2026 NRL – State of Origin, Game 3: The Decider – Laurie Daley’s Blues finally put it all together.

 

 

 

In my preview earlier today, I said that I felt an ambush coming – I was right about that even though my heart told me to tip Queensland

 

The NSW Blues were deserved winners of the Decider at Lang Park with a dominant 30-12 scoreline reflecting the flow of play. At last, in third game of the series, the Blues showed what they can do if they pick the right team and use their bench to maximum benefit. It wasn’t pretty but it was very effective. The Maroons did themselves no favours with numerous handling errors and a lack of structure to their play. They just weren’t able to handle the pressure of both the occasion and the marauding nature of the Blues’ assault.

 

The Maroons dominated the first few minutes of play but couldn’t turn it into points. Once NSW settled and got their share of the ball and field position, they created several scoring opportunities and took most of them. Cleary finally put together a full Origin game and will probably be cast as the star, which will be largely deserved as he was as effective in defence as he was in attack. Two tries and an assist as well as five goals is a pretty fair effort. Playing off the back of a dominant forward pack helps too. He was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series, probably correctly as the other two contenders, Walker and Cobbo, had poor nights. But spare me any suggestions that he dominated the series and is now set for immortality. One really good game, 20 minutes of another (against 12 men), and an absolute stinker in the other hardly says ‘domination’.

 

The NSW forwards played as a group without anyone particularly standing out, Martin excepted perhaps. There was just no way through the middle against them, they ran the ball up strongly and they defended brutally in concert. On such a platform many games are won and tonight was no exception.

 

I thought a few of the recalled Blues made a real difference. Martin, whose club form has been ordinary, was all energy, toughness and intent; Best is a true Origin player with speed, skills, defensive capability and nous; Crichton made a few errors but was full of menace and purpose. Newcomer Bostock made an error or two but otherwise looked at home at this level; Brailey added speed around the ruck and defended well.

 

But most of all I feel happy for Laurie Daley, one of the good guys of footy. He’s endured so much criticism over the years. He’ll depart as an Origin coach with a losing record but on a high after claiming a series decider at Lang Park. The relief on his face at full time said it all. You’ve earned a break, Laurie!

 

For the losers, well, as effective as NSW may have been, the Maroons let themselves down badly with too many handling errors, often at the wrong end of the field. They didn’t gel as a unit and, in my humble opinion, missed Lindsay Collins badly. Why wasn’t Carrigan used? Ponga tried hard but was well covered; Cotter and Toia never gave up but it wasn’t their night. Munster almost tried too hard and Grant was unusually subdued. Billy Slater will be very disappointed by this effort but it may challenge him to do another handshake deal and front up again next year.

 

Referee Klein probably pleased no-one but I thought he had a fair game. Perhaps he (and the Bunker) missed a shoulder charge against NSW, not unlike the one that saw him send Ponga off in Game 1, and did Bostock get a finger to the ball in the lead-up too Best’s game-breaking try? It doesn’t matter because the better team on the night won.

 

So, what do we make of the series as a whole? One comprehensive win each and the other decided by a controversial send off. The series could easily have gone either way. But such is the way of sport in general and Origin in particular.

 

We’ll all be back next year when hostilities resume.

 

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Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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