Summary
Thank you for joining me tonight for another demonstration of Queensland’s extraordinary ability to rise to the occasion in State of Origin. Three weeks ago they were underdogs heading to Adelaide to take on a star-studded NSW outfit. Tonight they arrived in Brisbane as favourites and played like champions.
Defensively they were extraordinary. Their line defence was near flawless. One-on-one they were rarely beaten, and if they were a covering tackle was close at hand. In broken play they were first to every loose ball.
And then in attack they were clinical. Chances were few and far between in South Australia, and again tonight the Maroons didn’t hog the ball or dominate field position. But when they saw an opportunity they went for the jugular and in Munster and Cherry-Evans they had a halfback pairing that controlled the ball masterfully in dangerous situations, and outside them Walsh was the series game-breaker, entering the line, creating space and timing killer passes.
After a second series defeat in succession it is hard to see Brad Fittler either wanting to stay on as NSW coach, or being invited to do so. On paper, the Blues should be the stronger of the two units, but over 160 minutes there was a desperate lack of wit and cutting edge in attack, while squad selections lacked the bravery and purpose of Billy Slater.
Fittler can point to the injuries to Mitchell, Cleary, and Trbojevic as mitigating factors, but they cannot mask the inability to match Queensland for intensity. In three weeks from now they will at least have a shot at redemption on Sydney soil, a night that, perhaps, will kickstart their Origin 2024 campaign.
I will be back here for that, and you’re welcome to join me. Until then, I will leave you with Angus Fontaine’s match report and Queensland’s celebrations. Goodnight!
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The Queensland players are lapping it all up, some carrying their children, others in the stands with family members. These are the moments they will remember for ever.
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