Best's dream debut helps Blues avoid sweep

NSW Blues five-eighth Cody Walker has been lauded for his phenomenal show successful State of Origin III, having not played for the broadside since 2020.

The South Sydney prima had a manus successful a fig of tries, finishing with a effort assistance and enactment interruption assistance each, arsenic the Blues defeated Queensland 24-10.

On Walker's near side, debutant Bradman Best finished with a treble and Josh Addo-Carr 1 try, with the five-eighth playing a relation each time, earning the admiration of Blues fable Andrew Johns. 

"He's conscionable got magic successful his hands, it's the lone mode to picture him," helium said connected Nine's coverage.

"He could spell for different five, six, 7 years."

Queensalnd skipper Daly Cherry-Evans with the last connection earlier the trophy presentation.

"It's ever a pleasance to play connected specified a large stage," helium says.

"I privation to convey the Blues for the series. It's been a pugnacious bid careless of the result.

"These guys played just each the way, made it a pugnacious bid and we had to enactment each spot of it, truthful convey you precise overmuch to the Blues.

"I privation to convey everyone who has travel present tonight, peculiarly you Queensland fans."

Blues skipper James Tedesco says helium and his teammtaes wanted to "get immoderate pridefulness backmost successful the jersey" tonight.

"Firstly I conscionable wanted to convey the Queensland boys for the series, they were excessively bully for america successful the archetypal 2 games, congratulations to you boys acknowledgment for the series," helium said.

"Thanks to each the NSW fans for coming retired tonight. We wanted to get immoderate pridefulness backmost successful the jersey and get a triumph for you, I'm truly gladsome I could.

"Disappointing to suffer the archetypal two, but I privation to convey my team, the unit for the series, evidently wasn't however we wanted contiguous to go, going down successful the archetypal 2 games, but we fought hard contiguous for a win. I look guardant to adjacent year."

Reuben Cotter is named the subordinate of the bid and receives the Wally Lewis Medal!

"Firstly, Congrats to NSW," helium says.

"Congrats to our boys. It's been a large series, I person loved each infinitesimal with you successful camp.

"I conscionable privation to accidental acknowledgment to each the Queensland supporters for coming retired tonight, and to the 5 cardinal backmost location watching acknowledgment for supporting america each the mode done and acknowledgment to the coaching staff."

What a instrumentality to the Origin arena!

Cody Walker is named the Player of the Match.

Maroons adjunct Cameron Smith admits Queensland were a small spot disconnected their champion tonight.

"Tonight they were disconnected their crippled slightly, conscionable slightly," helium says.

"At this level erstwhile you're disconnected your crippled conscionable 1 oregon 2 per cent the absorption get the amended of you.

"NSW contiguous were fantastic. Contributors from 1 to 17, Clint Gutherson helium lone got a fewer moments successful the extremity Joey, if you look crossed the parkland Tedesco precocious involvement, To'o incredible, Stephen Crichton 1 of the champion Blues players of the full series. He was outstanding."

Cody Walker proved to beryllium different inspired enactment by Brad Fittler, and the Maroons person lauded the returning Blues star.

"I deliberation the close borderline was disconnected a fraction, with Cody Walker backmost successful the broadside helium made america pay," says Johnathan Thurston.

"Full recognition to the Blues, they did an astonishing occupation connected america tonight. That's the difference. A large learning curve for our boys, but afloat recognition to the Blues."

One of Brad Fittler's astir arguable selections paid disconnected successful a large mode arsenic Bradman Best doubled up connected debut, and the Blues person 1 for the aboriginal determination for sure.

"There was a batch of disapproval of that (selection)," says Blues adjunct Danny Buderus.

"Everyone has their sentiment but helium has travel retired and shown helium should beryllium there. Good for Freddy to prime him, awesome nighttime for his family."