Key events
77 mins: Again the Maroons opt for chaos theory but DCE Then Tabuai-Fidow lose their footing. DCE is then wrapped up by his old sparring partner Luai, and the Panther fancies afters. More chaos: Moses is led off the field with a dead right arm. Tabuai-Fidow can’t bend down to pick up the loose ball, but Stephen Crichton knocks it on!
76 mins: Martin drops a chest pass on tackle four! Queensland will feed a scrum on their own 20m line with time running out.
75 mins: Maroon markers are AWOL as Blues runners surge through the ruck time and again. The pain of the opening half is starting to tell and Queensland look ready to drop. But they’re not beaten quite yet. Tabuai-Fidow tries to run out of defence, then there’s chaos footy for a set as the home side try desperately to keep the ball alive. NSW don’t lose their heads and defend sensibly. Unlike Cobbo, who brings Edwards down in the air as he marks the set-ending kick. The Blues are on the cusp of a historic victory.
73 mins: “Queenslander!” urge the crowd, but their heroes are knackered. DCE tries to introduce his runners into the game but NSW have the bit between their teeth and crunch anything that gets within reach.
71 mins: Queensland go for the short restart but Stephen Crichton wins the ball in the air and returns it with interest! It takes a despairing Walsh effort to haul him down. A set restart soon follows. The Blues can smell blood in the water. Barnett, then Yeo, then Watson, all drive at the tiring home defence. Another set restart! Queensland are on the ropes accepting blow after blow. Can they survive long enough to reach the bell and go again? Just! Watson loses the ball in contact and the Maroons survvie, for now.
It’s a straightforward set off the penalty for the Blues but with Queensland waiting for Moses to offload or kick, the halfback steps to his left, inside Grant, away from Tabuai-Fidow, and his momentum sees him weave past Walsh like a zephyr of smoke. Brilliant individual try.
Lomax doesn’t miss from the touchline, he isn’t going to fluff his lines from under the dot.
TRY! Queensland 4-14 NSW (Moses, 69)
Dam burst, Moses parts the Maroon sea and wins the 2024 State of Origin for New South Wales.
68 mins: And now Watson earns a penalty straight from the restart. All the pressure suddenly tilts towards Queensland.
67 mins: “This is the pinnacle of rugby league” purrs Andrew Johns. Bloody oath it is.
TRY! Queensland 4-8 NSW (Best, 65)
AND OPEN UP THEY DO! Angus Crichton, then Watson, both find scruffy offloads. Luai feasts on the scraps, dashes through the line and into open space. Is there support? YES! Bradman Best storms up on Luai’s left shoulder, hugging the whitewash. The Panther slows his pace, finds the pass, Best holds on – only just – and manages to both catch the ball and hold off his defender in the same motion, before barrelling his way into the left corner. An all-time legendary NSW Origin moment.
From the left touchline Lomax drills his second magnificent goal of the night.
64 mins: Fotuaika leads the charge from the restart, his second powerful run in quick succession. Grant then buys 10 yards sniping from dummy half. By the time Walsh launches a bomb he’s on halfway – and Tabuai-Fidow marks it on the run! But he can’t offload and is tackled on the 20m line. NSW will have to begin their grind from deep. Brad Fittler on the telly wants the Blues to begin to open up…
Goal! Queensland 4-2 NSW (Holmes, 63)
From point blank range Holmes kicks the home side back in front.
62 mins: Queensland begin to attack down the right but DCE slips over. Back to the left and Ponga accepts the offload like an NFL running back in motion behind the line of scrimmage. Grant, the big time truffle pig, snuffles the play-the-ball and milks a high tackle from Robson under the crossbar. In a game of so few scores, this could be pivotal.
60 mins: And another penalty – this time for ruck interference. Mercifully, NSW challenge the decision, allowing everyone a breather. The challenge is unsuccessful, but it gives everyone a clear 20 minute warning.
59 mins: This has stopped being sport and is now a hallucination. Both teams are spent but somehow finding reserves of energy to keep going at full speed. They are all red lining. Moses kicks to the right corner and this time the leaping Lomax beats Holmes in the air but he can’t offload on his way down. There’s a deflection off a Queenslander but it’s not pinged as a knock-on. Shortly afterwards Robson goes too high. Both groups consider another melee, but everyone’s too fatigued.
57 mins: Edwards has been excellent and he almost makes a crucial break – then Best – covered in blood like a Hyena stalking a carcass. Queensland resist and the wounded Walsh accepts another massive pounding running the ball out from fullback.
55 mins: Back to the arm-wrestle either side of halfway, but just as a pattern threatens to set in there’s a set restart and Queensland can mount an attack. “QUEENSLANDER!” bellows the crowd as DCE feeds Ponga for his first entry to the line. NSW defend down the left so Queensland spread to the right. There are bodies littering the field like spent shotgun shells. Structure has left the stadium. And Grant fails to read the situation, grubbering straight into his marker and gifting NSW possession.
53 mins: Queensland enjoy some rare attacking possession and probe their way to the 10m line. DCE then kicks a bendy grubber through the posts that forces a line dropout. And for the second time tonight Luai nails the execution, a blue jersey is up for the tap back and another New South Welshman is first on the ground to scoop up the shrapnel.
51 mins: The power of the hits is starting to subside, as is the speed of the play-the-balls. The game is finally resembling a “normal” match of professional rugby league. Neither side is eager to take any risks while the match is simmering like this. Who will blink first?
Queensland get the break with a Yeo swinging arm third man into the tackle. That’s Ponga’s signal to come on, playing…. No 13?
49 mins: The field is just starting to open up a little as fatigue and shellshock set in. Both sides exchange sets either side of halfway then Moses launches a massive kick from near halfway that bounces awkwardly and just into touch near the corner flag. Surely it’s time for Ponga to enter the fray soon and take advantage of the increasing amount of broken field footy.
48 mins: Hunt gets away with a shoulder charge on Leniu’s restart carry. Queensland continue to bring the heat with Nanai dumping Angus Crichton with the pair then bouncing nose to nose like a pair of rutting mountain goats. The intensity remains ferocious.
Goal! Queensland 2-2 NSW (Lomax, 46)
What a kick! From the right touchline, 35m out, Lomax swings over a beauty in blustery conditions in front of the massed ranks of Maroons fans. That was as far from a gimme as you get and Lomax drained it with ease.
46 mins: Back come the Blues and To’o thinks he has a sniff in the left corner, but the door is closed in his face. On the last the kick goes up again towards Lomax, but for the second play in a row the combination of Holmes and Tabuai-Fidow executes the block and mark without conceding an obstruction penalty. But there is a whistle… for a late hit on the kicker by Carrigan. NSW opt to take the two from near the touchline.
44 mins: Leniu bulldozes his side inside 20. Here come the Blues! But just like the first half Queensland’s line defence is unbreakable. On the last the kick to the right corner for Lomax looks dangerous, but the Maroons not only win the ball in the air but find two quick offloads to free Walsh. He bolts through the first line of defence and into space, tearing towards halfway how far can he go? Scragged! Hauled down! Then smuggled into touch by Lomax! Incredible drama.
42 mins: Queensland make it almost to halfway with their restart set, led again by a Dearden show-and-go. But NSW are soon back on the front foot after Cotter holds onto To’o too long in the tackle, conceding a penalty, and allowing Moses to kick towards his attacking 30.
41 mins: Here we go again. 40 minutes to determine the 2024 Origin series with just two points in it.
Some breaking news from The Sydney Morning Herald’s Michael Chammas relating to that melee midway through the opening half. “Blues 19th man Haumole Olakau’atu has been evicted from the field by NRL officials for getting involved in the scuffle. He won’t be allowed back on the bench to watch the game. He came from the bench in a suit and grabbed Valentine Holmes.”
“You watch this and realise it doesn’t matter if it’s England or GB, either way we get walloped,” emails Chris Taberner.
Staying with the northern hemisphere perspective, I’ll leave you with this lovely read and make myself a cup of tea.
“What an amazing defensive display by the Maroons in the first half,” emails Harry Sachar. “Brilliant game.” Too right. Absolutely breathtaking. All 34 of those blokes are earning their match fees tonight.
Half-time: Queensland 2-0 NSW
And that’s the final kick of the half. And what a half it was. Brutal, brilliant, and played at breakneck speed. NSW dominated with and without the ball, but somehow it’s Queensland who lead.
GOAL! Queensland 2-0 NSW (Holmes, 40)
From 20m out, just to the right of the posts, Valentine Holmes dabs the home side in front.
39 mins: The first scrum of the night goes to Queensland just inside their own half. The Maroons try to free Walsh but NSW are onto the young flyer quickly. Tabuai-Fidow engineers space on the left but the Blues stand their ground. Back to the right come Queensland. This is their best attacking set of the half. Walsh is busy again. DCE finally has an attacking kicking opportunity – and Leniu flattens the Queensland skipper after he kicks. Clear penalty. Somehow the Maroons could be leading at half-time.
38 mins: How are Queensland doing this? Now Tabuai-Fidow steps off his line to take To’o man and ball and force a turnover. This is the stuff of Lang Park legend.
37 mins: Invited to put in another shift the Queensland defence is put through its paces – and you’ll never guess – they do incredibly. After withstanding a shove up the guts the Blues look to have unlocked the left corner with Angus Crichton, but his offload is just off target. Edwards keeps the ball alive and in no time it’s jabbed by Stephen Crichton to the right corner, but two despairing Maroons defenders slide across to send the ball out of play.
35 mins: The Blues come again but THEY SHALL NOT PASS! Queensland’s defence has been unbelievable, and the home side stands tall again before smothering Moses on the last tackle. Dearden runs away with the ball but Queensland don’t make it far before DCE loses the ball in contact with Best! This is mayhem!
35 mins: NSW resume their assault on the Queensland line. How have they not scored yet? Yeo almost barges through, then Leniu. Ooof! The latter is stopped in large part by the bridge of Ben Hunt’s nose. There’s a stoppage for the utility to be patched up, but he’ll be off soon for an HIA. That looked ugly.
34 mins: NSW win easy ball and enjoy another full set from 20m. Make it a seven tackle set with a near immediate set restart. The Blues can smell blood and go for the jugular straight away, carving to the right to exploit the 12v12 space. Stephen Crichton looks to be in but his dive to the right corner is a fraction short and under pressure from Dearden and Tabuai-Fidow loses possession before he slides over the line. No try – but a penalty to NSW for Walsh stabbing a boot into the play as Crichton slid over.
32 mins: Play resumes with Moses kicking deep and inviting his forwards to attack from 20m. Early in the set Luai and Edwards try their luck running along the line. Then Edwards tries to straighten up but the Queensland defence – which has been superb all night – stands tall. Luai’s kick on the last is perfectly weighted and forces Dearden to catch on the run and concede a line drop-out.
Yellow Cards! (Nanai & Murray 31)
Ashley Klein, with the help of his TMO, determines that the penalty was against DCE for infringing Luai. He then issues a yellow to Nanai for coming in over the top, and one to Murray – who was on the interchange at the time. DCE is furious. He thinks Murray deserves more.
Melee!
32 mins: After Queensland spilled the ball NSW broke down the left through Best, but for the second time tonight instead of dashing into space he loses the ball! Behind play DCE and Luai start grabbing each other and it brings teammates flying in from all sides. It’s just in front of the Queensland dugout so the home bench empties as bodies spill onto the turf. There’s mayhem, but no obvious punches thrown.
31 mins: Walsh hasn’t looked fully fit for a few minutes with a foot or ankle injury, and he invites Barnett to tackle him on the ground after slipping – which the debutant takes with relish. The Maroons keep going though and earn a set restart but Walsh can’t find Capewell when he steps into the line and the Blues escape.
29 mins: Dearden has been Queensland’s best in possession by a country mile, and another show-and-go almost pierces the NSW defensive line. It doesn’t, but it still sets up good field position, and for the first time all night the Blues struggle to clear their lines and Moses has to kick from inside his own 30.
27 mins: Leniu, then Angus Crichton pound the Queensland defence with malice aforethought. Crichton is like a man possessed tonight. But Moses misses his mark with his boot. And Walsh gets lucky – slipping, allowing the bomb to bounce, then watching it dribble out of play.
25 mins: No Queenslander can make ground either before or after contact. The Blues pack is dominating with and without the ball. But finally the pace is starting to relent as fatigue sets in. This favours Queensland who are happy just to exchange some midfield sets.
23 mins: And Lomax steals it! It wasn’t even a contest. He is so good in the air. Back on even terms after scares at both ends, but the pace remains relentless.
22 mins: Cobbo wins the aerial contest and marks Cherry-Evans’ drop-out – and Queensland breathe a sigh of relief once more. Not only that but Dearden makes a linebreak – and should have received a penalty for a high hit by Luai – but he makes enough ground to allow DCE to dab a grubber to force a line dropout at the other end.
20 mins: DCE shanks his short drop-out and the Blues get a full set 20m out. On tackle four Lomax is almost set free on the right. He stands up Holmes one-on-one but the defence is solid and the Maroons scramble. On the last the kick goes high to the right corner where Lomax taps it back. The Blues keep it alive in broken play, spread to the left and Best drops the ball onto his toe to instigate another drop out! NSW are pushing hard.
18 mins: The speed and intensity remains awesome. It’s like the opening set of the match has been repeated 30 times. How do they do it? Queensland continue to struggle to make ground and after Luai dabs a beautiful kick to the left corner Walsh is lucky not to concede a drop-out, but then Cobbo is nailed by Murray a tackle later and the Blues get their reward.
Meanwhile, DCE and Angus Crichton (who passed his HIA) almost come to blows.
