The miracle try inspiring Blues for Origin decider
Scott Bailey |
NSW greats say it’s time James Tedesco’s “miracle try” from 2019 got the credit it deserves, as current Blues look to it as inspiration for their own Origin series decider.
On Wednesday night the Blues will play their first home decider since 2019, when Tedesco scored a last-minute match winner to claim the shield.
Several NSW players, including captain Isaah Yeo, identified the try as their favourite Origin moment when asked this week.
A large photo of Tedesco’s clincher is emblazoned across an entire wall in NSW’s gym, with the 79:28 mark on the clock printed onto it.
But while the Blues look at it every time they begin camp in their Centre of Excellence, players believe it is not talked about enough.
“You see a lot of things that get spoken about with big moments in Origin. I don’t know if it gets the credit it deserves,” Yeo said.
“It’s such a big iconic moment for our state … It was a decider, such a big moment.
“From deep yardage, 60 metres out and the backs are against the wall and you’ve got players making some big plays.”
NSW’s 2019 captain Boyd Cordner agrees, believing it has level-pegging with Mark Coyne’s famous game-one 1994 “miracle” try that is among Origin’s most-replayed moments.
“I see more highlights of that than ours. But this is our miracle try,” Cordner, who remains on NSW’s staff, told AAP.
“I see photos of it and I’m still in disbelief.
“It’s one of the best Origin moments, if not the best in terms of comebacks and big moments.”
Tedesco also considers the try his favourite of any he has scored.
Despite NSW leading 20-8 with 10 minutes to go, they were left working the ball out of yardage at 20-20 in the last minute.
After Blake Ferguson teased the touchline from a midfield shift from inside the Blues’ half, he threw the ball back in field and Tedesco reached behind to collect it.
Tedesco initially planned to take a quick tackle to set up for a field goal, before the path to the line opened up.
“It was a pretty unbelievable couple of seconds there. It went from maybe we could get a field goal to a match-winning try,” Tedesco said.
“It was just pure joy and happiness. Even (coach) Freddy (Fittler) ran on the field before we finished the game.
“A decider is always a massive game, but then at home in the last seconds of the game, it doesn’t really get much better than that.”
Tedesco’s try gave NSW their first back-to-back series wins since 2005, and effectively put a full stop on Queensland’s dynasty.
Come Wednesday, the current NSW squad can join the 2019 team as back-to-tack series winners.
“That moment, winning that series and scoring that try was a bit of a turnaround for NSW,” Tedesco continued.
“There was definitely a lot more belief.
“In years gone by it would have been Queensland who won in the dying seconds and won the series.
“I am sure this (week) will be similar, a big Origin moment at the end of the game. Hopefully it is one of our boys who is celebrating.”
AAP
