QUEENSLAND’s Kalyn Ponga pointed to an apparently cut ear to indicate referee Ashley Klein was wrong to send him off for a shoulder charge in Origin I.
The Blues – down 20-0 at one stage – subsequently scored a 22-20 win on the back of James Tedesco fielding Nathan Cleary’s bomb and plunging over with two minutes left. Cleary’s conversion with five seconds left secured the greatest comeback in Origin history.
At the time Ponga was pointed to the Accor Stadium dressing rooms for his challenge on New South Wales winger Tolutau Koula midway through the second half, the Maroons were cruising at 20-6 up.
“It’s a shoulder charge – direct contact to the head,” Klein said. “I’ve got a duty of care, you’re off!”
As Klein was delivering that message, Newcastle’s Ponga – the seventh player dismissed in Origin – pointed to blood dripping from his left air, arguing it had been a head clash as he came across in cover as Manly’s Koula was making a break down the right flank.
The Blues made a couple of errors in their own territory during the opening exchanges and were made to pay, Queensland leading 18-0 after 18 minutes.
First Sam Walker grubbered for Robert Toia (9 minutes), then Harry Smith’s brilliant flick pass gave Thomas Flegler at touchdown (13) and finally another grubber served a try on a plate for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
The Maroons added a penalty goal but a big hit by Ethan Strange on Cameron Munster seemed to move the needle back in the home side’s favour.
It was Nathan Cleary who kicked for Hudson Young to post the Blues’ first try with 13 minutes left in the first half, duly converted by Cleary.
The score stayed at 20-6 for halftime, halfback Cleary missing with a long-range field goal attempt on the bell.
The Maroons continued to punish their rivals iun defence when play resumed and the Blues continued to fumble their way through the match, with Queensland eschewing a shot at penalty from in front.
After the dismissal of Ponga, Strange posted what he thought was a try but it was chalked off due to Haumole Olalau’atu taking out defender Grant running a decoy line.
But Canberra’s Strange got his try anyway after Koula’s replacement Casey McLean brilliantly fielded a bomb in his own quarter and Stephen Crichton made a break up the left.
Olakau’atu fumbled with the line open as the rain poured down with 16 minutes left but after one of the contest’s few six-agains, Penrith’s Cleary sliced over adjactent to the posts with eight to go.
The try was preceded by a booming 40-20 from Cleary – but the Blues had seven consecutive sets and could not clinch the contest.
NEW SOUTH WALES 22 (Young Strange Cleary Tedesco tries Cleary 3 goals) beat QUEENSLAND 20 (Toia Flegler Tabuai-Fidow tries Walker 4 goals) bt  at Accor Stadium. Crowd: 78,000.
Teams:
NEW SOUTH WALES: James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters); Brian To’o (Penrith Pantherd), Stephen Crichton (Canterbury), Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane), Tolutau Koula (Manly); Ethan Strange (Canberra), Nathan Cleary (Penrith); Addin Fonua-Blake (Cronulla), Mitch Barnett (Warriors), Hudson Young (Canberra), Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly), Isaah Yeo (capt, Penrith). Reserves: To be finalised.
QUEENSLAND: Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle); Selwyn Cobbo (Dolphins), Robert Toia (Sydney Roosters), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Joji Fifita (Gold Coast); Cameron Munster (capt, Melbourne), Sam Walker (Sydney Roosters);Tom Flegler (Dolphins), Harry Grant (Melbourne), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Gold Coast), Reuben Cotter (North Queensland), Kurt Capewell (Warriors), Max Plath (Dolphins). Reserves: To be finalised.
Referee: Ashley Klein
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