Source :- THE AGE NEWS
That is all from us tonight.
Commiserations Queensland, well done NSW. Let’s do this all again in a year.
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Wally Lewis famously knew every blade of grass on Lang Park, but even the King would have struggled to apply the depth of forensic scrutiny that helped Bradman Best’s match-sealing try in the second half.
Amid a mini-fightback by the Maroons, provided by the injection of excitement machine Reece Walsh, the Maroons were pressuring the NSW line and looking for a third try.
Bradman Best was too quick – or just quick enough – when he latched onto a kick from Walsh and after a desperate dive to try and bring down his Blues rival, Ponga missed and Best raced in to score. It was the second crucial try in a decider from Best at Suncorp Stadium, after the recalled centre had done likewise in the drought-breaking third game in 2024, won by NSW.
But as the Blues players were celebrating, the Maroons players rushed to referee Ashley Klein, arguing Blues winger Jack Bostock had touched the ball and knocked it on, way back on the NSW line.
Former NSW coach and Bulldogs boss Phil Gould has had his say.
As you’d expect from Gus, it’s a lengthy and detailed analysis of the match, so here’s what he said in full.
“The big improvement was in the attitude in defence. I thought they were really strong in those areas. They played like a hungry team, they played like underdogs. I think it really suited them tonight to be written off in this environment,” Gould said.
“And, on the contrary, I think that Queensland didn’t handle favouritism at all well. They didn’t handle the expectations of this crowd. They kept waiting for the game to come to them rather than going after it. And New South Wales just got under their guard, ran out to an 18-0 lead and held their advantage right to the end of it. It was a very spirited display.
“The thing that stood out for me was defensively, how calm they looked. Their marker defence was better, their movements were better. They were attacking the Queensland players, and I thought they smothered Queensland all night. They [Queensland] scored a couple of flukey tries off kicks and bounced balls. Other than that, they never really looked dangerous, and it was a comprehensive victory.”
NSW coach Laurie Daley has worn brickbats all series and addressed both that criticism, in the nicest way possible, because it’s Laurie Daley, and his future… kind of.
Daley is uncontracted as of now and privately, his plans for a while now have been for this to be his last game in charge, win or lose.
Asked straight up on the Channel Nine panel if he had made a decision on his coaching future, Daley said: “That’s for another day”.
Would the win sway you either way? “Oh no, I’ve made up my mind. I know what I’m doing.”
For most of the State of Origin series, the NSW pack had struggled to match their Queensland rivals, leaving the Blues on the back foot.
But when it mattered most, with interstate bragging rights on the line at Suncorp Stadium, Laurie Daley’s forwards stood up and delivered.
Nathan Cleary will rightfully receive much of the credit for NSW’s memorable series-winning victory, having finally secured the Origin greatness that had eluded him by leading the way on Wednesday.
But the platform for Cleary’s star turn – and the freewheeling team’s historic fourth win in a Brisbane decider – was set by a dominant performance from the big men in blue.
Man of the match – and player of the series – Nathan Cleary praised NSW coach Laurie Daley at full-time.
Daley has been criticised heavily for his team selections and bench rotations, but the Blues have won the match and the series.
“It’s unbelievable. This group of players, they’re just freaks. I love playing alongside them,” Cleary said.
“The belief – we were all written off – we came together as a group, rallied around each other, and I’m just pumped. What a team.
“…I’m so happy for Laurie, honestly, so grateful that he backed me, and just the belief that he had, he instilled it within 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 in NSW, and you never write off champions. I love the guy, and so pumped for him.”
Dom Brock and Phil Mitchell have dished out their always fair, never controversial player ratings – here’s how they saw the Blues back five shaping up.
New South Wales
1. James Tedesco
Led the Blues’ go-forward with a combination of kick returns, dummy-half scoots and old-fashioned hit-ups – then copped a head clash with Briton Nikora at the end of the first half and failed his HIA. 7/10
2. Jack Bostock
A mixed night for the Origin debutant, who spilled an early chance with the tryline wide open, and dropped a bomb late in the first half (and possibly knocked on in the lead-up to Best’s try). Also had a great escape from his in-goal. Went off after a head knock in the final 20 minutes. 4.5
The first NSW player we hear from at full-time is Bradman Best – the man who ran 90 metres to score the Blues’ fourth try of the night.
“Doesn’t get much better than this, New South Wales,” Best yelled into the microphone after full-time at Suncorp Stadium.
“This is what dreams are made of – since I was a little kid.”
Speaking of that (almost) length-of-the-field try, Best said he was “lucky” the ball fell into his lap. But Best saved the … uh, best for last, with a taunt to all the Queenslanders left watching.
“We know how much Queensland carry on, so to come here and do it at their home ground, it doesn’t get much better,” Best said.
