REPORT STATE OF ORIGIN II | New South Wales 18-14 Queensland

NSW secured the 2018 Origin series with an 18-14 win at ANZ Stadium. It was the first series win for coach Brad Fittler.

MATCH DETAILS

QLD 4-0 Valentine Holmes try (12th minute).

QLD 10-0 Dane Gagai try (19th minute), Holmes goal (20th minute).

QLD 10-6 Josh Addo-Carr try (24th minute), James Maloney goal (26th minute).

NSW 12-10 Boyd Cordner penalty try (30th minute), Maloney goal (32nd minute).

NSW 18-10 Latrell Mitchell try (49th minute), Maloney goal (51st minute).

NSW 18-14 Will Chambers try (61st minute).

FOUR POINTERS

ANOTHER ORIGIN THRILLER

An amazing rep weekend (NSW beating QLD in Friday’s Women’s Origin; PNG beating Fiji and Tonga beating Samoa in Saturday’s Pacific Tests) was closed with another Origin thriller. Qld took a 10-0 lead, NSW returned to lead 12-10 at halftime before a tighter second half. Chambers’ try with 19 minutes left set up a rollicking finish, with NSW able to hang on despite James Roberts’ sin binning (for obstruction) in the 68th minute. After so many years of heartbreak, NSW finally found a way to win a close one.

Special mention to Queensland’s Kalyn Ponga, who was magnificent on debut.

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A RARE PENALTY TRY

We saw the first Origin penalty try since 1981 in the 31st minute, when James Maloney grubbered into the in-goal. NSW captain (and man of the match) Boyd Cordner chased but was impeded by Ben Hunt. After careful deliberation (though Nine commentator Phil Gould was adamant it was a penalty try), the penalty try was awarded, and NSW took a 12-10 lead. Expect this try to be fiercely debated between now and game three.

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SYDNEY TURNS UP

If there’s two things Homebush’s ANZ Stadium can be relied on, it’s huge crowds for Origin and the NRL grand final. Queensland boast about owning Origin passion, but 82,223 Sydneysiders turned out for the first Sunday night Origin in nearly 20 years, cheering NSW to a series win.

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GUESS WHO’S BACK, BACK AGAIN?

A massive inclusion for Queensland, with Billy Slater returning from injury for his 30th Origin. He aided Queensland’s opening two tries, as the Maroons lead 10-0 after 20 minutes.

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THE RESULT

NSW 18
Tries: Josh Addo-Carr, Boyd Cordner (penalty try), Latrell Mitchell
Goals: James Maloney 3/3
Drop Goals: N/A

QLD 14
Tries:  Valentine Holmes, Dane Gagai, Will Chambers
Goals: Holmes 1/3
Drop Goals: N/A

SQUADS

New South Wales Blues: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Tom Trbojevic, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 James Roberts, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 James Maloney, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 David Klemmer, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Boyd Cordner (c), 12 Tyson Frizell, 13 Jack De Belin

Interchange: 14 Paul Vaughan, 15 Jake Trbojevic, 16 Angus Crichton, 17 Tyrone Peachey

Queensland Maroons: 1 Billy Slater, 2 Valentine Holmes, 3 Greg Inglis (c), 4 Will Chambers,, 5 Dane Gagai, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Ben Hunt, 8 Dylan Napa, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Jarrod Wallace, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Felise Kaufusi, 13 Josh McGuire

Interchange: 14 Kalyn Ponga, 15 Josh Papalii, 16 Coen Hess, 17 Jai Arrow,

Reserves: 18 Tim Glasby