Queensland have defeated NSW 24-12 to win the State of Origin decider and clinch an improbable series victory that very few saw coming.
Galvanised by Cameron Munster’s brave decision to play days after his dad’s passing, the Maroons defied the odds to blow NSW off their home ground in Sydney in a blistering first half.
Queensland looked no chance of winning the shield after losing Game 1 and an unconvincing win in Game 2, but the Maroons once again proved they thrive as underdogs.
Billy Slater slammed the glass in the coaches box as he claimed a third Origin shield in four years, proving he has the magic touch.
His selections proved a masterstroke, with Tom Dearden named man of the match after replacing Daly Cherry-Evans. Dearden was also named the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series.
It is arguably Slater and Munster’s most impressive victory for Queensland, and it will go down as a Maroons masterpiece.
Cameron Smith said on Channel 9: “I’d rate this up there with the 95 series, Fatty’s team, and the 2020 series where the Queensland team was spoken about as the worst team ever assembled.”
But it is back to the drawing board for NSW coach Laurie Daley and Nathan Cleary, who didn’t fire a shot in attack, as you can read below.
[Source: news.com.au]
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