Queensland posted a record 52-6 win over New South Wales to clinch Australia’s State of Origin rugby league series in Brisbane on Wednesday.
The Maroons deluged the Blues with eight tries and star stand-off Jonathan Thurston kicked nine goals with retiring Justin Hodges landing another to reclaim the Origin series they lost to NSW last year.
The overwhelming victory was the highest score by Queensland in a State of Origin match as well the greatest winning margin in an Origin encounter.
Thurston, who had another influential match, kicked the most goals in an Origin game with nine from nine attempts to beat Maroons coach Mal Meninga’s previous record of eight goals.
“We had a point to prove after losing last year’s series,” Thurston said after the match. “Everyone wrote us off (as being too old) but we showed what a champion side we are again tonight.
“There is not a better feeling than winning a State of Origin decider in Queensland.”
Maroons skipper Cameron Smith said his side had answered their critics in emphatic fashion.
“There were a lot of question marks raised after our perform- ance in the last game, but look at the scoreboard – that is the best answer,” Smith said.
The Maroons smashed their interstate rivals in a dominating performance before a record 52,500 crowd at the Lang Park ground after NSW had levelled the series by winning the second match 26-18 in Melbourne last month.
The Blues broke Queensland’s eight-year Origin stranglehold with a 2-1 series win last season but they were never in this year’s deciding match and trailed 22-2 at half-time.
Blues skipper Paul Gallen said it was “just one of those nights”. “There’s not a lot more to say,” he said.
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Loose forward Corey Parker was named the Wally Lewis Medal winner as the player of the series, while centre Hodges played his 23rd and last Origin game for Queensland and was given the final kick at goal in the match.
“This is exactly the way I wanted to go out,” Hodges said.
The Blues’ woes only deepended in the second half as Queensland rammed home their advantage with five tries, and the frustration for NSW boiled over as Trent Merrin and James Tamou were placed on report for lifting tackles.
The Blues’ only try came from centre Michael Jennings midway through the second half when they trailed 40-2, swooping on a loose pass and sprinting 60 metres to score.
