Queensland have stopped New South Wales from pulling off the greatest comeback in State of Origin history, keeping the series alive with a thrilling 26-24 win in Perth.
After three weeks of turmoil that included the axing of captain Daly Cherry-Evans, the Maroons produced a Queensland performance for the ages to win 26-24.
It didn’t come easy after the Maroons led 26-6 at half-time and then let in four second-half tries to allow the Blues to get within two points with six minutes left.
But just as NSW threatened to pull off the first 20-point comeback in Origin history, Payne Haas dropped a ball on attack late and the Maroons held on.
Goalkicking proved the difference with NSW scoring more tries but Zac Lomax converting just two of five.
The result sets up a series decider in Sydney on July 9, with NSW suddenly searching for answers after being well below their best at Optus Stadium.
NSW coach Laurie Daley refused to blame his team’s wayward goalkicking for the loss.
“Yeah, you want to kick goals, but there were a lot more things that we needed to do that I was disappointed in,” Daley said.
“Goal kicking is way down the list. It’s more about our execution, intent. There were a lot of things we didn’t do well in the first half.
“We showed what we were capable of doing in the second half, but you can’t play a (first) half of football like that against quality opposition and expect to be close.”
On a frantic night that boiled over on several occasions, Jarome Luai was placed on report after rubbing his hand over Reuben Cotter’s face.
Luai appeared to make contact with Cotter’s eye before Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga then made a raking gesture with his hand to officials.
Luai was later hit with a grade-two contrary conduct charge for unnecessary contact with the face and will cop a fine of $3900 with an early guilty plea.
That alone summed up the night for the Blues, who at one stage trailed the penalty count 9-0 and had a crucial Nathan Cleary try overturned by an obstruction.
Even so, this was a good night for the Maroons on a day that began with coach Billy Slater apologising for press conference comments that referenced the late Paul Green.
Man-of-the-match Cameron Munster was superb in his first game as Queensland captain, while his halves partner Tom Dearden also impressed after taking Cherry-Evans’s jersey.
“I’m just proud of our boys to turn up for Billy,” Munster said.
“Because there’s been a lot of speculation in the media and we needed to turn up for our coach tonight, and we did.”
Slater was proud of his team’s efforts.
“It’s a heart stopper,” he said.
“Boy, it took a whole heap of courage and character and effort, a bit of spirit.
“That’s the pride I feel for our footy team, and I’m sure five-and-a-half million Queenslanders feel that pride right now as well.”
NSW looked as if they were going to continue their form from the series-opening 18-6 win at Suncorp Stadium early, crossing first through Brian To’o.
But what followed was an example of the Queensland spirit that Origin has largely been built on.
The Maroons attack came to life, with Robert Toia sending Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow over for one and the winger jumping over Brian To’o for another.
Munster scored once when Harry Grant got out of dummy-half, while Kurt Mann offloaded for a Kurt Capewell four-pointer before the break.
Capewell’s try looked likely to be a heartbreaker for the Blues, after Cleary had been denied for the obstruction moments earlier.
But any thought Queensland had of cruising to victory was quickly killed off in the second half.
To’o had his second shortly after the break when NSW stripped Queensland for numbers, before Stephen Crichton went through three defenders to make it a 12-point game.
The comeback was then well and truly alive when Cleary and Luai combined to help Latrell Mitchell send To’o over for his third.
And when Mitchell pulled off a one-on-one strip on Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Angus Crichton ran onto a Luai grubberkick, NSW looked set to storm home.
But in the end Queensland stood tall at the death, sealing a famous backs-to-the-wall win to keep hope of winning back the Origin shield.
The other concern for NSW is Cleary’s groin, with the superstar Penrith halfback unable to kick for much of the match after reporting tightness in the build up.
Written by: Scott Bailey (AAP)
