The Queensland Maroons held off a late charge by the New South Wales Blues for a final score of 23-15, to win the third game of the State of Origins sweeping the series for the first time in 15 years, as well as scoring a fifth consecutive victory.
The State of Origins is an annual three game match that takes place between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons. The players are selected from their respective squads in the National Rugby League and asked to join the state side. A state may only choose a player if he played his first game as a rugby professional in that state.
Prior to 1982 the teams were selected by where the players were currently playing and the competition was only a one game affair. However, after a test match it was decided that the competition would be played out as it does today. Although the team’s records in the event are remarkably similar, the Maroons have had the upper hand in recent years winning the last four contests. The State of Origins is the most watch annual rugby event in and around Australia.
The third and final game of the series took place in Sydney. Having won the first two games and already clinching the series the Maroons were looking to embarrass their NSW opponents by sweeping them for the first time since 1995, a feat they just fell short of last year.
The game started off with a bang as Queensland opened up a 6-0 lead courtesy of a Darius Boyd try and a Thurston conversion. The Maroons continued their strong play with an easy try converted by Myles, pushing the lead to 12-0. The Blues thought they had closed in on the lead before half as Gallen poured over the line and converted their first try of the day, but Darren Lockyer hit an amazing field-goal from just under half to bring the two sides to the break.
The Blues came back from the half looking to cut the lead down once again. Hanging onto the ball, applying sustained pressure in the Maroons end they were finally able to capitalize with a Gidley try. The NSW side look poised to take the lead but two brilliant chances were missed giving Queensland the opportunity to seal it late. With only 10 minutes left Blues hooker Michael Ennis was assessed a penalty giving way to a Slater try, later followed by a match sealing Tonga conversion, thus giving the Queensland side a 23-15 victory and an Origins sweep.
Captain Darren Lockyer was extremely proud of his noting the close finish “it wasn’t looking great there with 10 minutes to go but the boys deserve it, they’ve put in a heap of effort over the years and I’m really happy for them.”
Blues team captain Trent Barrett tried to remain optimistic even after the loss “I’m really proud of the way we fought…the four news guys that came in, I think we’ve got a team there and we’ve got to stick with them…there’s some good signs there.”
The final loss by the Blue is joined by the two others first a 28-24 loss at home to start the series and an embarrassing 34-6 humiliation on the road in Queensland. The score lines have given rise to the possibility that the 2010 Blues squad may be the worst one ever, however many are saying that the Queensland side is their best yet. One thing is for clear, in 2011 the Blues will be looking for revenge and the Maroons will be looking to make it a State of Origin record sixth victory in a row.
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