New South Wales completed a dominant 34-10 victory over Queensland in the State of Origin series decider at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, securing their first series win since 2021 and ending the Maroons' three-year hold on the shield.
First Half Dominance Sets the Tone
The Blues raced to a 20-0 lead at halftime, with tries to James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, and Josh Addo-Carr putting the visitors firmly in control. Nathan Cleary converted two of the three tries and added a penalty goal to give NSW a commanding advantage.
Queensland struggled to contain the Blues' attacking structures, with NSW completing 92% of their sets in the first half compared to Queensland's 78%. The Maroons also conceded six penalties in the opening 40 minutes, disrupting any momentum they attempted to build.
Second Half Response Falls Short
Queensland came out with renewed energy after the break, with winger Xavier Coates scoring in the 47th minute to reduce the deficit to 20-6. However, the Blues responded quickly through a try to Liam Martin in the 55th minute, restoring the 20-point margin.
A late try to Queensland's Reece Walsh in the 72nd minute gave the home crowd brief hope, but NSW sealed the victory with a try to Brian To'o in the 78th minute, making the final score 34-10.
"It's an incredible feeling," said NSW captain James Tedesco after the match. "We knew what was at stake, and the boys delivered. The preparation all series was outstanding, and tonight everything clicked."
Statistical Breakdown
The Blues dominated key statistical categories, completing 91% of their sets overall (compared to 81% for Queensland), making 42 tackle breaks to Queensland's 28, and forcing 14 errors from the Maroons. Nathan Cleary was named man of the match, finishing with 14 points (one try, five goals) and 450 kicking metres.
Queensland coach Billy Slater acknowledged NSW's superiority. "They were too good tonight. We made too many errors and couldn't get into our rhythm. Credit to NSW, they deserved the series win."
Series Summary and Implications
The series win marks a significant achievement for NSW coach Brad Fittler, who had faced pressure after losing the previous two series. The Blues' victory also sets up a strong foundation for the upcoming international season, with several NSW players expected to feature in the Kangaroos squad for the end-of-year Tests.
For Queensland, the defeat ends a three-series winning streak and raises questions about the future of several veteran players. However, with young talents like Reece Walsh and Cameron Munster still in the squad, the Maroons are expected to remain competitive in 2027.
