Maroons hammer Blues in Origin
III

The State of Origin series may have been won by New South Wales but tell that to Queensland who have thrashed the Blues by 36-6 at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

With Test jumpers up for grabs, Gorden Tallis and Shane Webcke led their side brilliantly against a shell-shocked NSW pack.

Following a punishing defensive effort, Queensland outclassed the Blues with three tries in the first forty minutes and at half time, the home side were in control at 16-0.

NSW came back with a try in the second half but were never in the contest with the Queenslanders running away with it late in the match - Matt Sing posting a hat trick of tries.

MAROONS 36 Tries: Sing 3, Tate 2, Smith, Crocker Goals: Hannay 4/7 defeated BLUES 6 Tries: Tahu Goals: Johns 1/1

Wednesday 16 July 2003 8:00 PM Suncorp Stadium Referee: Bill Harrigan

By the clock: 0 min: National Anthem underway... huge crowd... huge atmosphere. Kickoff!

6 min: TRY - QLD. Brent Tate scores after Ben Ikin puts in a cross-field kick. Matt Sing heads it back in the in-goal and Tate is there to score. Follows some aggressive defence form both sides. Wide conversion from Josh Hannay is successful. QLD 6-0

14 min: TRY - QLD. Matt Sing scores out wide following some great team play up the middle - the maroons putting on a 70m movement. Conversion Hannay curls in beautifully. QLD 12-0

15 min: NEWS - Shaun Timmins (NSW) forced from the field with sholuder injury after being injured in a tackle. Jason Ryles (NSW) also forced from the field with injury.

17 min: TRY - QLD. Sing scores a double out wide. NSW penalised for being in front of the kicker from the re-start and QLD scores in the next set. NSW are being ambushed! Conversion Hannay unsuccessful. QLD 16-0

21 min: NEWS - 30m field goal attempt from Ikin (QLD) is unsuccessful.

24 min: NO TRY - NSW launch a counter-attack but Andrew Johns (NSW) unable to cleanly ground the ball.

29 min: NEWS - Jason Ryles (NSW) has nerve damage in the shoulder and will take no further part in the match. Tonie Carroll (QLD) off the field with a hamstring injury but no word yet if he'll back.

36 min: NEWS - Timmins (NSW) comes back on. QLD dominating the match as NSW's handling errors sees them having trouble completing their sets.

HALF TIME: Its all Queensland as the Maroon forwards steam roll the Blues - Qld enjoying 57% of the possession but its the field position that's overwhelming NSW. NSW have had their chances to peg one back but have been let down by poor handling. QLD 16-0

Second half is underway... NEWS - Tonie Carroll (QLD) very unlikely to return. That being the case, both sides are reduced to a 3 man bench (Ryles for NSW is out for the match as well).

47 min: TRY - NSW. Tahu scoes out wide after chasing a Braith Anasta kick. Follows a break up the middle in the previous ruck from Craig Wing who found space on his 30m line. Sideline conversion Andrew Johns is spot on. QLD 16-6

60 min: No change in the score. Sensational end-to-end stuff. NSW charging at the QLD line but lose possession just when they look like they might score. Still QLD 16-6

65 min: TRY - QLD. Tate gets a double after Hegarty starts a backline movement from 30m out - an overlap appears and Tate scores out wide. Sideline conversion from Hannay is a ripper. QLD 22-6

70 min: TRY - QLD. Cameron Smith scores out wide following a break from fellow North Queenslander, Matty Bowen. Conversion from Hannay unsuccessful. QLD 26-6

76 min: TRY - QLD. Matt Sing gets a hat trick as the Maroons carve up NSW. Shaun Berrigan setting up play down the same flank. Wide conversion from Hannay is successful. QLD 32-6

78 min: TRY - QLD. Michael Crocker scores down the same right hand flank as NSW capitulate. Conversion Hannay unsuccessful. QLD 36-6

FULL TIME: Big win for Queensland who have taken some of the gloss off NSW's series win.

NSW win the series 2-1 but tonight belongs to Qld.