BRISBANE- - It's taken almost 20 years but a rampant New South Wales last night finally squared the State of Origin ledger with Queensland, scoring a powerful 28-10 victory to secure their ninth series.
Queensland went into the match holding a 9-8 series edge in Origin contests since 1982, but the
Blues levelled that at 9-9 and surprisingly now boast a dominant 7-3 record in Brisbane since 1993.
The record 18-point victory finished with intercept specialist Ryan Girdler plucking the ball from the sky and putting winger Adam MacDougall away before backing up to score himself and cap a magnificent match.
The Maroons gave their 41,000 fans false hope by leading 4-0 at halftime after two Mat Rogers' penalties, and then had a 10-6 margin early in the second half after Gorden Tallis bullocked across the Blues' tryline.
But from that point on it was all New South Wales as the Blues piled on try after try at such a rate the Suncorp Stadium scoreboard operator had trouble keeping up.
Robust Blues centre Shaun Timmins triggered a New South Wales scoring blitz, scoring a flukey but skillful try in the 61st minute when his chip kick hit the outstretched hand of Queensland fullback Darren Lockyer and bounced back into his arms.
Girdler's conversion put New South Wales into the lead for the first time, 12-10, and two minutes later Blues rookie Scott Hill broke the Maroons' spirit by sailing across the line after some superb lead-up work by team-mates Tim Brasher, Brad Fittler and the final pass from Andrew Johns.
Girdler's radar boot stretched the margin to 18-10.
Any chance of Queensland pulling out one of their trademark comebacks was thwarted by the brilliance of Johns and man-of-the-match Brasher who set up a try for David Furner in the corner.
Girdler banged over a difficult conversion with ease and the battle was over at 24-10 with 15 minutes remaining.
Referee Bill Harrigan, booed on to the field on his 40th birthday, made a couple of errors but the Maroons could hardly blame him for the five-tries-to-one defeat.
New South Wales 28 (B. Fittler, S. Timmins, S. Hill, D. Furner, R Girdler tries; R Girdler 4 goals) Queensland 10 (G. Tallis try; M Rogers 3 goals). Halftime: 0-4.
