Cleary and the Blues silence doubters with series win on enemy turf

The Westpac NSW Blues have silenced their critics in the best possible fashion and reclaimed the Ampol State of Origin Shield in the process after a memorable 30-12 win over the Queensland Maroons at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

The Blues had been widely bagged after the first two matches – even though they had rallied from behind to claim Game One 22-20 when Kalyn Ponga was sent to the sin bin – but saved their best performance for the final game of the series.

Westpac NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley had borne the brunt of the criticism but deservingly claimed his second series win as a coach, as well as becoming the only NSW captain and coach to win a series in a decider.

Halfback Nathan Cleary, who scored two tries and silenced all the doubters about his ability to perform in the Origin arena, was fittingly named the Wally Lewis Medallist as Player of the Series.

“It’s unbelievable,” Cleary said.

“This group of players, they’re just freaks, I love playing with this side. The belief, we were written off, we came together as a group and rallied around each other, and I’m just pumped. What a team.

“I’m so happy for him (Daley). I’m so grateful that he backed me and just the belief he had that he instilled in all of us. A lot of people wrote him off and said a lot of negative things about him but he’s an absolute champion of NSW and never write off champions.”

The Blues didn’t have it easy in the decider after losing both fullback James Tedesco and winger Jack Bostock to head knocks, but every player who took the field did their job. Prop Payne Haas (128m), back-rower Hudson Young (136m) and captain and lock Isaah Yeo (117m) were all enormous up front after cracking over 100 run metres for the match but the forwards were all strong.

Daley had made several changes to the team that had lost Game Two and they all paid off – back-rower Liam Martin brought plenty of aggression and had a hand in a try, Bostock was strong on debut until he was forced off, while centre Bradman Best scored a length of the field try that changed the course of the game.

NSW headed into the match with the knowledge that it was only two years ago they had won a decider at Suncorp Stadium after a gripping 14-4 win to claim the Shield. They have added to that record now after becoming only the fourth team in history to win a decider at Queensland’s home ground.

The Blues started strongly after a bomb from Cleary for Bostock paid dividends when Queensland knocked on. They had a chance to score when they worked the ball wide for Bostock in space, but he was unable to hang on to the pass and the Maroons survived.

A Queensland error presented NSW with another opportunity, but they were unable to capitalise again with a kick from Cleary for winger Mark Nawaqanitawase going to ground.

Another kick from Cleary produced another Maroons error and it was a case of third time lucky for NSW with the Blues No.7 beating a tackle from back-rower Kurt Capewell before sliding over the line. He converted his own try to put the Blues up 6-0.

The Blues defence hung tough before they turned the heat up on Queensland again with Martin stepping through the defence before picking up centre Stephen Crichton in support. Crichton in turn found Nawaqanitawase who threw a one-handed pass back inside for Cleary to grab his second try of the match. The Blues No.7 converted his own try for a 12-0 lead.

Cleary came up with another big play when he stripped Maroons winger Selwyn Cobbo from the kick-off and it wasn’t long after that before replacement forward Cameron Murray surged at the line before stretching out to score. Cleary converted for an 18-0 lead.

A NSW error just before half-time opened the door slightly for Queensland and centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow beat Crichton on his outside to score. Maroons halfback Sam Walker hooked the conversion to the left of the posts to leave the scoreline at 18-4.

In the final minute before half-time, Tedesco was forced from the field for a HIA after a head clash with Maroons replacement back-rower Briton Nikora. The Blues received a penalty and Toluta’u Koula came on as a replacement but they were unable to add any more points to leave the score 18-4 at half-time.

The second half got underway without Tedesco and the Blues received an early chance after Capewell lost possession in a hit-up. NSW didn’t score but Crichton kept the pressure on when he put a a grubber kick through to trap Ponga in goal.

The Maroons made another error after Capewell lost the ball, with Reece Walsh coming on to replace Walker who had to leave the field for a HIA after friendly fire from centre Rob Toia. Walker eventually returned replacing Ponga on the field.

NSW failed to handle a bomb from Queensland five-eighth Cameron Munster to give the Maroons a sniff, and they scored after a kick from Cobbo ricochetted off Koula’s legs and back into Cobbo’s arms to score. Walsh couldn’t land the conversion to leave the score at 18-8.

Queensland received another penalty after Crichton caught Ponga with a high tackle but their chance to score off a cross field kick turned to dust when Best swooped on a loose ball before racing the length of the field and palming off ponga to score. Cleary converted for a 24-8 lead.

“It felt good,” Best said.

“It means so much because we know how much Queensland carry on and to come here and do it at their home ground, it doesn’t get better.”

The Blues lost winger Bostock to a HIA after he climbed high for a bomb and his head hit the ground when he landed promoting a reshuffle which saw Murray shift to the centres. He became the second NSW player to be ruled out with Ethan Strange coming on to replace him.

The Maroons received a penalty in good field position after Crichton was ruled to have taken Cobbo off the ball on a bomb with Fifita scoring out wide. Walker again missed the conversion to leave the score 24-12 in favour of the Blues.

NSW dodged a bullet when a kick from Walker was allowed to bounce by the Blues paving the way for Toia to score but the try was taken off them after a video review found that replacement forward Max Plath had been offside in the lead-up.

The Maroons gave away a penalty after Tabuai-Fidow was penalised for a lifting tackle on Koula and Cleary landed the conversion from 35 metres out and to the left of the posts to give NSW some breathing space at 26-12.

The Blues sealed a memorable win in the final minute when replacement hooker Blayke Brailey popped a pass for Young to stroll over untouched to score to make it 30-12 and spark wild scenes of celebration on the field at full-time.