Westpac NSW Blues debutant Bradman Best scored two tries to help NSW to a 24-10 win over Queensland in Game Three of the 2023 Ampol State of Origin series at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
The 21-year-old scored in the 23rd and 64th minutes but seemed everywhere on the field with his 11 runs for 126 metres, a line-break, two line-break assists and three tackle-busts.
“What a match-grabber by Bradman Best,” NSW assistant coach Danny Buderus told Channel Nine, after watching Best come through the Knight’s ranks.
“Super proud, even for him to get selected there was some criticism around that. Everyone has their opinion but he came out tonight and showed he belonged on this stage.
“It’s an awesome night for him and his family.”
NSW scored four tries to two and led 18-10 at the halftime break - the first time this series the Blues had their noses in front after 40 minutes.
Coach Brad Fittler’s men then kept Queensland scoreless in the second half to put an exclamation point at the end of their first Origin win since Game Two, 2022.
Alongside Best, winger Josh Addo-Carr, halfback Mitchell Moses (14 kicks), recalled five-eighth Cody Walker and centre Stephen Crichton were dangerous all night.
Walker had his hand in three of the Blues’ four tries and was named Player of the Match. The Wally Lewis Medal for Player of the Series went to Maroons forward Reuben Cotter.
Among the forwards, debutant Keaon Koloamatangi was tireless, as was South Sydney teammate Cameron Murray (139 metres), Isaah Yeo (112) and Reagan Campbell-Gillard (114).
Winger Brian To’o played like a forward with 24 runs for 237 metres – 88 post-contact.
Another superlative performance came from NSW fullback and skipper James Tedesco, who broke Buderus’ consecutive NSW Blues games record with his 22nd appearance tonight. He had 17 hit-ups for 235 metres, two line breaks, a try assist and 11 tackle-busts.
“We got some pride back in the jersey – I’m really glad we did,” Tedesco told the crowd.
“We fought hard tonight for the win and we’re looking forward to next year.”
With the game just two minutes old, NSW gave a glimpse of their intentions when Walker kicked ahead for Best to ground the ball over the line. But referee Ashley Klein ruled Best was offside.
David Fifita scored Queensland’s first try off a Cameron Munster kick nine minutes later to spring to a 6-0 lead.
However, the Blues put on 16 unanswered points over the next 12 minutes through some Addo-Carr, Walker and Best brilliance.
It was an Addo-Carr bust down the left touchline that committed a host of Maroons defenders, allowing the Blues to swing the ball to the right edge for Brian To’o to score.
Addo-Carr then scored one of the most memorable of his 11 Origin tries (in 15 games) with a 60-metre dash downfield, a chip kick over fullback AJ Brimson’s head, a regather and then a clean put-down. NSW wasn’t done yet.
After the false start in the second minute, Best finally got his try on debut, when he ran onto a sublime Walker pass to drag winger Xavier Coates across the line.
It was 16-6 and NSW had been feeding off a 58 per cent possession rate.
Five minutes before the break Queensland centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow followed Addo-Carr’s example with a kick ahead for himself to score.
A Crichton intercept to snaffle back possession in the shadow of halftime, led to a penalty later in the set. His successful strike had the Blues up 18-10 at the break. NSW also had four line-breaks to two and led the penalty count 5-3 after the opening 40 minutes.
The grind really got going for the first 20 minutes of the second.
Yeo thought he’d scored off a loose ball from a kick in the 61st minute only to the have the Bunker rule Crichton had knocked on.
But NSW scored their fourth try to seal the deal with a 30-metre run from Tedesco up the left edge off a Walker pass, and in turn the fullback put Best in the clear for his second.
