Eight in a row for the Maroons

Queensland has made it a record eight State of Origin series in a row.

Eight in a row for the MaroonsEight in a row for the Maroons

Eight in a row for the Maroons

It was already one of the longest winning streaks in Australian sport and Queensland has now made it a record eight State of Origin series in a row.

 

The Maroons' victory over New South Wales in a tight 12-10 contest at ANZ stadium in Sydney gives them a record that may never be beaten.

 

Murray Silby reports.

 

"Queensland have won their eighth consecutive series. It is a wonderful Australian sports achievement. The champions prevail, the dynasty continues, the maroon of Queensland, and they celebrate across the northern state, they celebrate across Australia the Queensland supporters."

 

Channel Nine's coverage signs off on another rugby league State of Origin series that continues to see Queensland's annual rewrite of the record books.

 

In a game which stood on a knife edge for much of the contest, the Maroons jumped out of the gates quickest when Johnathan Thurston ducked around the Blues defence to dive over the line next to the posts before a game three record crowd of 83,813.

 

Forced to defend for large periods of the game, Queensland refused to let its crown go and a try to Justin Hodges just after the hour mark put the visitors on the brink of victory.

 

The match looked Queensland's for the taking, leading 12 points to four after 70 minutes, but then a converted try to New South Wales' Trent Merrin in the 71st minute pushed the Blues to within two points of the Maroons.

 

"Pearce, Cordner, Merrin, Merrin has broken free, he's over, under the bar, Merrin has scored. // And that's the result they needed."

 

But that was to be as close as New South Wales would get, leaving Blues fans to wait at least one more year for State-of-Origin glory.

 

Man-of-the-match, Queensland's Brent Tate told the ABC after the match, it was unity and experience that repeatedly gives the Maroons the edge over New South Wales.

 

"That was awesome. That was an Origin match from the old days mate, it was just to and fro. Both teams going at it and I knew if we could just hold them out, stay in front I knew we had the mateship and the experience to get us home and we did in the end."

 

New South Wales captain Robbie Farah told Channel Nine the loss was devastating for his side.

 

"You know when you work so hard for something and you fall short, it's um, yeah, it's heart-breaking mate."

 






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