James Tedesco scored a dramatic last-minute try to secure a famous State of Origin victory for New South Wales, overturning a 20-6 deficit after Queensland's Kalyn Ponga was sent off. The 33-year-old Blues fullback, written off by some as too old for the contest, rose to catch a Nathan Cleary bomb and plant the ball, capping a remarkable comeback in drizzling rain.
The match initially belonged to Queensland, led by debutant Sam Walker, who set up tries for Rob Toia and Tom Flegler. Cameron Munster and Kalyn Ponga combined to create a third try for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, leaving the Blues shell-shocked and the crowd of nearly 80,000 silenced. Walker's assured performance suggested a new generation was taking over.
The game turned in the 57th minute when Ponga was sent off for a shoulder-to-head tackle on Tolu Koula, leaving the Maroons a man down. Referee Ashley Klein dismissed Ponga, who argued it was head-to-head contact, but the decision stood. It was just the seventh send-off in Origin history.
New South Wales capitalised on the extra man, with Ethan Strange scoring his first Origin try and Nathan Cleary bringing the Blues within one score. With seconds remaining, Tedesco rose above Tabuai-Fidow to claim Cleary's bomb, juggling the ball before evading Selwyn Cobbo to score the equalising try, sparking wild celebrations.
