Off to a Decider as NSW nearly make history after QLD's first half rampage

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New South Wales v Queensland

The NSW Blues came within a whisker of the greatest comeback in Origin history, but fell short after a horror first half full of ill-discipline and poor handling to be beaten 26-24 by Queensland in Perth tonight.

Following a rough start to the game which saw both sides struggle to come to terms with the slippery conditions. NSW capitalised off a great play from the returning Jarome Luai. An early kick in the count saw the QLD edge drag in, Angus Crichton then toed it ahead and Brian To'o got the ball down to score for the Blues.

Off the back of some poor discipline, the NSW side quickly were on the back foot and the Maroons capitalised at lightning speed. A nice shift to the right edge saw Robert Toia draw in the defence after getting on the outside of Latrell Mitchell and find Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to cross for the QLD side for an even score after 12 minutes.

Just before the 20 minute mark, more cheap yardage errors kept opening the door for the Maroons and it was a clever cross-field kick from Tom Dearden that allowed Tabuai-Fidow to fly over the top of To'o to score his second try. Luai went on report for an alleged eye gouge and the Blues were clearly rattled.

Up against an early 4-0 penalty count, the Blues struggled for possession and continued to hurt themselves throughout the latter stages of the first half. Lomax joined Luai on-report after an elbow to the head of Trent Loiero and Holmes made no mistake. The discipline got worse and NSW imploded. Harry Grant decided to scheme around the rucks and it was Cam Munster that got himself between Angus Crichton and Luai to score the Maroons third of the first half.

Despite not being in tune, the Blues weren't going to be down for long. Nathan Cleary took the ball to the line, busted off a defender and seemed to bust through to score. But, the replays showed it was way too easy after Stefano Utoikamanu came back through into the path of Patrick Carrigan who denied the bench forward a chance to defend. The ultimate insult for the Blues was that it was the ill-fated 12-point turnaround in the shadows of half-time. A great short ball from Dearden to debutant Kurt Mann put him into space and he found Kurt Capewell to score and the Maroons were well on top.

QLD started lethargic in the second half and the Blues made the Maroons pay. Following their first penalty of the game, a nice decoy play caught Tom Dearden in field and the rest of the QLD right edge jammed in and it was some nice hands from Luai and Mitchell to send To'o over for his second.

NSW were starting to get the acendency and the Maroons were up against it. NSW got it back to within two converted tries through there impact man Stephen Crichton, who got on the outside of Valentine Holmes to get the Blues back into it.

The Maroons committed the cardinal sin. They were defending their lead, a critical mistake from Tabuai-Fidow gave the Blues possession and it was the NSW lethal left edge that caught the QLD side wanting. Quick hands from Mitchell to To'o and the winger powered over the top of Toia to score.

QLD were waiting for the Blues to score with a plethora of errors in their own end. A major play by Mitchell (a one-on-one strip) gave the NSW side a chance. An early grubber from Luai sat up perfectly for Angus Crichton and the Blues set up a grandstand finish! But, the ball never crossed the line again despite numerous sets on their line and the Maroons hung on to force the decider in Sydney. 

Match Review & Judiciary

Jarome Luai (NSW)

Grade 2 Contrary Conduct on Reuben Cotter (22 min)
Base penalty 20% of match fee
1st offence
- Early plea: 13% of match fee
- Guilty at panel: 20% of match fee
PLEA: TBC Thursday

Zac Lomax (NSW)

Grade 1 Dangerous Contact on Trent Loiero (28 min)
Base penalty 10% of match fee
1st offence
- Early plea: 7% of match fee
- Guilty at panel: 10% of match fee
PLEA: TBC Thursday