Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow completed his hat-trick right at the end of the Maroons’ romp at Accor Stadium, but the result of game one was decided long before that.
Before the seventh minute of what may be the most dramatic seventh State of Origin minute to date, NSW’s series-opening implosion might have been traced back to the moment Nicho Hynes overdid a grubber to award Queensland a seven-tackle set.Jeremiah Nanai was hauled down on the fifth, and then Daly Cherry-Evans, off a quick play-the-ball, darted from dummy half inside, lifted his eyes and offloaded to Ben Hunt for the opening try.
And just like that, the $5 million rugby-bound 20-year-old became the first Origin debutant to be sent off in the contest’s 42-year history. Overall, he is the sixth player, and the single biggest nightmare for the other notable debutant at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night: Michael Maguire. The foundations of Madge’s first Origin squad were built for victory by stealth, not romance. By execution of a plan, not magic.
Meanwhile, Slater looked as if he was literally making magic, walking out of his coaching box and down to the sideline to mutter incantations to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, before walking straight back up to his box. The stand-in fullback duly pulled on his invisibility cloak and went wandering – a supernatural ninja of deception who scored twice before the break.The stands fell silent, which was quite something given the jaunty pre-match atmosphere.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘The scars stick’: How Hynes can rewrite Blues failure amid daunting three-week ‘Origin audition’NRL: The NRL 360 panel discuss whether Nicho Hynes will get picked for the NSW State of Origin halves as he faces his biggest audition this weekend against the melbourne Storm.
Read more »
Young gun half snubbed as two debutants named in Blues team for Women’s Origin openerNRL: The NRL 360 panel discuss whether Nicho Hynes will get picked for the NSW State of Origin halves as he faces his biggest audition this weekend against the melbourne Storm.
Read more »
Nathan Cleary set to miss Blues' State of Origin campaign after tearing hamstringNSW is expected to be without Nathan Cleary for the entire State of Origin series after scans revealed the extent of his hamstring injury.
Read more »
Retired Blues star makes Origin call amid NSW injury crisisNRL: Braith Anasta runs through his game one side for the New South Wales Blues on NRL 360.
Read more »
Maroons and Sky Blues fit for historic occasion in Women’s State of OriginQueensland and NSW can both enter three-match series with high hopes as the game builds on a tense but unsatisfying finish last year
Read more »
Latrell truth Blues can’t ignore; Madge’s huge halves gamble: NSW Origin State of PlayNRL: Braith Anasta runs through his game one side for the New South Wales Blues on NRL 360.
Read more »