Blues make history to secure Game One win

The Westpac NSW Blues have taken a 1-0 lead in the Ampol State of Origin series after a courageous come-from-behind 22-20 win over Queensland at Accor Stadium in Sydney tonight.

It was the biggest comeback win in Origin history with the match not decided until the final minutes when halfback Nathan Cleary put up a towering bomb for fullback James Tedesco to chase through, grab and juggle, before wheeling around to score.

The Blues trailed Queensland 20-0 midway through the first half but never gave up with the match changing complexion in the second half after Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga was sent off for a shoulder charge that flattened NSW winger Tolutau Koula.

Cleary was named Player of the Match but there were plenty of worthy contenders around him including debutant five-eighth Ethan Strange who came up with some huge plays in both attack and defence to turn the tide back in favour of NSW.

“That’s just Origin, it was absolutely crazy, but that’s why we love the game,” Cleary said.

“It was a tale of two halves but for Teddy to come up with that big play at the end was unbelievable. It’s just a pleasure to play with all these guys and to have the courage to keep going.”

Tedesco said he felt like he owed the team after missing an earlier opportunity to create a try when the Queensland defence was stretched.

“It was a tough game, I think I blew one earlier so I wanted to make up for it, just compete on everything,” Tedesco said.

“I just told Nath to put it up for me and go and compete, I’ve worked hard on that, and I’m just happy I came down with it.”

NSW were looking for a better performance at their home ground after losing three of their last four Origin games at Accor Stadium, but they made life hard for themselves in the first half after making too many errors.

A dropped ball by centre Stephen Crichton proved costly after Queensland halfback Sam Walker put a kick through for centre Rob Toia to grab the opening try of the match. Walker converted for a 6-0 lead.

The Maroons put themselves in a strong position again after winger Selwyn Cobbo sent centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on a long run downfield. With the Blues on the back foot, Maroons hooker Harry Grant flicked a miracle ball out the back for Walker who put prop Tom Flegler through a huge hole to score underneath the posts. Walker converted for a 12-0 lead.

Another mistake from NSW presented the Maroons with another opportunity and they were quick to capitalise with five-eighth Cameron Munster putting a kick through for Tabuai-Fidow to score. Walker converted to extend the lead to 18-0.

Queensland extended their lead to 20-0 through a penalty goal to Walker after a lost ball by winger Brian To’o was picked up by one his teammates in an offside position.

The Blues needed something to spark them into action and Strange answered the call when he bent his back in defence to put a shot on Munster, dislodging the ball and defusing a potentially dangerous attacking raid in the process.

The Blues worked their way upfield and when the defence rushed at halfback Nathan Cleary, he put a clever no-look grubber kick through for back-rower Hudson Young to score. Cleary added the conversion to reduce the deficit to 20-6.

NSW looked like they had scored again when a kick close to the line from hooker Reece Robson was grabbed by replacement Cameron Murray who juggled the ball before regathering to score. However, the try was taken off him after Murray was ruled to have pushed Maroons back-rower Kurt Capewell in the back while competing for the ball to leave the score 20-6 at half-time.

“We gave away too many errors, gave them too much field position,” Tedesco said.

“We knew if we had some ball on the back of field position we’d give ourselves a chance.”

The two sides couldn’t find any more points for the first 20 minutes of the second half but the door opened for the Blues when Ponga was sent off.

The Blues looked to have taken advantage of the situation when Cleary put Strange over for a try, but it was taken off him upon review after back-rower Haumole Olakau’atu took a decoy run and was ruled to have taken out Maroons hooker Harry Grant.

NSW didn’t have to wait long for another opportunity with Crichton making a long-range break and doing well to draw in three defenders before passing back for Strange who hurdled Capewell before racing away to score. Cleary missed the conversion to leave the score at 20-10.

The Blues had another chance with the Queensland defence shot but a pass from Tedesco with three unmarked teammates outside him went to ground.

Cleary gave them another opportunity when he kicked a 40/20 before racing over for a try after being put into a gap by replacement hooker Blayke Brailey. Cleary landed the conversion to reduce the margin to 20-16 and set up a frantic finish.

Tedesco then scored the match-winner to seal a memorable win and put the Blues 1-0 up in the series with games remaining in Melbourne and Brisbane.