History-making Blues believe only send-off denied them clean sweep

NSW players and coaching staff believe they could have created further history by winning an Origin clean sweep if Joseph Sua’ali’i hadn’t been sent off in the series opener.

The Blues lost the opening match 38-10 after Sua’ali’i’s 8th minute dismissal but dominated 38-18 in Melbourne and triumphed 14-4 in an Origin classic to become just the first NSW team to win a series decider at Suncorp Stadium since 2005.

However, after allowing the Maroons to score just one try in the series against 13 men after Sua’ali’i’s send-off, the Blues believe they could have won all three matches – a feat last achieved by NSW in 2000.

“Game One didn't go the way we wanted, but I think basically because we had 12 men was the only reason that we didn't get the win,” hooker Reece Robson said.

“To wrap it up in the next two games was unreal but it’s hard to say what would have happened [if the Blues had 13 players in Origin I].

“I was definitely really confident going into that first game, as much as I was for Game Two and Game Three.

“It's the way the game went, we got one sent off, so we didn’t win that game, but we stayed in there for a fair part of the game, and we took a lot of confidence out of playing that game with 12 men.”

After scoring an early try in Origin I, Queensland’s only try when NSW had 13 players on the field came in the 69th minute of Game Two at the MCG as their other two tries were scored when Liam Martin was in the sinbin.

The Blues defence was so good in the series decider that the Maroons opted to kick two penalty goals, which were their only points of the match.

“That’s Origin, we knew it was going to be a tough forward battle, but we knew that physically we were on top,” Blues second-rower and Wally Lewis Medallist Angus Crichton said.

“We knew the opportunities would come but we had to stay patient, keep grinding and execute when we got the chance.”

NSW captain Jake Trbojevic, who joins Danny Buderus (2005) and Laurie Daley (1994) as the only players to lead the Blues to victory in a series decider at Suncorp Stadium, said the achievement was the highlight of his career.

“To keep a Queensland side with this much strike to no tries is just incredible,” Trbojevic said.   

“Everyone just put so much hard work into this whole campaign and the way they went after the game was so impressive. Defensively they were just outstanding.

“I’m really proud to be a part of this great side and to be captain of the team.”

Trbojevic only played the opening 24-minutes, but Blues coach Michael Maguire said the work he did behind the scenes and his popularity among team-mates was why the Manly prop had been chosen as captain.

It was just one of the selection masterstrokes Maguire made during the series, including the decision to choose fullback Dylan Edwards – the man-of-the-match in Origin III – in place of long serving NSW captain James Tedesco.

Winger Zac Lomax’s aerial feats and goalkicking had a significant impact in all three games, while centre Bradman Best scored the winning try after being nursed through a hamstring strain that had medical staff concerned when he made an early break.

“There’s nothing quite like it in the game, winning a grand final is the only thing that probably compares to it,” Robson said.

“It is one thing to play for your state but to win a series and to have success is a whole other beast. To do it at their ground is something you dream of as a kid.

“We spoke about how it’s only happened twice before and we knew we could do it, we just needed to stick to what we talked about all series.

“Madge picked a great side that was going to work hard and be there in the 80th minute and that is exactly what happened.

“As a NSW guy who grew up during the Queensland dynasty it is all the more sweeter being able to bring the shield back to NSW.”