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State of Origin
"That's what a League fight in 2024 looks like"
Game 3 of the 2024 State of Origin series decider at Suncorp Stadium was one of the meanest games of footy I’d watched in a long time.
by Simon Amani I 19th July 2024
The NSW Blues along with former Kiwis coach Madge Macquire got to have their ata i le noospepa (photo in the newspaper) holding up the shield while the brave QLD Maroons will have meetings while their coach Billy Slater faces media questions in an ankry can’t handle tone. NSW Blues won the decider 14 – 4 after losing game 1 in Sydney than kasali-ing The Maroons in Game 2 at Melbourne.
Seriously man, that first half was all action with blokes running off the back fence and more hits than Mariah Carey in the 90s. QLD led 2-0 at halftime. A huge upper hand for QLD at the break as NSW dominated possession and territory with the Maroons defending like their life depended on it. Lil Tommy Dearden stood out with some big hits on the edges. Coach Slater tried a last-minute switcheroo with Mo Fotuaika and Felise Kaufusi starting, with Lindasy Collins and Jeremiah Nanai to the bench. Not sure if that was the right call as the Maroons struggled with the ball in the middle. Slater had a few bots selection calls this series, especially leaving David Fifita out for Capewell and Kaufusi.
But the night belonged to NSW as their back 3 of Brian To’o, Zac Lomax and man of the match Dylan Edwards jus carved up the kick return meters which along with Mitchel Moses’ boot just strangled QLD down their own end all night. NSW’s defense was solid and QLD with all their strike out wide could not cross the line.
Second half both teams still traded blows Over the top styles arm wrestling and even with NSW dominating the stats it was QLD leading 4-2 until the 64 th minute when the man himself, NSW #6 Jarome Luai stood up and broke the game open by carving up on the left edge following an offload by ‘Wally Lewis man of the series winner’, Angus Crichton that went to ground. The ball got to Luai step, step, burn Jeremiah Nanai on the outside and ran 30 meters to hit Bradman best on the chest to score in the corner. Couple minutes later Moses scored to put the icing on the keke and that’s all she wrote. Game over, Malo NSW. Deserved winners.
There was a bit of an eatarse fight in the first half where both teams were grabbing jerseys and ended up near the sidelines resulting in Cameron Murray and Jeremiah Nanai being sin binned. Special mention to Haumole Olakuatu for stepping in for his teammates wearing his number ones. Anyways that’s what a League fight in 2024 looks like. Well done New Souf in ya Mouf, Bring on 2025. Up the TOA!!