The Blues are the Champions defying all odds to take back the Origin crown.
From the outset, the Blues were in total control. Yes, Queensland dominated the territory at the start of the game from one fantastic Cam Munster kick, but slowly and surely Mitchell Moses kicked the Blues into a position to take advantage of Maroon errors, scoring three times.
And those three tries were massive to the Blues’ chances of winning.
The difference between Games 2 and 3 was also massive. Was it complacency from the Maroons that thought they just had to turn up? Maybe.
All punters and experts expected the worse but the faithful (all those south of the Tweed) remained hopeful. The Blues were magnificent saving their best performance for the final game while the Maroons were total polar opposites.
The Controversy
Some Queenslanders are still crying “we was robbed” by the Bradman Best 90m try after the Bunker cleared the contest between Jack Bostock and Jojo Fafita.
It was obviously a knock-on and No Try.
Channel Nine commentator Cameron “Contracts” Smith took it in his stride demanding the Bunker be blown up but had little to say when the Queenslanders were correctly denied a try from a Max Plath offside penalty.
Perhaps Cam needs to talk to Dragons coach Dean Young or former Dragons coach Shane Flanagan of the impact of Bunker human error. The Bunker spends so much time looking for something that doesn’t exist they miss the obvious.
The Coach
What can we say about Laurie Daley’s successful return to Origin coaching.
Yes, he lost the unlosable series last year, but he won the unwinnable one this year.
This puts him on par with Queensland coach Billy Slater. Who funnily enough doesn’t cop any criticism despite losing two of the last three series in deciders at Suncorp.
I will give Laurie his dues. He remained steadfast on starting with Isaah Yeo over Cam Murray. Sticking with Mitchell Moses over Ethan Strange. Continual changes to the team and interchange bench. All while the experts in the game from Andrew and Matty Johns to Braith Anasta, Craig Gower, Luke Keary, Cooper Cronk and The Creator demanded changes. Loz and his team knew best.
Congratulation Loz. You finished on a high. Will you be back next year?
The Champion
Almost as much maligned as the coach, Nathan Cleary was at his magnificent best scoring twice and kicking four from four. Winning the man of the match and Wally Lewis Medal. He couldn’t do much more this series except maybe win Game 2.
Add to this five Grand Finals in the last six years. Four Premierships. The World Cup and Ashes Series victory for Australia. Only the Dally M eludes this future immortal but that’ll probably change this year too.
The Series Result
The NSW Blues won the decider to take out the 2026 State of Origin series 2-1. But in my opinion Queensland were the better team in the first two matches. Some will say the Kayln Ponga send-off was the turning point, but The Blues were in the same boat in 2024 when Joseph Suaalii was sent off for a high shot on Reece Walsh. The Blues overcame that Game 1 loss to take out the series. The real turning point was the Hail Mary play that James Tedesco caught in the last seconds of Origin 1.
Phew, this has been an exhausting series and I’m glad we return to normal NRL coverage.
Until next year sing it, “The Blues are the Champions my Friends…”
Rob
The Creator
