New South Wales half-back Brett Finch capped a remarkable week to slot a 79th minute field goal and deliver his side a thrilling 17-16 win in the State of Origin series opener at Sydney's Olympic stadium last night.
In a situation eerily similar to Shaun Timmins' field goal heroics to
win the opening game of the 2004 series, Finch, who was only called into the side on match eve when Craig Gower withdrew through injury, slotted a superb one-pointer from 35 metres out to give the Blues a 1-0 lead in the series.
"It sounded good off the boot, I looked up and it was drifting left a bit but it straightened up and lucky for me it went over," Finch told media.
"It was a magnificent feeling, a great opportunity. I was lucky to get one a couple of years ago and I didn't think I'd get another opportunity so if I have to finish like that, I'll be a happy man."
Playing in front of a home crowd of over 72,000, the Blues scored just three points in the second half as Queensland mounted their challenge, but it was enough to ensure victory in a typically tight Origin match.
Queensland escaped unscathed in the injury department but Blues lock Luke O'Donnell did not see any second half action after dislocating his thumb.
Schoolboy mistakes and some brittle defence from the Maroons allowed the Blues to take a comfortable 14-0 lead into half-time.
Two of the Blues' tries came directly from Queensland mistakes, while the third - a barnstorming effort from man-of-the-match Willie Mason - was a result of some soft defence inside the 20-metre zone.
Queensland's first mistake of the game was a costly one - Broncos centre Brent Tate dropped a regulation pass with his side on the attack 10 metres out, only to see Mark Gasnier swoop on the spilt ball and start a length of the field movement which culminated in Finch crossing out wide.
Minutes later, Origin rookie Greg Inglis knocked on from a Finch high ball to hand New South Wales possession.
From the ensuing set of six, the Blues crossed for their second try from a frighteningly simple backline movement that exposed the Maroons defensive shortcomings, Matt King diving over on the right wing after Queensland were caught a defender short out wide.
Things went from bad to worse for the Maroons when Darren Lockyer put the re-start out on the full, handing New South Wales possession 30 metres out from the try line.
But while they failed to score from the following set, the Blues continued their superb start to the game in the 23rd minute when Willie Mason received a neat ball from Finch and barged over the top of three Maroons defenders with a rampaging run from 25 metres out.
Queensland and Inglis suffered the worst possible start to the second half - the young Storm back inexplicably dropping the ball inside two minutes with not a Blues defender in sight as he returned the ball.
The crowd had to wait until the 51st minute for the obligatory Origin fisticuffs - this time it was Eric Grothe and Justin Hodges squaring off - with the resulting penalty leading to the Maroons' first try.
On the attack 20 metres out, Lockyer delivered a low cut-out ball at the boots of Inglis, who reached down and showed great pace and strength to plant the ball in the corner. Thurston then slotted the difficult conversion to put the score at 14-6.
After some torrid play from both sides, the Blues were the next to score in the 64th minute through a penalty goal to Hodgson which extended the lead to 10 points.
The home side looked to have put the game beyond doubt just minutes later when Gasnier leapt high and offloaded for King to cross in the corner, but replays showed the Melbourne centre had lost control of the ball after a late challenge from Inglis.
As had been the trend all match it was another mistake which led to the next try, but this time it was the Maroons who were the beneficiaries.
With just nine minutes left on the clock, Lockyer put through a chip on the fifth tackle, regathered after Hodgson made a meal of the clean-up and then offloaded a pass to Inglis for his second try of the match. Thurston was unable to convert and the margin was six points.
With time on their side, the Blues only had to play possession football to take a 1-0 lead in the series, but a brain explosion from Blues skipper Danny Buderus let Queensland back into the game.
With his side taking the ball out from the try line, Buderus threw a punch at Queensland lock Dallas Johnson. Referee Sean Hampstead blew a penalty to the Maroons, and a well-worked backline play saw Steven Bell cross in the corner.
With just three minutes remaining, Thurston slotted the sideline conversion to level the scores and likely send the match to extra time.
But Finch had other ideas, and stepped up to seal a memorable win.
- RADIO AUSTRALIA
New South Wales halfback Brett Finch (right) is congratulated by Steve Menzies after Finch sealed the victory for his side last night. Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
New South Wales half-back Brett Finch capped a remarkable week to slot a 79th minute field goal and deliver his side a thrilling 17-16 win in the State of Origin series opener at Sydney's Olympic stadium last night.
In a situation eerily similar to Shaun Timmins' field goal heroics to
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