Brad Fittler and Nathan Cleary make no excuses for Blues’ ‘disappointing’ Origin decider loss

A dejected Brad Fittler and Nathan Cleary conceded New South Wales only had themselves to blame for losing an epic State of Origin decider on Wednesday night.

The overwhelming favourites heading into the third instalment of the interstate series, the Blues came unstuck in a decider at Suncorp Stadium yet again – the 11th in 13 occasions they have lost at Lang Park with the series on the line.

Shellacked 44-12 in Game 2, Queensland were without star five-eight Cameron Munster and winger Murray Taulagi because of Covid-19. They lost Selwyn Cobbo and Lindsay Collins to head injuries within ten minutes and trailed 12-6 halfway through the first half.

None of it mattered as the Maroons, as they have done time and again, embraced the role of the underdogs and defied odds to seal a bonafide Origin classic and claim a second series in three years. 

‘It’s pretty disappointing,’ Blues halfback Nathan Cleary said after the game.

‘We came here knowing it would be tough. It sucks. But we’ve just got to take it.

‘We were just in our own end the whole second half. We made a few too many mistakes, you just can’t do that in Origin games and you pay for it.’

The man of the match in the Blues’ triumph in Perth in Game 2, Cleary struggled in Brisbane

The New South Wales halfback struggled to dictate the tempo as he had done three weeks ago

Ben Hunt (far left) scored the crucial try as Queensland pulled off an epic win on Wednesday

Near-perfect in Game 2, Cleary was far more subdued at Suncorp Stadium. He converted the Blues’ two tries but could not dictate the tempo of the game as he had done three weeks ago in Perth.

To make matters worse, his last-ditch chip kick attempt was intercepted by Ben Hunt, with the Queensland hooker running the length of the field to seal the win for the Maroons.

Ahead of the game, James Tedesco insisted New South Wales would relish the pressure of being the favourites, but they buckled instead completing just over 70 percent of their sets in the second half.

The Blues skipper conceded New South Wales had ‘killed themselves’, while Brad Fittler urged his players to use the defeat as motivation to come back stronger next year.

Tom Dearden impressed on his Origin debut for the Maroons as he replaced Cameron Munster

While Kalyn Ponga capped a sensational display with his first Origin try in the second half

‘It’s just disappointing,’ the Blues coach said.

‘Blokes have worked so hard for so long with their club footy, they’ve trained hard and given things up and [made] sacrifices, and you lose. It hurts.

‘Normally that’s what makes people strive harder. We need to strive harder and be better.’

Unsurprisingly, the mood was completely different in the Queensland camp where Patrick Carrigan capped a phenomenal Origin debut by claiming the Wally Lewis Medal reserved for the man of the series.

The Brisbane forward ended the match with 130 running metres and 45 tackles to his name in another barnstorming display after making a big impact off the bench in the 16-10 win in Game 1 in Sydney.

Blues skipper James Tedesco said New South Wales had ‘killed themselves’

While Maroons workhorse Patrick Carrigan won the Wally Lewis medal for his efforts 

‘I don’t know what to say,’ he said on stage during the presentation. 

‘I just want to say a big thanks to the Queenslanders who came out tonight, as well you Blues fans this game wouldn’t be what it is without you fans,’ he says.

‘The Blues boys, it was a tough series and the first five minutes really showed what it was about. I think the two fullbacks of both sides – probably one of them should be wearing this.

‘It was a tough series and the first five minutes really showed what it was about.’