Beau Scott's Origin triumph
Matt Logue
Thu 19th June, 11:53AM
Newcastle enforcer Beau Scott has won premierships and played for his country but he says last night's historic Origin victory for NSW is the moment that caps off his stellar career.
Speaking to Knights TV after the Blues ended Queensland's eight-year Origin dominance with a thrilling 6-4 win at a packed ANZ Stadium in Sydney, a pumped up Scott said the triumph over the Maroons would go down as one of his finest achievements.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but you can see the celebrations going on in here,” Scott said in a jubilant NSW dressing room.
“To go up two-nil and now we’ve got the series won, it’s a great feeling and especially to do it in front of a home crowd.
"I haven’t won an Origin series, so I guess it just tops it (my career) off.
"Having so much support, obviously being in NSW, so it’s pretty special.”
NSW may have got the all-important win, but they it took one almighty effort from Laurie Daley's men to get across the line.
Queensland led 4-0 at the break on the back of two Johnathan Thurston penalty goals and looked a strong chance to force a deciding Game 3 match back at Suncorp Stadium.
But the Blues kept their composure and on the back of a Trent Hodkinson try and goal with just nine minutes remaining they sealed a remarkable victory.
Scott says defence was the key to the win, especially when Queensland launched raid after raid on the NSW line in the second half.
“It was a gutsy effort by both teams," he says.
“One try over 80 minutes is pretty remarkable in the modern game.
“We knew it was going to take an 80 minute effort and it took us until the 70th minute without scoring.
“Then we got a couple of repeat sets on their line and hung on, so it’s great.”
While Scott was full of praise for coach Laurie Daley, he also reserved a special mention for former mentor Ricky Stuart.
"I guess it all started with Ricky," he says.
"He started this culture a couple of years ago now and Loz has just continued it.
"He has really pounded it (the culture) into the players that he picked to be amongst this group of men that have now helped put
NSW back on the winning board."
Scott got through the epic Origin match unscathed, but will have to be accessed by Club medical staff this week before taking his place against the Cowboys at Hunter Stadium on Monday night.
http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2014/06/19/scott_s_origin_triumph_caps_off_career.html
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Boyd’s Origin redemption
Matt Logue
Thu 19th June, 01:33PM
Amid all the tears and cheers of the Blues finally ending Queensland’s eight-year Origin dominance on Wednesday night, a defiant Maroons outfit stood as one.
Huddled together in the middle of ANZ Stadium, Mal Meninga’s men linked arms in a strong showing of team unity as their rivals celebrated around them.
Tucked away in the Maroon mob was Newcastle's own Darius Boyd, who tells Knights TV the collective coming together was designed to build bonds ahead of the final game in Brisbane on Wednesday July 9.
“We just wanted to make sure that we didn’t drop our heads too low," Boyd reveals.
“We didn’t really let anyone down. Sure we didn’t get the win, but we’ve still got another game to go.
“We are a very close squad and team, the staff included.
“We’ve got a lot of people around us and everyone who comes into the squad is always cherished and loves being here.
“We really enjoy each others company and we look forward to playing together."
Queensland's Origin reign may be officially over, but Boyd says the Maroons will be determined as ever to salvage pride at Suncorp whilst also avoiding a whitewash in the process.
"We don’t want to lose three-nil, that’s for sure," he says.
"We want to give something to the fans and everyone that supports us, so we are definitely looking forward to getting back to Suncorp.
"It has been a great series and credit to NSW they played really well.
"A few things probably didn’t go our way, but I suppose we can’t take away from our effort.
"We put in a great effort and there is still another game to go."
Boyd looked certain to cross for a try in the first half of Wednesday's Origin, but was denied by some brilliant last-ditch Blues' defence.
Despite missing out on a four-pointer, the Knights star remains the equal highest try-scorer in Origin history alongside fellow Maroon Greg Inglis on 14 tries.
Both Boyd and Inglis will get a chance to surpass that mark when they line-up in Origin 3.
http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2014/06/19/boyd_s_origin_redemption.html