The NSW under-18s Origin side have blown their Queensland counterparts off the park, shutting them out 26-0.
The back three of the Blues were the best players on the park, with Zac Lomax scoring a magnificent double, Issac Lumelume scoring one and setting up two, and Ryan Papenhuyzen having an incredible match at fullback.
Cameron Murray was simply outstanding for the young Blues, and was awarded man of the match for his efforts.
The match started as an absolute disaster for Queensland winger, Michael Carroll, dropped the ball off the kick-off.
Off the scrum, Ryan Papenhuyzen showed some incredible lateral speed to get on the outside of his defender, and create an overlap for Lomax to score the first try of the match before a tackle had even been made.
The Blues doubled their lead after Sean O’Sullivan put up a bomb that went uncontested by Queensland, and Lumelume caught it above his head to unloaded to Samuel Radovu, who scored with ease.
The left centre-wing pairing combined perfectly on the stroke of halftime to extend the Blues’ lead to 12-0. Tui Afualo gave a good ball to Lumelume, who beat his first defender, drew the fullback, and passed back to Afualo to go over untouched.
Lomax increased the Blues’ lead to 18-0 when he pulled off an absolute miracle of a try. A kick went up, he re-gathered but it seemed the ball was going to fall out of his grasp. On his way down to the line, he juggled the ball on the end of his fingertips to eventually plant the ball down and score an amazing try.
Coach Brad Fittler said before the game that he wants Cameron Murray to shine and display his seemingly endless potential for this game, and he certainly stamped his authority in the second half when he busted through the line, drew the fullback and gave it off for a speedy Papenhuyzen, who was lingering in support.
Lomax converted the first goal of the match, which extended the Blues’ lead to 22-0.
Lumelume ran in a late try to cap off a great 26-0 win for the young Blues.
