Dwell
Queensland has thumped NSW 32-6 to retain State of Origin bragging rights and seal a 2-0 sequence win in Brisbane.
The Blues misplaced centre Tom Trbojevic to damage within the third minute however had ample alternative to construct an early lead in entrance of 52,433 followers at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday.
However the Maroons’ defence held robust till their medical offence hit high gear, coach Billy Slater’s males eyeing the primary Origin clear sweep since 2010 in Sydney’s useless rubber.
The Blues loved 64 per cent of territory however paid the value for an absence of polish because the Maroons ran in six tries to at least one.
Captain Daly Cherry-Evans produced the match-turning second, chasing down a flying Stephen Crichton then making a break of his personal that led to the Maroons’ second attempt.
Valentine Holmes scored twice to carry his Origin tally to 13 – ok for third on the all-time Origin record – fullback Reece Walsh was an ever-present hazard and prop Lindsay Collins produced one other barnstormer to assert man of the match.
There was drama late although with Walsh and Jarome Luai despatched off for head-butting one another and Josh Addo-Carr sin-binned for a swinging arm on the Maroons fullback.
The Blues’ script was flicked after simply three minutes when centre Trbojevic left the sport with a pectoral damage.
Versatile backrower Cameron Murray was left on the bench and hooker Damien Prepare dinner as an alternative deployed within the unfamiliar place.
The South Sydney rake, used on the left with Stephen Crichton shifted on the proper, was closely concerned however usually for all of the incorrect causes.
Twice play broke down on his edge regardless of the Blues having numbers, whereas Jeremiah Nanai stepped Prepare dinner for an early line break.
Each of Holmes’ tries got here in his nook, the primary a grounded excessive ball he bought his fingertips on and the second a diving effort after calming gathering a half-volley.
Winger Murray Taulagi then repeated his game-one defensive heroics, this time holding up Crichton over the road.
He then chipped inside after Harry Grant ran it on the final sort out, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow operating onto the lucky bounce for his fourth attempt in three Origin begins.
Lastly the Blues discovered a reply, Prepare dinner busting the Queensland defence in damaged play.
However it was a fleeting second of respite, as Walsh once more tormented Prepare dinner’s proper edge to place Xavier Coates over for an additional attempt earlier than Nanai drove the ultimate nail into the coffin.
Payne Haas was immense in a crushed aspect whereas Mitch Moses appeared harmful early as he tried to fill the injured Nathan Cleary’s sneakers as Blues halfback, however had little affect past that.
-AAP