming the bench until the 52nd minute, at a time when the Blues were reignited by Haas and Cameron Murray.
The Newcastle No.1 failed to provide his trademark spark, as he simply had nothing to work with. All of Queensland’s attack was lateral, and apart from an early second half break – Walsh fired no shots.
Kaufusi was not to be seen again after a 16-minute stint at the start, while Pat Carrigan was evidently gassed. The lock had to tire through the middle for 80 minutes, as they were missing an extra big body on the bench with Ponga filling in as a “roving middle”.
Ponga was deployed too late in the piece and instead of aiding the Maroons, it hindered them. When Haas and co were blowing at the 25-minute mark, Blues fans had the Knights wiz in the back of their minds – but he remained on the pine. It was a missed chance.
“It absolutely terrifies me, him coming on,” Andrew Johns said prior to Ponga’s interchange. He had nothing to worry about.
Many may have queried Michael Maguire’s tactics heading into the final quarter of game three. As Kalyn Ponga received a romping roar from the Suncorp crowd, Connor Watson remained on the sidelines with a fresh jersey and no minutes.
With Ponga’s impact sapped towards the dying stages of the game, Watson charged onto the field and made an instant impact. While he wasn’t the game winner, his speed out of the ruck was much needed.
Reece Robson tried his heart out and tackled until his shoulders fell off, but it could’ve been a very different result if he played the entire 80.
Mitch Barnett’s debut was marvellous. The Warrior was just that, bullying his way through 50 minutes of tireless work. He pulled off some terrific chop tackles, along with many barnstorming carries. He, like Leniu – is no rookie to Origin.
Maguire’s reliance on his big man Payne Haas prevailed. The Bronco bullocked into contact all night and was a tough task for any Maroon in defence. His fitness was a massive spark for the Blues late in the piece.
Jake Trbojevic with Angus Crichton. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Yes, you can argue the experiment worked. Jake Trbojevic helped NSW lift to a series win in his first stint as captain. Granted – he was terrific in his 23 minutes at the start of the game, making 15 tackles for no misses.
Although yet again, his efforts were largely futile in attack. He ran for just 19 metres off three runs. Throughout the series Trbojevic only just managed to scrap over 80 minutes of play. The prop was on the field for 85 minutes across three games.
Regardless of the series win, if Trbojevic was anyone else in the squad, many questions would be raised over his placement and purpose in the 17.
Spencer Leniu is an impact player who banks on short stints and 100% intensity – even he outplayed the Manly captain by five minutes.
If the position of Jurbo as captain was purely for morale, that reason can be thrown to the curb. You can’t have an impact in Origin or any rugby league game, when you aren’t on the field.
At club level, Trbojevic churns out 80 minute performances with ease. It is second nature for him at Manly. So when you are struggling to get more than 20 on the field, does that say he is not worthy of more minutes?
His spot as the captain on paper glares to one fact – coach Maguire knows his side lacks no shortage of leadership, and he backs many voices to pipe up in Trbojevics’ absence. ‘
Even without his appointment as captain, Trbojevic played only eight more minutes than Leniu for the entire series. Strategy is one thing. Jurbo can thank his lucky starts the 13 men on the field in the final 20 got them over the line, otherwise, he was in for a world of pain. As was Michael Maguire.
Daly Cherry-Evans is normally quite the cool and collected character. He was anything but that in the decider. Having played 25 Origins, the Maroons captain let emotion get the best of him.
Angus Crichton, Bradman Best and Jarome Luai were up in the captain’s face all night, rubbing his mug into the turf at any opportunity.
His stoush with Luai was enough to show the Blues were getting under his skin. He was bumped around and bullied by the left edge of NSW. When Cameron Murray jumped in off the bench and joined the scuffle before half-time, it set the No.7 off.
Billy Slater with Reece Walsh. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“That’s unacceptable at the park on the weekend. He needs to be sent,” the captain said to referee Ashley Klein.
“Yep. I feel pretty clear that’s pretty unacceptable in any level of footy,” Cherry-Evans said post game.
“That’s footy, they’ve got to make a decision. We didn’t get the rub of the green.”
It what may have been the veteran’s final Origin appearance and series, he was visibly frustrated throughout the contest.
Two standout hard workers toiled at every turn for their sides. While not always flashy and gifted with size or stunning speed, Tom Dearden and Reece Robson were remarkable.
Dearden made Liam Martin look like a fool at times, with the 87 kilogram five-eighth forcing a crucial knock-on from the Blues second-rower.
The blond bull-ant made 21 tackles and ran for 122 metres. For NSW fans, he is one of those players impossible to despise. He goes about his work with nothing other than pure effort and stands up to his opponents no matter their size.
Robson meanwhile, did just that for NSW. Much like his Cowboys counterpart, the No.9 threw his body at anything moving. He had no regard for his stature.
It seems hard to think he made only 31 tackles, behind only Cameron Murray (36) and Liam Martin (37). There’s a certain trade off for playing a bloke like Robson. He is not a speedster out of the ruck, but will ensure physicality and reliability.
He ran on only four occasions for 28 metres, but smacked himself into all action.
Just when one thought Luai was out of the series unscathed – breaking the decider open with a remarkable charge and draw for Best, one small act brought down an otherwise humble win.
Before the final whistle was blown, Luai looked smug and waved to the Suncorp crowd with minutes to go. While reasonably harmless, it took the gloss of his seemingly changed character. He was composed and classy throughout the entire fixture, finishing the game with respect would’ve silenced Queensland fans.
It was a chance for the No.6 to prove his maturity and turn a page in the story of his career. Luai had a terrific performance – but his cheeky gesture nullified much of his on-field dazzle.
When one recalls Origin legends, like Queensland coach Billy Slater and former NSW skipper James Tedesco, it’s their attitudes which hang alongside achievements. Being gracious and defeat an humble in victory is the mark of a man. He was so close.
The Panthers playmaker almost capped off a stunning series, but stumbled at the final hurdle. Nonetheless, his late game spontaneity ensured his future in Blue.
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