Summary
Thank you for your company tonight, and throughout this series. After those one-sided exhibitions it was nice to have some back-and-forth to round it all off.
Following all the doom-and-gloom around the Maroons, they showed that when they’re on their game they’re not light years behind the Blues. But this series also showed that if they’re shorn of any of their star core they will struggle to replace them. Ponga transformed Queensland tonight, and whoever’s in charge next season must be crossing all their fingers and toes that he, Munster and Grant are available for all three encounters.
NSW also showed tonight they are mortal, especially without their Panthers in the halves. All the moving parts functioned for the Blues tonight, nothing was fundamentally amiss (apart form perhaps some discipline issues in defence) but that game management, that sixth-sense to pick the right pass at the right time, the cohesion that comes with playing alongside each other for years, just wasn’t there. Moses had his moments, and Wighton nabbed a try, but they never allowed their outside backs any opportunity to express themselves.
One of those that did free the shackles was Latrell Mitchell, my pick for player of the series (although Tom Trbojevic was a deserving Wally Lewis Medalist) and his ability to spin gold out of thin air was once again a thing to behold. But it was defeat on the night to round off a series victory.
The speeches from Trbojevic and the two captains are perfunctory. Everyone looks knackered. And when James Tedesco initially lifts the shield it all feels anticlimactic, but then the rest of the Blues squad runs in, the sky blue confetti bursts from the cannons and it feels like a party after all. Well played NSW, deserved Origin victors.
Wally Lewis Player of the Series - Tom Trbojevic
The Manly flyer had an outstanding first couple of matches, destroying Queensland from that floating centre role he was entrusted to play. He’s also sporting a huge shiner and a gash above his left eyebrow.
I wonder how much the medal will slow Turbo down next time he’s sprinting along the Corso?
Updated
“Credit to Queensland, they deserved their win tonight. They looked more dangerous in attack overall and defended well,” Agreed HarryofOz. “Blues deservedly SoO series champions,” absolutely.
“Not sure who man of the series will be. As you intimated earlier, going into the game it looked like a battle between Tedesco, Mitchell and Trboevic. I don’t think any of the three stood out from the other in this game to clinch it.” Good question. I reckon I’d give it Mitchell. He did the most when the series was on the line.
Special shoutout to Kalyn Ponga who catalysed this Maroons outfit on his return to the side from injury. His ability to step off either foot and bound into the line like he’s wearing those weird kangaroo jumping pogo shoe things, denied NSW that early defensive pressure they thrived on in games I and II. There still wasn’t the slick football from halves to backs we’ve come to expect from Munster and DCE and the like, but tonight there were far fewer basic errors, meaning completed sets, repeat sets, forcing the Blues to defend long spells deep in their own half.
That was fun, wasn’t it? Two teams going toe-to-toe for 80 minutes at breakneck speed.
Some of that line defence was extraordinary, from both sides. Big hits aplenty, no shortage of incident, and a smattering of quality attacking football. A perfect Origin evening.
Full-time: NSW 18-20 Queensland
Queensland avoid the sweep! The game of the series, the half of the series, and the Maroons salvage some pride.
80 mins: NSW 18-20 Queensland - NSW have one tackle....
79 mins: NSW 18-20 Queensland - Make that two, with a cheap set restart. Queensland are slowly grinding their way to victory.
78 mins: NSW 18-20 Queensland - The kick looks superb off the boot - but it drops a couple of metres short, and Queensland have one final set to run out the game.
77 mins: NSW 18-20 Queensland - Solid defensive set from the Maroons despite lively runs from To’o and Tedesco, but... oh dear, Welch clotheslines Moses as the scrum-half drops the ball on his boot for the grubber.
Latrell Mitchell is going for the penalty from near enough the centre spot.
76 mins: NSW 18-20 Queensland - Safety first set from Queensland, and Munster’s kick, with Capewell’s chase, gives NSW 90m to travel.
75 mins: NSW 18-20 Queensland - Back to back sets from inches out, now a line dropout. Surely NSW score here. Finucane has a rumble, now Tedesco, and Murray, “QUEENSLANDER!” bellow the crowd. The spectacle is superb. Moses kicks high to the right, Trbojevic wins the contest over Brimson, the knock-down goes NSW’s way, but Martin spills the bobbling ball! Queensland hold on. What an effort.
73 mins: NSW 18-20 Queensland - The Blues look innocuous in midfield until Trbojevic carves his way through the Maroon line. A second effort from the Turbo gets him within sniffing distance of the whitewash. Six more, then six more again as NSW lay siege to the line. Ponga and Hunt lay magnificent tackles. The ball is sent right, then left, Moses sizes up his options, Tedesco joins the line and chips through but Brimson is on hand to concede the dropout. This is breathless and brilliant theatre.
71 mins: NSW 18-20 Queensland - What have the final ten minutes got for us? This half so far has been the best of the series. Queensland are going toe to toe with NSW. Either side could snatch the win. The hits are coming thick and fast, and all the attacking strategy is being usurped by individual desire. Marvellous.
TRY! NSW 18-20 Queensland (Koroisau, 68)
Paulo makes metres, and earns a set restart. NSW with a full set now in point blank range. There’s no cohesion in the Blues backs though, it’s all individual bursts to the line. Wighton is lucky to earn a repeat set when his grubber is played at by a Maroon boot and comes back the five-eighth’s way. The individual bursts resume, Murray, Tedesco, Crichton, then the kick, up to the right corner, and Addo-Carr keeps it alive. Chaos again! The Blues keep the ball alive, the field is broken, blue and maroon jerseys strewn all over the place like discarded shotgun shells. Moses keeps his head, kicks a grubber to the left-hand upright, the bounce beats Munster and Gagai, favours Koroisau, and NSW score! Oh my, what a few minutes of Origin footy we’ve been treated to.
Another simple conversion for Mitchell.
Api Koroisau turning UPPPPPP! 💯#Origin pic.twitter.com/YP6A7IAVHv
— NRL (@NRL) July 14, 2021
Updated
66 mins: NSW 12-20 Queensland - Munster kicks out on the full from his own 30m line as the rain resumes.
TRY! NSW 12-20 Queensland (Hunt, 65)
NSW go coast to coast in no time and from the kick Trbojevic claims the mark, but instead of twisting and turning to touch down on his own he looks for the offload but all he can do is feed an intercept. Queensland hammer back the other way at breakneck speed. Ponga bursts through the line down the right, he looks inside to Coates and it’s a dash to the line, but Tedesco is equal to it. Then it’s chaotic with the ball bouncing around off hands from both teams while the Maroons desperately try to keep the ball alive and the Blues look forlornly like piggies in the middle. With the intensity turned up to 11 the Maroons keep their heads and spread the ball from the mayhem calmly to the left where Capewell straightens up and on his shoulder Hunt accepts the invitation to ghost through for his second try. That was exhilarating football. Queensland, welcome back. Where the bloody hell have you been!?
DCE slots over the conversion.
Hunt crosses the line AGAIN!
— NRL (@NRL) July 14, 2021
That’s just nasty 🤯#Origin pic.twitter.com/fHdqrWT9yP
Updated
62 mins: NSW 12-14 Queensland - The Maroons are spritely, playing with confidence and ambition. Ponga looks dangerous down the right, then the ball goes left where a series of runners threaten to dart through before the sideline forces them to hold their ground. DCE then launches a beautiful crossfield kick that Coates looks destined to haul in with a massive leap, but he can’t hold on and the Blues escape. This is a different Maroons outfit tonight.
59 mins: NSW 12-14 Queensland - Hunt again instrumental in the restart set, engineering space for the offload and sending Capewell through a gap. Queensland are almost through! Capewell looks at two outside runners but opts to accept contact instead of feeding Brimson. The ball is recycled from left to right and Mitchell knocks on attempting to intercept. Queensland have a new set on halfway.
TRY! NSW 12-14 Queensland (Hunt, 58)
The Maroons go wide early to the right edge, but they can’t penetrate. There’s some broken field for Flegler to exploit but the Blues hustle. Gagai then has a look before the gap is closed smartly. But the set restarts keep coming and Queensland are fast at the ruck, sniping and probing with intent - and Hunt gets the breakthrough! From dummy-half, staying low and diving under two tackles to score. the best passage of the series for the Maroons.
Cherry-Evans makes no mistake from the tee.
It’s COOKING up in here!
— NRL (@NRL) July 14, 2021
Hunt barges through for the Maroons to take the lead 👊#Origin pic.twitter.com/OlXaqFYJDq
Updated
56 mins: NSW 12-8 Queensland - Addo-Carr reckons DCE is on for a 40-20 so the Fox leaps to intercept, but he can only get his fingertips to the ball on its way to the sideline. Queensland have their best attacking platform of the half.
54 mins: NSW 12-8 Queensland - That territorial balance is soon tilted NSW’s way again following a Papalii high shot and a monster Moses kick that sets up the Blues for six tackles inside 30m. The combinations are much crisper all of a sudden, Yeo responsible for much of them, but everything comes to a juddering halt when Hunt splits Mitchell in two and creates the knock-on. There have been some punishing hits this game.
52 mins: NSW 12-8 Queensland - Addo-Carr almost drags in the high ball to the right corner following the restart, but Queensland survive. The Maroons respond with a solid set and establish parity after a torrid ten minutes.
TRY! NSW 12-8 Queensland (Wighton, 48)
Finally! After a succession of attacking sets NSW finally get their try. Crichton and Haas make good metres and their early incursions unsettle the Queensland defence. The Blues halves don’t look as though they can exploit until they cut left and Yeo feeds Moses who times his pass to Wighton perfectly and he steps inside, finds a gap and wriggles his way over.
Mitchell sweeps over two more points.
DAMNNNN! Wighton straight up going for it 😤#Origin pic.twitter.com/0fT9UsJJei
— NRL (@NRL) July 14, 2021
Updated
47 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - The Blues probe the middle, then the left edge, then the right, they go through forwards and backs, but Queensland are resolute in defence. Wighton steps through the line but he’s soon wrapped up. The Maroons are forced to kick, Cook grubbers, and Coates concedes another drop-out.
46 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - Oooh, on his own 10m line Brimson fluffs a play-the-ball and NSW have an attacking scrum. DANGER! DANGER!
45 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - Crichton smashes into the Maroon line, then Haas, but it’s disjointed as soon as it reaches the backs and Murray spills in contact from Munster. It starts a little spotfire, but nothing to concern the judiciary. NSW really are a different side without their Panthers halves.
Updated
44 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - Gagai drills his second huge hit of the night on Tedesco, but it’s soon topped by Addo-Carr flattening Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow after Queensland allowed a testing Moses bomb to bounce in their in-goal. Can NSW capitalise from the drop-out?
42 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - Cook and Tedesco turn a pedestrian restart set into something much more promising, but Queensland continue after the break with the same defensive intensity that they demonstrated in the opening half. Their first carry is nothing to write home about though, other than more good bruising work from Papalii.
The sides are back out, and AJ Brimson has replaced Valentine Holmes for Queensland. The latter was dumped on his AC joint on the stroke of half-time and he’s iced up in the sheds.
“It’s only half time of course, but what a huge difference the absence of Cleary and Luai is making so far,” agreed HarryofOz. “The Blues attack is nowhere nearly as well organised, especially in the Maroons’ twenty. And it’s given the Maroons a huge confidence boost.” Yep. “Hopefully Moses and Wighton prove me wrong in the second half. Otherwise the only way the Blues are going to win is through individual moments of brilliance by the outside backs.” Fortunately for you - and them - they have plenty of individual brilliance to call upon!
Half-time: NSW 6-8 Queensland
A surprising half-time score then with the Maroons ahead, and enjoying plenty of territory and possession, against a Blues side sorely lacking the control and direction of Cleary and Luai.
39 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - The game is back to a midfield arm-wrestle for a while, but there’s still opportunity for Gagai to line up Tedesco with a huge shot on the kick chase.
37 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - The Maroons keep pushing, drive after drive, Queensland stud marks bruising that strip of grass between the 10m and try lines. Ponga looks threatening, nobody else does, and the kick is defused by the Blues and finally, finally, NSW have the ball again. And in no time they’re beyond halfway with Tedesco and Trbojevic slicing through the sea of Maroon jerseys like sparkling marlin.
35 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - This is a siege on the NSW line. One tackle into the set there’s a set restart, then a penalty call against the Blues with an order that the next infringement will see 10-minutes in the bin. Surely, surely the Maroons take advantage of all this pressure. But no. Ponga takes it on himself to make the difference, but after darting into the line and drawing out the tackler, his pass wide is knocked forward by a blue hand and a scrum is set.
Updated
34 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - More expansive this set from Queensland. Ponga steps into the line and his presence changes everything. NSW concede a set restart 10m out, allowing Queensland to return to their conservative roots. Ponga again changes the tempo with a dart to the left, but the set still ends with DCE kicking hopefully rather than with penetration. NSW claim the bomb, but there’s another penalty for obstruction!
33 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - Three tackles up the guts go nowhere before Papalii makes a a few metres. DCE doesn’t have anything on his outside so he dabs a grubber that forces To’o to carry over and concede a drop-out.
Updated
31 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - What’s happened here? DCE kicks high to the corner, To’o spills it backwards, then there’s a sprint to the loose ball between To’o and Gagai. The latter has to score, surely, but he doesn’t! To’o gets back, by a fingernail, to nick the ball out of Gagai’s grasp and force the knock-on, superb recovery. However, the TMO has identified an escort from Mitchell under the high ball and the Maroons have a penalty set 10m out.
29 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - Another good kick-chase, this time featuring Munster’s boot and Tabuai-Fidow’s tackle. The Blues, now with Haas on the field, are making good ground with every drive, but Queensland continue to stand their ground and find a way to wriggle out of pressure. Their latest let-off is courtesy of Wighton who kicks hurriedly on the left wing and the ball is much too heavy. Neither Cleary or Luai should worry about their jerseys at this stage of the match.
Updated
26 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - Super kick from Hunt, and brilliant chase from Gagai, and defence becomes huge pressure on NSW in an instant. And that pressure is released two tackles later with a set restart, and by the time Moses sends up a garryowen he’s kicking inside Queensland’s 30m line.
Updated
26 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - The Blues have A1 attacking position and begin powering towards the line - but Finucane spills in contact! Huge let-off for the Maroons, that should have been points of some description for NSW from that platform.
25 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - Addo-Carr does continue, and play’s the ball, but his side’s set ends tamely with Moses going to the air, but straight to Coates. Queensland make no ground and DCE kicks straight to Addo-Carr to test him out. The Fox is up to the task, diving to make the grab then making a trademark dart forward. It sets up the Blues to make a dangerous incursion, one that features a deft lob from Moses, patted back by Trbojevic, kicked again by Murray, forcing Munster to sweep up, but Trobjevic is too strong and hurls the Storm half into touch.
Updated
23 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - Addo-Carr is down, and you could feel his pain. Ooof! Smashed from behind on the blindside by big Tino while he was wrestling 1-1 with Welch. That was a free hit by the Fox’s former clubmate and he didn’t miss. That could easily be cracked ribs, or worse. The trainers have been on the field a couple of minutes, but Addo-Carr is now up catching his breath. Let’s hope he’s ok.
22 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland - It’s become a fiercely contested and even game played just either side of halfway. Queensland have much more snap tonight than in their previous two efforts. There’s still a lack of invention, but at least there’s industry and intent.
TRY! NSW 6-8 Queensland (Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 19)
Again Ponga sets the Maroons in motion with his boundless energy and deadly step. Queensland don’t look threatening in the drive until Munster snipes quickly from dummy-half, looks inside and finds Papalii on his shoulder, now they’re onto something. The big Fleshlumpeater pounds a few metres, invites the tackle, then looks on his outside, and there’s a runner, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and he splashes over for a debut try! Joy for Queensland!
Holmes cannot miss the conversion and the Maroons are back ahead - against the run of play it has to be said.
The Hammer makes himself KNOWN! 🔥#Origin pic.twitter.com/kt09cfNCPs
— NRL (@NRL) July 14, 2021
Updated
16 mins: NSW 6-2 Queensland - Wighton kicks poorly - much too high - allowing Holmes to gather unopposed in his in-goal and launch a lightning counter that the Blues have to repel with a set restart to slow the game down. Queensland get to the 20m line but it’s all very pedestrian, and when DCE tries to expand he throws a loopy pass that Mitchell reads, parries like an NBA block, and Wighton gathers for the turnover. Latrell Mitchell has the golden touch right now.
Updated
13 mins: NSW 6-2 Queensland - The Blues are easing into their work, gaining good ground with efficient drives. Queensland are having no such luck and need some inspiration from somewhere... and there it is! Holmes nails Moses in the tackle, collects the loose ball and runs under the posts! But there’s a whistle. Moses was in the act of passing so the deflection off the Queenslander was ruled a knock-on. Unlucky Holmes.
Updated
TRY! NSW 6-2 Queensland (Mitchell, 11)
Queensland continue to play risk free footy in possession and use Cherry-Evans’ boot to probe NSW’s defence. To’o, as he showed in game II, is no bunny under the high ball and he steers the Blues clear.
The counter builds promisingly with a six again called against Papalii near halfway, then a second restart 30m out. The Blues don’t look to have slick combinations tonight though and it takes Mitchell to rescue a slow move with some dancing feet in broken play. After a tackle, from midfield the ball is shipped left and who’s there again? Latrell Mitchell, who steps into Cook’s long pass, ghosts around his marker, and canters to the line barely in second gear. Too good. Cor blimey, much too good.
The Bunny gets up and dabs the extras from under the crossbar.
TRELLLLLL 😤 Quit playing with 'em!#Origin pic.twitter.com/PFcGtgvrOr
— NRL (@NRL) July 14, 2021
Updated
7 mins: NSW 0-2 Queensland - NSW don’t dwell over their early misfortune. Murray nails a 1-1 strip as Queensland run out the restart and the Blues have a full set in prime attacking position.
It’s a disjointed attacking set though with Wighton and Moses not marshalling their backline. Andrew Johns calls it “awful” on TV. It ends with a penalty to Queensland, who kick towards halfway.
Updated
PENALTY! NSW 0-2 Queensland (Holmes, 4)
A few drops of rain begin to fall as Ponga dances around a tackler, inviting Capewell to gain some extra metres. The set ends with a high kick, which is spilled by Moses!
Queensland on the attack 30m from the line. Two tackles into the promising set Fa’asuamaleaui tries a quick play the ball, Murray is caught in the ruck on the wrong side, like a rugby union flanker about to get his thighs raked with six-inch steel studs, but this not being union, he rolls away uninjured but concedes a penalty. Holmes strokes it over from under the posts.
2 mins: NSW 0-0 Queensland - The Maroons get first use and their big hulking forwards get a trundle, rumbling into contact like the giants the Queen helps capture in the BFG. Josh Papalii would make an excellent Fleshlumpeater in a live action remake. NSW don’t try anything flash in response and Moses belts his first kick long and high.
The atmosphere is excellent btw, flowing through the TV nicely.
Kick-off!
The final match of this Origin series is underway...
And closely following them onto the field are the Blues, daring to combine both light and dark blues in a pleasing jersey-short contrast.
Out jog the Maroons, wearing - and the clue’s in the name - a uniform of that chocolatey purple pronounced correctly in Europe.
It’s a cool evening on the Gold Coast with the small chance of a shower drifting through. The northerly breeze may have a role to play in the aerial kicking game.
Oooooft! @destgc turning it ON for #Origin tonight 🤩 pic.twitter.com/1KOsvt3KB5
— NRL (@NRL) July 14, 2021
Who's your pick to win the Wally Lewis Medal in 2021? 🤔#Origin pic.twitter.com/s7ls8ealPS
— NRL (@NRL) July 14, 2021
Tom Trbojevic, James Tedesco, or Latrell Mitchell? Is anyone else in the mix?
Positive news about the Rugby League World Cup:
In case you need more detail on the Dragons drongos, here’s the latest.
Nick Tedeschi fears for Queensland, and by extension Origin itself:
Emma Kemp sets the scene:
NSW
If Brad Fittler is to etch his name in Origin folklore as a series-sweeping coach he will have do so with a new halves pairing after Penrith guns Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai were ruled out through injury. Mitchell Moses will debut at scrum-half, with Jack Wighton moving from the bench to five-eighth.
Dale Finucane is another new face, replacing the injured Daniel Saifiti. Api Koroisau joins the interchange.
1. James Tedesco, 2. Brian To’o, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Tom Trbojevic, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Mitchell Moses, 10. Junior Paulo, 9. Damien Cook, 18. Dale Finucane, 11. Cameron Murray, 12. Tariq Sims, 13. Isaah Yeo.
Int: 14. Api Koroisau, 15. Angus Crichton, 16. Payne Haas, 17. Liam Martin
Queensland
There’s some belated good news for Paul Green on the selection table with Kalyn Ponga finally fit to return from injury at fullback and AJ Brimson is on the bench after missing game two through injury. 19-year-old debutant Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow comes into the group in the centres, while Ben Hunt moves from the pine to nine. Tom Flegler sneaks his way onto the interchange at the last minute.
Andrew McCullough and Kyle Feldt are dropped from the starting XIII, while David Fifita misses through suspension, and Jai Arrow for being a plonker.
1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Valentine Holmes, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 5. Xavier Coates, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Christian Welch, 9. Ben Hunt, 10. Josh Papalii, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Felise Kaufusi, 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
Int: 14. AJ Brimson, 16. Moeaki Fotuaika, 18. Francis Molo, 20. Tom Flegler.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of State of Origin Game III between Queensland and NSW. Kick-off at Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Staidum is 8.10pm.
What should be a banner night for the NRL hasn’t arrived with the same momentum as usual. The pandemic has again flushed rugby league north, to a state on the receiving end of back-to-back Origin humiliations, and acutely aware of the likelihood of a third. Throw in the numbskullery of Jai Arrow, Paul Green’s thousand-yard stare, community-wide blowout fatigue, and the fallout from the Dragons shambles, and you have a sport in a curious wrinkle, and a dead rubber it’s hard to get too excited about.
Doubtless my generalisations are being met with scoffs in parts of NSW. A third shield in four years already secured, the prize of a first series sweep since 2000 (and the first for either side since 2010) is just the tonic many Sydneysiders will be craving as the reality of lockdown bites.
“It’s pretty special, some of the best players in the game at the top of their game,” purred Blues skipper James Tedesco after game two.
It is unfortunate that more Blues fans have not had the privilege to witness this magnificent side in the flesh with tonight’s match the third of the series to take place north of the Tweed. There will be 27,000 or so on the Gold Coast, including a smattering of visiting fans, but far from the tens of thousands that would have blown the roof off the Olympic Stadium celebrating their side’s extravagant talents.
As well as lauding NSW one final time tonight, it could be a landmark for Queensland if they suffer another crushing defeat. Green does not look set for a long tenure as coach, while senior players must be anticipating some blowback. “If you’re not winning games of footy the coach and playing group, in particular the leaders, come under the most scrutiny,” captain Daly Cherry-Evans said during the week. “If we get a win tomorrow night it’s going to help Greeny retain his job – and players like myself – but I’m really confident in where we are and what we’re doing.”
I’ll be back with line-ups and more shortly, and if you want to contribute anything to tonight’s blog, you can do so by sending me emails or tweets.
Updated
