The XXXX Queensland Maroons tonight won an eighth-straight State of Origin series after holding off a gallant New South Wales Blues 12-10 in an epic match at Sydneys ANZ Stadium.
After losing the opening match of the 2013 series, the Maroons were forced to call on all of their reserves to extend their remarkable sequence of victories in arguably the toughest sporting arena in world sport.
They did it with a dominant win at home in Brisbane, before edging out the Blues in tonights gripping finale in front of more than 80,000 fans.
Im just very proud of these guys here, beamed Maroons skipper Cameron Smith, who received the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series.
Were fortunate to be involved with some wonderful players at this point in time. And weve got some great coaches with Mal and Hages.
Queensland took an 8-4 lead into the half-time break, with all of the Maroons points coming from five-eighth Johnathan Thurston.
The Cowboys half scored a miraculous solo try to open the scoring when he stepped back on the inside and bamboozled the Blues with his nifty footwork.
He landed the conversion and added a further two points from a penalty goal soon after to give the Maroons a handy buffer.
But from that point the Maroons were forced to defend their own line as the Blues launched numerous raids.
The pressure eventually told when Blues winger James McManus grabbed an opportunity close to the line.
There was nothing in the second half, but Queensland found the try-line first through centre Justin Hodges.
NSW set up a grandstand finish when Trent Merrin scored under the posts after the home team earned a repeat set of six.
But the Blues couldnt land the knock-out blow as the Maroons kept their composure in a nerve-racking finish.
XXXX QUEENSLAND MAROONS 12 (Johnathan Thurston, Justin Hodges tries; Johnathan Thurston 2 goals) def NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES 10 (James McManus, Trent Merrin tries; James Maloney goal) at ANZ Stadium
Half-time: Queensland Maroons 8-4
Wally Lewis Medal: Cameron Smith
After losing the opening match of the 2013 series, the Maroons were forced to call on all of their reserves to extend their remarkable sequence of victories in arguably the toughest sporting arena in world sport.
They did it with a dominant win at home in Brisbane, before edging out the Blues in tonights gripping finale in front of more than 80,000 fans.
Im just very proud of these guys here, beamed Maroons skipper Cameron Smith, who received the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series.
Were fortunate to be involved with some wonderful players at this point in time. And weve got some great coaches with Mal and Hages.
Queensland took an 8-4 lead into the half-time break, with all of the Maroons points coming from five-eighth Johnathan Thurston.
The Cowboys half scored a miraculous solo try to open the scoring when he stepped back on the inside and bamboozled the Blues with his nifty footwork.
He landed the conversion and added a further two points from a penalty goal soon after to give the Maroons a handy buffer.
But from that point the Maroons were forced to defend their own line as the Blues launched numerous raids.
The pressure eventually told when Blues winger James McManus grabbed an opportunity close to the line.
There was nothing in the second half, but Queensland found the try-line first through centre Justin Hodges.
NSW set up a grandstand finish when Trent Merrin scored under the posts after the home team earned a repeat set of six.
But the Blues couldnt land the knock-out blow as the Maroons kept their composure in a nerve-racking finish.
XXXX QUEENSLAND MAROONS 12 (Johnathan Thurston, Justin Hodges tries; Johnathan Thurston 2 goals) def NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES 10 (James McManus, Trent Merrin tries; James Maloney goal) at ANZ Stadium
Half-time: Queensland Maroons 8-4
Wally Lewis Medal: Cameron Smith
