The NSW Blues have staved off a State of Origin whitewash with a 24-10 victory that could just extend Brad Fittler’s tenure after the coach’s bold selection gambles stunned Queensland.
Conceding the first try to the Maroons at the 11-minute mark, it was all NSW for much of the remaining 70 minutes as Josh Addo-Carr and James Tedesco found form while debutant Bradman Best and recalled halfback Cody Walker played starring roles.
Best celebrated his arrival on the representative stage with two tries but it was the 21-year-old’s combination with Walker and Addo-Carr on the left side that broke the game open for the Blues.
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Walker was named man of the match after being identified as the difference on the night by Queensland assistant Johnathan Thurston.
Maroons forward Reuben Cotter, meanwhile, won the Wally Lewis Medal as the player of the series.
The Maroons had been gunning for the first Origin whitewash since 2010 but will now celebrate a bittersweet series victory.
Queensland opened the scoring through David Fifita but Walker’s guile turned the game on its head in a 10-minute spell midway through the first half.
First, NSW released Josh Addo-Carr down the left and while the lightning-quick winger was brought down after a 50-metre break, the Blues quickly shifted right for Brian To’o to touch down.
Walker sensed a vulnerability and went back to that same edge soon after by spreading the ball wide to Best, who tipped on to Addo-Carr.
The Canterbury winger was inside his own 40 metres but dashed down field, chipped over Queensland fullback AJ Brimson and regathered to score a sensational try.
Walker then sent Best over by delaying a well-weighted pass that bamboozled the Queensland defence for a try on his Origin debut.
Stephen Crichton added two penalties for the Blues but missed two of his three first-half conversions to keep the Maroons in the contest.
Queensland were sloppy and struggled for territory but a try courtesy of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow before the half-time break brought them to within eight points at the interval.
The Maroons were uncharacteristically ill-disciplined and rarely threatened the NSW line as they chased points in the second half.
Murray Taulagi worked his way past James Tedesco but after he was brought down, the Blues were able to scramble and the Maroons weren’t calm enough under pressure.
As the half wore on Queensland looked bereft of ideas and resorted to kicking high bombs.
The NSW back three handled that with ease and then went up the other end to put the game beyond doubt as Best profited from a vintage Tedesco break.
– with AAP
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