Queensland collected the fourth Wheelchair State Challenge win in a row today 42-36, largely off the back of a hat-trick to Maroons forward Zac Schumacher, to sink the CABE NSW team's hopes.
It was a determined fightback by the Queenslanders at Brisbane’s South Pine Sports Centre after NSW led 26-14 at halftime.
Schumacher’s tries in the 42nd, 51st and 57th minute underpinned Queensland piling on 28 second-half points to NSW’s 10 – two tries to co-captain Diab Karim.
The match ended up seven tries apiece but the difference was in the radar-like accuracy of 24-year-old Bayley McKenna, who slotted all his six goals. Schumacher also kicked a conversion which meant the Maroons were seven from seven attempts.
In contrast, NSW landed just four.
Queensland appeared a little disconnected in the opening half, perhaps as they had four players on debut compared with none for the Blues.
But a lack of possession and a rising penalty count against them in the second term, appeared to cause some panic amongst the Blues as players pushed passes searching for that breakthrough.
It was the closest NSW had come in four years to retrieving the interstate shield.
They went down 42-26 last year, after a 49-24 loss in 2022 and 50-30 in 2021.
And it all looked like it was going to be such a different story as NSW raced out to a 10-0 lead off tries to Wests Tigers teammates Moey Chemaissem and Brad Grove after just 14 minutes.
Grove, the NSW co-captain, scored his double and then when Canberra Raiders Toby Popple finished off quick ball movement down the right edge, the visitors had shot out to 20-6.
A try to each side through McKenna and Rick Engles (NSW), and then a penalty to McKenna right on the halftime siren narrowed the gap.
Whatever Queensland coach Jack Brown said at the break had the desired effect with two quick tries in the opening four minutes.
The Maroons hit the front for the first time (32-30) with Schumacher crossing in the 51st minute. He was over again six minutes later and NSW found themselves backpedalling.
Queensland’s five tries to two in the second half sealed the result, although Karim’s second four-pointer with 90 seconds on the clock gave a glimmer of hope.
With 26 seconds left, St George Illawarra’s Craig Cannane kicked ahead with Chemaissem screaming down the right touchline and just ahead of the Queensland defenders.
But the ball bounced awkwardly, rolled over the sideline, and the Maroons celebrations began.
Scores: Queensland 42 (Zac Schumacher 3, Daniel Anstey, Brett Bazley, Dylan Gawthorne, Bayley McKenna tries; McKenna 6, Schumacher 1 goals) def NSW 36 (Brad Grove 2, Diab Karim 2, Moey Chemaissem, Rick Engles, Toby Popple tries; Karim 3, Chemaissem 1 goal)
