'Robbed': NSW fans fume over 'disgraceful' State of Origin controversy
NSW fans are fuming after the Blues lost a Bunker decision for a penalty try in the dying minutes of a frantic end to the State of Origin decider.
Queensland won a classic State of Origin match and clinched the series at Suncorp after a 20-14 win.
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But with just a few minutes left, winger Josh Addo-Carr was taken out as he ran in on goal.
In the 76th minute, Addo-Carr ran onto a grubber and kicked it past fullback Corey Allan.
But Allan changed direction and shouldered Addo-Carr 10m out from try line and took him out of play.
The decision was sent to the bunker to decide if it was a penalty try.
But the bunker deemed Addo-Carr was too far from goal to be certain he would have scored.
Cameron Munster was also bearing down on the winger.
Despite ruling it wasn’t a penalty try, Allan - on his State of Origin debut - was sent to the sin-bin.
NSW took the two points but with four minutes to go, were unable to score and level the match.
But fans raged over the decision and many called it a penalty try.
Josh Addo-Carr is closest to the ball and the fastest man on the field. That's a penalty try. #Origin
— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) November 18, 2020
Penalty try everyday of week. But not in Qld disgracefull deceison.
— mark pg (@mark16pg) November 18, 2020
No penalty try is an absolute farce, how is Munster beating Addo-Carr to that ball in any universe? #Origin
— Nathan Glase (@nxthxnglxse) November 18, 2020
Just witnessed some of the worst calls in origin history
— Eli 🇦🇺 (@RobsChestPound) November 18, 2020
NSW can feel robbed here. They should’ve had 2 mins against 11 and a penalty try. #Origin
— Suddy (@marc014) November 18, 2020
If Valentine Holmes holds on to 2 balls, its a huge gap. But lets worry about a "Penalty Try" that wasn't a penalty try!!. #QLDER #ORIGIN
— Craig M (@diminutiverowdy) November 18, 2020
1000% a penalty try #Origin
— Matthew (@MNeasham) November 18, 2020
He was in front of all three Queensland players at the time he was taken out. Penalty try. #origin
— Johnny Leary (@johnnyjohnleary) November 18, 2020
Queensland win State of Origin thriller
Harry Grant has announced himself as Queensland's next big thing after leading the hosts to a dramatic State of Origin series win in Brisbane.
The Maroons defended with a man down in the final three minutes to win a brutal decider 20-14 at a near-capacity Suncorp Stadium, Grant changing the game after being brought on early in the first half.
Grant lunged for the line and scored for a 20-6 lead with 15 minutes to play, Queensland holding off the Blues' late surge to win an eighth decider from the last nine contested.
A Daniel Tupou try and NSW penalty goal made it a six-point game inside the final 10 minutes, with Valentine Holmes twice fumbling chances to seal the result either side of that in a chaotic finish.
The Maroons defending tenaciously with a man down for two sets - and surviving a last-ditch captain's challenge - to clinch a dramatic victory.
Hooker Grant, 22, was one of a staggering 14 debutants - including four in the decider - used by coach Wayne Bennett in a series in which Queensland were rated long odds to challenge a star-studded New South Wales outfit gunning for a third-straight triumph.
The youngster's debut performance echoed that of No.6 Cameron Munster's series-winning debut three years ago and it was fitting the five-eighth kick-started Queensland's charge with a brilliant first-half try assist.
Munster kicked and regathered before repeating the dose while in mid-air as he gathered again, then chipped across field for another debutant, Edrick Lee, to score before half time for a 12-6 lead.
Holmes had scored first in the corner before James Tedesco planted the ball at the feet of a lost Daly Cherry-Evans in reply after debutant fullback Allan spilled a simple short kick.
Blues captain Tedesco's night did not last much longer, after he slid headfirst into Josh Papalii's knee and was replaced at the back by Clint Gutherson.
Dally M and RLPA rookie of the year Grant's inclusion then swung the game in Queensland's favour, the hosts peppering the Blues tryline early in the second half before settling for a penalty.
He scored the decisive try on 63 minutes, darting through a gap and planting the corner of the ball on the faintest edge of the tryline.
Blues playmaker Cody Walker ended a quiet night being stretchered off with a concussion, while Nathan Cleary's best efforts went unrewarded as Bennett clinched an eighth Origin series victory.
with AAP
