Year: 2024

New South Wales 2-1 Queensland (Series)

New South Wales 14-4 Queensland (Final Decider)

New South Wales (NSW) played gallantly, after a close but near-scoreless 1st half by both sides, to win the final State Of Origin decider & thus, the 2024 series.

The event begun just under 3 hours prior to kick-off, at sunset at 5:12pm, when the Story and Victoria Bridges, City Hall, the Tropical Dome & Reddacliff Place sculptures were all lit up maroon.

At 6pm, with an exhibition Queensland (QLD) RISE Academy under-15’s men’s rugby league match between North & South Brisbane. South Brisbane won 16-4.

At 7:15pm, the coin toss occurred & Queensland chose to kick-off.

The Nine Network, in their pre-match coverage, showed Brisbane’s Story Bridge lit up in maroon with match facts in front of it as well as a segment on inaugural women’s Olympic canoe slalom single’s gold medallist, Jessica Fox & her love of the NSW Blues. This segment was also broadcast, on a few minutes’ delay, inside Lang Park, the venue for Game 3 of the 2024 State Of Origin series.

At 7:30pm, the pre-match entertainment began with a light and pyrotechnic show. The State Of Origin shield was brought out by NSW & QLD rugby league juniors & their coaches before ‘The King’, former Queensland player, Wally Lewis, brought out the match ball. This all was in front of a stadium crowd of 52,457.

The New South Wales side then ran out onto the field where they met the Queensland side on the field, who ran out pass a ‘QLD’ flame sign.

The customary Welcome To Country ceremony, conducted by Ashley Ruska and performance of the National Anthem, sung by Ruva Ngwenya, then followed. A tribute & moment’s silence for David Morrow, rugby league radio commentator, who passed away today at the age of 71 concluded the pre-match ceremonies. A 10 second countdown to kick-off then started the main match.

Early in the game, Channel 9’s on-screen clock was not ticking over correctly for nearly half of the 1st half.

Anyway, to the actual sport. Despite no points being scored until the dying seconds of the 1st half, both sides played fiercely but New South Wales clearly had the upper hand the entire 1st half, with numerous close chances to score a try. With 37 seconds left on the clock, a brain fade by New South Wales player, Spencer Leniu, for tackling Queensland captain, Daly Cherry-Evans, after he clearly kicked the ball, gave Queensland the opportunity to score the first points by a penalty goal. Valentine Holmes successfully kicked the penalty goal.

Throughout the 1st half, tensions boiled over a couple of times leading to scuffles. In the 30th minute, tensions not just boiled over but erupted both on & off the field. Queensland captain, Daly-Cherry Evans & NSW 5/8th, Jerome Luai, started pushing each other’s face after the latter seemed to avoid grabbing the ball in order to target the former but the former pushed first. Queensland 2nd rower, Jeremiah Nanai, then pushed the two off the field, bringing even the bench in it – notably New South Wales’s 19th man, Haumole Olakau’atu, who was wearing a dinner suit & lock, Cameron Murray, who had recently been interchanged 4 minutes prior.

Daly Cherry-Evans was penalised for pushing Jerome Luai but the referees put into the sin bin for 10 minutes Nanai, Murray AND Olakau’atu for their melee, giving the latter the notable distinction of the 1st player in rugby league history to be sin binned without playing in the match! All 3 were in the bin until the 2nd half except for Olakau’atu, who was also banned from any post-match celebrations on-field if New South Wales won, which they eventually did.

Murray’s sin bin was from the interchange bench, so someone had to be removed off the field, which the referee gave to New South Wales’ s discretion.

At half-time, the score was 2-0 in favour of Queensland.

During half-time, a Little Origin match was held.

The 2nd half began with Queensland dominating but New South Wales quickly returned to take the crown and keep it. In the 44th minute, Queensland centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow blocked NSW winger, Zac Lomax, from having a fair attempt at the ball, which had just been kicked on the final tackle. NSW was awarded a penalty goal attempt, which Lomax successfully scored, making it anyone’s series once again.

The game was still fierce, tense but still with NSW keeping their return to dominance. In the 60th minute, NSW hooker, Reece Robson, wasn’t square when facing against his opposite, Harry Grant as well as clearly grabbing his face in an attempt to tackle him. The referee awarded QLD a penalty goal attempt, which Valentine Holmes successfully kicked, putting QLD back in the lead again by 2 points despite clear NSW dominance.

4 minutes later, the straw that broke the camel’s back for Queensland. New South Wales 5/8th, Jerome Luai, found a gap in QLD’s defence and stormed 35 minutes up the field before passing it to NSW Centre, Bradman Best, who, after juggling the ball, managed to run up the very edge of the field while fending off 2 Queenslanders to score the 1st try of the night – 64 minutes after kick-off – and which was also the series winning try, which was also converted. NSW now led by 4 points.

3 minutes later, NSW halfback, Mitchell Moses, made a gap in QLD’s defence 15 metres out to confirm the series win. NSW increased their lead to 10 points.

By the 78th minute, QLD were exhausted and NSW sadly, made one of the greatest matches of State Of Origin history led to a disappointing conclusion by running out the clock for the last 90 seconds. It was full-on for 78 minutes and then both teams stopped – one understandably tired but still trying their best and the other avoiding play in any meaningful form to avoid any extremely unluckiness in the final 90 seconds.

The successful conversions were kicked by Valentine Holmes for Queensland & Zac Lomax for New South Wales.

At full time, the final score for the final game was New South Wales 14-4 Queensland & the final score for the 2024 series was New South Wales 2-1 Queensland.

It was the 3rd time NSW had won a final decider at Lang Park, the last time being 19 years ago in 2005.

NSW fullback, Dylan Edwards, was Player of the Match, who was given his medal as part of the Channel 9’s broadcast rather than part of the formal series presentation. It was presented by Channel 9’s rugby league reporter & former NSW 5/8th, Allana Ferguson.

To a near-empty Lang Park, the series presentation followed on a stage in the field’s centre with James Bracey as Master Of Ceremonies & Wally ‘The King‘ Lewis, Queensland rugby league great, Peter V’landys, Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman, Bruce Hatcher, Queensland Rugby League Chairman, Paul Condon, New South Wales Rugby League Chairman and Andrew Abdo, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League.

The winner of the Wally Lewis Medal, awarded to the player of the series by Wally Lewis, was then announced as Angus Crichton.

Ooo!

Ah, I like to say thank you very much to Queensland, um, great series.

Thank you to all the coaches for believing in us & giving us the chance to come up here and do something special, uh.

Thank you to my family, my beautiful partner, Chloe & thank you to my teammates.

Boys, it’s coming home! Chick-a-woo!

Angus Crichton, New South Wales rugby league player

As most of the crowd, who were Queenslanders, left in an unsportsman-like manner by not watching the series presentation, it only left New South Welshmen in attendance, thus when the QLD captain, Daly Cherry-Evans, was invited to the stage, he was greeted by one of the loudest boos he would ever hear as a Queensland rugby league player at the team’s home ground.

Yeah, look, first of all, congratulations, ahm, too good tonight fellas, um. It’s been a cracking series so well done and enjoy, uh.

Thank you to everyone whose come through, not to tonight but every single game, uhm, all 3 games had amazing fans, amazing support from both sides & thank you very much for that, um.

Last much but not least, we’ve gotta thank, uh, Bill, the staff & all of the teammates. It’s not, not our year this year boys but that’s footy. We’ll be back again so take it all in, uh.

Last but not least, thank you to the families, uh. We spend a lot of time away from home, but we know how much love & support we got from you so thank you.

Cheers guys!

Daly Cherry-Evans, Queensland captain

I just wanna start by, um, saying thanks to, thanks to Queensland. Billy, cheers, um. You’re great competitors. It was a hell of a series so thanks a lot guys, really appreciate it, um.

Secondly, I just want to, to ‘Madge’ & um, the boys over there, just it’s been, honestly, the greatest 6 weeks. Greatest 6 weeks. It’s been a hell of a ride, um (chuckles) yeah, um. It’s been really, really special so just really enjoy the night & we really, really deserve this so good on ya, boys & um, I’ve got to thank Westpac & our sponsor family so thanks for getting behind us & to all our families over there, um, appreciate everything. You’ve been along for the journey so thanks so much & uh, last but not least, uh, to the Blatchey’s Blues for following us everywhere.

Thanks heaps, guys.

Jake Trbojevic, New South Wales captain

Peter V’landys then presented the State Of Origin Shield to Jake Trbojevic, who brought the Shield to the centre of the gathering NSW team in front of the stage before lifting it up in victory as flamethrowers lit up the stage & around the sidelines. The NSW staff & the team’s families then came to join in the celebrations. That was State Of Origin 2024.

Until next year!

New South Wales 38-18 Queensland

A dominant New South Wales side scored 6 consecutive tries to achieve victory in Game 2 of State Of Origin 2024, taking the series to a final decider.

Over in Brisbane, Story and Victoria Bridges, City Hall, the Tropical Dome & Reddacliff Place sculptures were all lit up maroon from sunset at 5:03pm.

Back in Melbourne, the event begun just under 2.5 hours prior to kick-off, at 5:40pm, with an exhibition Combined All-Schools under-18’s boys’ rugby league match between Silver & Blue. Silver won 30-28.

At 7:15pm was the coin toss before at 7:30pm, the pre-match entertainment began. A light and pyrotechnic show introduced Indigenous performances before the State Of Origin Shield was brought out onto the field by NSW & QLD children. The Temper Trap then performed with their iconic song, Sweet Disposition, televised. 4-time basketball Aussie Olympian, Patty Mills, then brought out the match ball. After the spectators were encouraged to cheer out the slogans of their respective teams, the pre-match entertainment concluded with pyrotechnics for the stadium crowd of 90,084 and the multi-million sized TV audience.

The Queensland side then ran out onto the field past flame signs saying ‘QLD’ before the New South Wales side ran out onto the field through a banner past ‘NSW’ flame signs.

The customary Welcome To Country, conducted by Aunty Joy Murphy and performance of the National Anthem, sung by Sheridan Adams, then immediately preceded the main match,

Anyway, to the game. Light rain at kick-off but after 10 minutes, it led to heavy falls of 6 NSW tries, with all but 1 converted. Completed dominating the first half, with a short pause for Jerome Luai to put on a shoe that fell off, NSW’s series of converted tries began with Liam Martin finding a hole in Queensland’s defence to open the Blues’ account. From his reaction, which repeated with every NSW try scorer, NSW was pumped up. 7 minutes later, Brian To’o squeezed into the left corner to reach 12-0. In the 23rd minute, Zac Lomax reached for the heavens for a kick on the final tackle to score NSW’s 3rd try, which he didn’t convert.

In the 24th minute, NSW dragged Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow over the tryline, resulting in a shoulder injury. Whilst initially looking dislocated, he only need a brief break and some painkillers before returning to the field. However, a few minutes later, he went back off the field into the changing rooms and didn’t return.

With Jerome Luai’s shoes fitted back on, a kick through Queensland’s defence by Mitchell Moses towards the left corner in the 26th minute saw Brian To’o score his 2nd try increasing NSW’s lead to 22 points. This try, in hindsight, sealed the victory for NSW.

To cap it off, in his 1st State Of Origin match since 2021, Latrell Mitchell ran with the ball from the 10-metre mark to score another try for NSW increasing the lead to 28 points. A lapse in QLD’s wing defence on NSW’s right side saw the 1st half conclude with a 6th try for NSW scored once again by Zac Lomax, who didn’t miss the conversion this time.

At half-time, the score was 34-0 in favour of New South Wales. This was the largest lead ever in the 1st half of a State Of Origin match.

During half-time, a Little Origin match was held.

Queensland returned to form in the 2nd half but couldn’t match New South Wales’s 1st half performance. A grapple on Queensland captain, Daly Cherry-Evans, by Stephen Crichton, 9 minutes into the 2nd half saw tensions boil over with the referee giving both teams a warning of a potential sin bin, which was disregarded less than 30 seconds later (in game time), resulting in a 10-minute sin bin of 1 player for both teams. In this case, Liam Martin (NSW), the instigator, who pushed Jaydn Su’A’s head & Patrick Carrigan (QLD), the 5th Queenslander to respond to Martin but the one most in sight of the referee & the only one who had a tight grip on Martin in response.

In the 53rd minute, Queensland’s Jeremiah Nanai managed to push through the NSW defence to score Queensland’s opening try. In the 2nd half, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow surprisingly returned to the field and 5 minutes after Nanai’s try, made his return count, hammering through the NSW defence to catch a 3rd tackle kick to dive near the goalposts to decrease Queensland’s deficit to a still distant 22 points.

To remind Queensland who is still winning, New South Welshmen, Dylan Edwards, on debut, shimmied for 10 metres in the 61st minute through the Queensland defence to score what was NSW’s final try for the night. An massive hole in NSW’s wing defence appeared 6 minutes later allowing Murray Taulagi to score a final consolation try for Queensland after NSW’s record-breaking 1st half. The remaining 12 minutes were uneventful, given NSW were going to be clear winners, though both sides never gave up in attempting to add tries to their scoresheet.

The final score was New South Wales 38-18 Queensland.

All successful conversions were kicked by Valentine Holmes for Queensland & Zac Lomax for New South Wales.

At the end of the match, Channel 9 celebrated the series being levelled by showing a drone shot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House with computer-generated blue fireworks exploding around the shot & a blue-tinted box appearing saying ‘NSW Levels The Series’ in blue.

Mitchell Moses was player of the match.

After the match, Queensland coach, Billy Slater, confirmed Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow had suffered an AC shoulder joint injury.

I think the whole dressing room in there is pretty disappointed, so it was a tough old first half, um. (loudly separates lips) It just felt like we were running uphill & we couldn’t stop the, the momentum of the game & um, you know, part of that is on us so you know, we’ll look at our game & work out what we need to adjust & what we need to go after & I think I do know is there’s another game in 3 weeks’ time.

I thought the first 8-9 minutes, it was a, (sharply inhales) a bit of a tussle & then New South Wales got a, (sharply inhales) a snowball of possession & ummm, (loudly separates lips), you know, we held them out for a few sets & and they broke & um, got a try & yeah, just sort of went downhill from there.

It’s a tough game to play. It’s a lot tougher when you’re tired so, um, like I said, it snowballed against the team & we just couldn’t stop it.

Yeah, I thought the 2nd half was quite good, um. (notably separates lips audibly) I’m not sure what the 2nd half score was but, um, I thought our actions, the way we started the 2nd half, we (sharply inhales) went after our footy a little bit more, um. We were a little bit more patient, uh. We weren’t looking for (sharply inhales) any shortcuts to, to draw back the scoreline, um, you know, so, yeah, it’s a positive in the 2nd half but um, yeah, yeah, there was too many things in that 1st half on our behalf that, you know, we didn’t do as well as we would have liked &, uhm, we all know that.

I think it was nearly 70-30 possession in that 1st half & you know, the scoreline, the scoreline reflected that so, um, any individuals’ its’ going to be hard for them so that, that’s where we are with that.

Queensland coach, Billy Slater

Yeah, I mean, uh, you know, making sure that I, um, credit the guys that have been in, you know, in the 1st campaign like you, you don’t know what could, could happen in that game obviously, um, but you know, Mitch has come in and he did what I believe he is capable of doing and I think what we all thought he was capable of doing. You know, he kicked well & I thought he’d jumped into the campaign straight up when he 1st walked in, uh. He was strong with the way he, he wanted to, uh, play the game but everyone just jumped on board and did their jobs. Um, I think all of them, & I mean, I mean not just Mitch but Dylan Edwards out the back, I thought he was excellent. He has just, just shown that he’s an Origin player and I said that from day 1 when I first picked him.

You know, Rome. He did his job but I thought, I thought someone like Payne Haas & Jake, they laid the platform so, you know, we’ll. They all just jumped in together & made sure that they played their part for the team which is something there they have spoken about as a group, you know & what they want to be able to achieve so we got to take that forward now.

New South Wales coach, Micheal Maguire

It is now all on the line in Game 3, which will be held at Brisbane’s Lang Park on Wednesday, July 17 at 8:05pm AEST & the deciding finale of an equalising 3-game Women’s State Of Origin series is on tomorrow (Thursday 27th June) at 7:45pm at North Queensland Stadium in Townsville.