Queensland won their first under-18 Origin game since 2015 with an impressive 34-12 win over New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
Maroons’ winger Xavier Coates, a Tweed Seagulls player contracted to the Brisbane Broncos, was named Man of the Match after a break out performance.
He scored Queensland’s first try of the second half, leaping high for a Josh James kick, and made a number of devastating runs from his own end.
Souths Logan centre Fanitesi Niu picked up two of the Maroons’ six tries and set up for Reece Walsh for the game-sealing try in the 67th minute.
Blues’ starting front rowers, David Hollis and Sione Fainu, scored their side’s only tries, with Fainu the standout in a beaten side.
Queensland 34 (Fanitesi Niu 2, Jake Simpkin, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Xavier Coates, Reece Walsh tries; Josh James 5 goals) def. New South Wales 12 (David Hollis, Sione Fainu tries; Jayden Sullivan 2 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Man of the Match: Xavier Coates (Queensland).
18TH MAN 