Johns leads Blues to Origin victory

A target was painted on Andrew Johns' head before the State of Origin decider.
But in the end it was the master NSW halfback who helped the Blues claim the biggest scalp ? the 25th anniversary Origin rugby league series ? with a 32-10 victory last night.
All the pre-match hype for the historic Origin decider focused on Queensland enforcers Tonie Carroll and Michael Crocker "taking out" game two's man of the match.
Maroons legend Wally "The King" Lewis summed up the game plan succinctly ? "knock his head off".
Instead of Johns' head being on the chopping block, it was Blue murder as the halfback inspired NSW's six tries to two victory in front of a 52,496-strong Suncorp Stadium crowd.
And a new Origin "King" emerged - NSW's hat-trick hero, winger Matt King.
Almost three years after he was working as a bartender, King became only the third NSW player and sixth overall player to notch three tries in an Origin game.
The victory marked only the second time NSW had come back from 1-0 down to win an Origin series ? and what a way to do it.
It was NSW's biggest Origin win in Queensland ? eclipsing 2000's 28-10 game two victory at Suncorp Stadium.
The last time the Blues achieved a successful 1-0 series comeback was in 1994 when current NSW mentor Ricky Stuart was in a halves combination with 2005 selector and assistant coach Laurie Daley.
In the 12th decider played in Origin's 25 years, NSW took its series tally to 12, kicking clear of Queensland's 10.
However, the last time Queensland won a series outright was way back in 2001.
The King's "off with his head" command failed to dethrone Johns who had a hand in all six NSW tries and potted over three conversions to boot.
"I was a bit nervous but I knew we had done the work, and we were really confident with our game plan," Johns said.
"We were psyched, we are a great attacking side but our defence in the first 10 minutes showed what a great defensive side it is.
"It's a great feeling. I really enjoy playing here ? it's what Origin is all about."
Stuart said of his halfback: "I thought he was very dominant. When good players are dominant, the players around them play well.
"And there wasn't a player out there who didn't play well."
NSW fullback Anthony Minichiello ? who was dangerous all night ? was named man of the match and man of the series.
Not that Johns wasn't feeling the pinch from the Queensland defence.
Crocker was a man possessed, hammering Johns throughout.
But in the 30th minute, Crocker again featured in defence - this time for all the wrong reasons.
Crocker appeared to collect NSW backrower Ben Kennedy across the face and the Blues hardman lay prone.
That prompted Queensland forward Corey Parker to lift Kennedy up, inferring that the NSW forward was lying down to milk a penalty, which almost sparked a brawl.
Referee Paul Simpkins placed the incident on report but curiously called out Penrith's Ben Ross, not Parker, for a caution.
"I thought what Kennedy did was out of character. But you do what you can to win a game," Queensland coach Michael Hagan said, hinting that Kennedy took a dive.
However, Stuart defended his hardman.
"I have been arguing about that (players lying down to milk penalties) for the last 18 months," he said.
"But if anyone doubts Ben Kennedy's toughness they'd be a fool."
Stuart was more happy to speak about "owning" a piece of Origin history in only his first series as Blues coach.
"It feels really good, a great relief, I'm really proud at the moment for me to say I've had some part of that football team," he said.
Stuart also highlighted NSW skipper Danny Buderus' gutsy effort to overcome a painful foot injury and combine brilliantly with Johns last night.
Buderus was in doubt throughout the build-up before passing a fitness test just days before Origin III.
"The link between Danny and Andrew is one amazing bond. I see what they do at training and transferring it to the game - only the special players can do that," Stuart said.
A gutted Hagan would not speculate on his Origin coaching future.
"I don't feel real flash, and everyone is disappointed with the way we played so I'll see how we feel in a little while," he said.
While Hagan said the scoreline was a "fair reflection" of the game, he added: "To have a penalty count 4-0 (down) at halftime on the back of average things ... is fairly disappointing to say the least".
Queensland skipper Darren Lockyer admitted the record scoreline at Brisbane hurt.
"At 32-0 down it could have got embarrassing for us, and I said to the boys 'it's not Queensland's way'," he said.
After NSW led 18-0 at halftime, King ran off Johns to score in the 47th minute before the NSW No 7 pounced on a Matt Bowen dropped ball, sent it left and winger Timana Tahu crashed over in the 53rd minute.
King completed his hat-trick in the 64th minute before Queensland finally broke its scoring duck in the 74th minute when a Matt Sing bust set up halfback Johnathan Thurston's try.
And Bowen crashed over the left corner in the 78th minute in some relief for proud Queenslanders.
The Maroons poured on all the early pressure, attacking with the first five consecutive sets of six.
But Minichiello got the ball rolling for the Blues when he pounced on a Lockyer grubber and ran 85m before being chopped down by Bowen in an effort similar to "that tackle" by Penrith's 2003 NRL grand final hero Scott Sattler.
However, Sing came into the tackle late, earning a penalty and backrower Craig Fitzgibbon's boot drew first blood in the ninth minute.
As soon as NSW pressured the Queensland line, Johns weaved his magic by creating a path for pivot Braith Anasta to score in the 21st minute.
Six minutes later Johns produced a perfect cross field chip for centre Mark Gasnier to outleap opposite number Shaun Berrigan to score.
After knocking over first half two conversions Johns shone again in the 31st minute.
He offloaded to Minichiello who set up the classy King down the right sideline to make it 18-0 at the main break and there was no way back for Queensland.-AAP