Using some alternative coaching methods, first-year coach Brad Fittler guided NSW to a rare series win. We'll soon learn if it was a one-off or the start of a new Origin dynasty.
Result: NSW 2, Queensland 1
Series summary:
Laurie Daley will forever be the man that snapped Queensland's eight long years of dominance, but he also lost four of his five series at the helm including three straight from 2015-17, meaning he was replaced by another of the Blues' playing greats in Brad Fittler for 2018.
Success: Brad Fittler's alternative approach paid dividends for the Blues in 2018.Credit:AAP
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Galvanising his side with a mixture of tactics, togetherness and alternative methods – meditation and 'earthing' among them – NSW took game one in a powerhouse display at the MCG, led by the likes of James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr.
In a slugfest at ANZ Stadium next up, the Blues scraped home 18-14 in an epic battle to celebrate a rare series triumph, before the Maroons avoided a sweep with the help of NFL-bound Valentine Holmes, who scored 14 of Queensland's 18 points in another tight game.
Game two also witnessed the Origin arrival of a young Kalyn Ponga onto the Queensland bench, a player both Billy Slater and Mitchell Pearce believe will have a big say in this year's series.
There was also controversy after game three, when Billy Slater was named man of the series, despite only playing two games in a losing cause. It has since led to a change in the voting format, as the Herald's Adam Pengilly reported this week.
Remember this?
Needing to win game two to stay alive in the series, Queensland got off to a great start at ANZ Stadium, taking the early control through tries to Holmes and Dane Gagai.
Addo-Carr pulled one back for the Blues before one of the bigger decisions made by the NRL's Bunker, when Ben Hunt obstructed Boyd Cordner, who seemingly had a clear run to collect a James Maloney kick and cross the try line untouched.
More from this series:
A penalty try was awarded and Maloney's conversion gave NSW a 12-10 lead and the momentum heading into the second half.
There was only one try apiece in the second stanza and Maloney's boot, nailing all three of his conversions, proved the difference, with Holmes only converting one of three.
In the 69th minute, James Roberts was sin-binned for a professional foul on Gavin Cooper 10 metres from the Queensland tryline, but the Blues defended mightily and held on to secure the shield for just the second time in 13 years.
Memorable quote:
"It should be a penalty try. It should be sin bin and it should be a penalty try. He was easily going to get there." Phil Gould picked the Boyd Cordner infringement and made the correct call right as it happened.
Valentine Holmes had some moments of magic during the series.Credit:AAP
Queensland fans make themselves heard, although they tasted a rare series defeat.Credit:AAP
Cordner and the shield at a special reception at The Star in Sydney.Credit:AAP
Series breakdown:
Game I: NSW 22 Queensland 12, MCG, Melbourne
New South Wales: James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Latrell Mitchell, James Roberts, Josh Addo-Carr, James Maloney, Nathan Cleary, David Klemmer, Damien Cook, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Boyd Cordner (c), Tyson Frizell, Jack de Belin. Replacements: Paul Vaughan, Jake Trbojevic, Angus Crichton, Tyrone Peachey.
Queensland: Michael Morgan, Valentine HolmRead More – Source
Using some alternative coaching methods, first-year coach Brad Fittler guided NSW to a rare series win. We'll soon learn if it was a one-off or the start of a new Origin dynasty.
Result: NSW 2, Queensland 1
Series summary:
Laurie Daley will forever be the man that snapped Queensland's eight long years of dominance, but he also lost four of his five series at the helm including three straight from 2015-17, meaning he was replaced by another of the Blues' playing greats in Brad Fittler for 2018.
Success: Brad Fittler's alternative approach paid dividends for the Blues in 2018.Credit:AAP
Advertisement
Galvanising his side with a mixture of tactics, togetherness and alternative methods – meditation and 'earthing' among them – NSW took game one in a powerhouse display at the MCG, led by the likes of James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr.
In a slugfest at ANZ Stadium next up, the Blues scraped home 18-14 in an epic battle to celebrate a rare series triumph, before the Maroons avoided a sweep with the help of NFL-bound Valentine Holmes, who scored 14 of Queensland's 18 points in another tight game.
Game two also witnessed the Origin arrival of a young Kalyn Ponga onto the Queensland bench, a player both Billy Slater and Mitchell Pearce believe will have a big say in this year's series.
There was also controversy after game three, when Billy Slater was named man of the series, despite only playing two games in a losing cause. It has since led to a change in the voting format, as the Herald's Adam Pengilly reported this week.
Remember this?
Needing to win game two to stay alive in the series, Queensland got off to a great start at ANZ Stadium, taking the early control through tries to Holmes and Dane Gagai.
Addo-Carr pulled one back for the Blues before one of the bigger decisions made by the NRL's Bunker, when Ben Hunt obstructed Boyd Cordner, who seemingly had a clear run to collect a James Maloney kick and cross the try line untouched.
More from this series:
A penalty try was awarded and Maloney's conversion gave NSW a 12-10 lead and the momentum heading into the second half.
There was only one try apiece in the second stanza and Maloney's boot, nailing all three of his conversions, proved the difference, with Holmes only converting one of three.
In the 69th minute, James Roberts was sin-binned for a professional foul on Gavin Cooper 10 metres from the Queensland tryline, but the Blues defended mightily and held on to secure the shield for just the second time in 13 years.
Memorable quote:
"It should be a penalty try. It should be sin bin and it should be a penalty try. He was easily going to get there." Phil Gould picked the Boyd Cordner infringement and made the correct call right as it happened.
Valentine Holmes had some moments of magic during the series.Credit:AAP
Queensland fans make themselves heard, although they tasted a rare series defeat.Credit:AAP
Cordner and the shield at a special reception at The Star in Sydney.Credit:AAP
Series breakdown:
Game I: NSW 22 Queensland 12, MCG, Melbourne
New South Wales: James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Latrell Mitchell, James Roberts, Josh Addo-Carr, James Maloney, Nathan Cleary, David Klemmer, Damien Cook, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Boyd Cordner (c), Tyson Frizell, Jack de Belin. Replacements: Paul Vaughan, Jake Trbojevic, Angus Crichton, Tyrone Peachey.
Queensland: Michael Morgan, Valentine HolmRead More – Source
