Laurie Daley is suddenly just 80 minutes away from State of Origin redemption after kicking off his second coming as NSW coach in style.
Back at the Blues helm for the first time since 2017, Daley would have breathed a giant sigh of relief when Dylan Edwards crashed over in the 73rd minute to all but seal the 18-6 victory.
Zac Lomax, easily the best player on the field last night, dragged a Nathan Cleary kick in with his right hand and kept the ball alive for Connor Watson, who somehow squeezed the ball out for Edwards to cross.
A NSW victory in Perth in three weeks will hand Daley an Origin series victory, something he achieved just once from five attempts in his first spell in charge.
Daley did well to get as close as he did against some of the greatest Origin teams ever assembled. At some stage in the coming days, Daley will no doubt think about how much fairer some of those fights against the star-studded Maroons – including Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston – would have been had he been able to pick the likes of Cleary, Lomax, Isaah Yeo, Payne Haas and Stephen Crichton.
Lomax was phenomenal in attack and defence. His ability to pounce on a Cam Munster grubber and keep the ball in the field of play approaching the hour was just as vital as his two tries – and his effort in the lead-up to Edwards’ winner – given the Maroons were camped down the Blues’ end of the field.
Zac Lomax celebrates one of his two tries.Credit: Getty Images
Yeo was dynamite in the first half with some of his carries, while Crichton, who came into the game with a quad strain, reminded the 52,483 fans inside Suncorp Stadium why he is the best centre in the game.
Queensland threatened a comeback early in the second half when facing 12 NSW players. Brian To’o went to the sin bin on the final play of the game before the break when he tackled Xavier Coates in the air as he tried to catch a Daly Cherry-Evans kick. Few could argue with the penalty, but there will be healthy debate about whether To’o deserved a ten-minute timeout.
The Maroons kicked a penalty goal, then started fast in the second period, scoring a try through Coates after Jeremiah Nanai smashed the ball free from Latrell Mitchell. But they failed to hold the ball long enough to mount any serious pressure. To be fair, the Blues were also sloppy with their handling, and could have iced the game much earlier. The scoreline flattered the Queenslanders.
It was hardly an Origin classic, but it was an important win for Daley after taking over from Michael Maguire, who sealed a series win last year. He never looked comfortable whenever th TV cameras captured him in the box. The odds are now in the Blues’ favour to go back to back.
Liam Martin celebrates with Dylan Edwards after the fullback’s late try all but sealed victory for NSW.Credit: Getty Images
It is hard to imagine seeing the Maroons closing the gap in such a short amount of time. The last two Origin games in Western Australia have resulted in a combined 82-18 scoreline in favour of the Blues. Even if they do square the series at Optus Stadium, Queensland will then need to win in Sydney to complete the comeback.
The Blues had nearly 60 per cent of the ball and could have led by more had Cleary’s right boot been working as normal. Cleary appeared to be a club length short all night with his kicks, and was sacked from goalkicking duties after booting just one from four. A late field-goal attempt also sailed wide.
NSW were gifted easy metres early on the back of a couple of Queensland penalties. Lomax was proving all sorts of trouble with some tough carries, while Yeo was just as difficult to bring down with each inspirational carry.
Cleary slotted an easy penalty goal from in front after ten minutes, before Lomax crossed for the first four-pointer midway through the half.
Angus Crichton and Mitchell Moses had combined well to make a break down the left, then the Blues spread the ball to the other side of the field, with Crichton stepping back inside Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, accelerating towards three Maroons defenders and throwing the final pass for Lomax.
Five minutes later, NSW were over again in the opposite corner through To’o who caught an incredible lightning pass from Latrell Mitchell.
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