Winger Brent Tate bravely accepted the blame for Queensland’s narrow loss to NSW in State of Origin II on Wednesday, saying he should’ve scored the match-winning try.
With 10 minutes on the clock, Tate outleapt his opposite Jarryd Hayne, latching onto a pin-point Cooper Cronk crossfield kick and looked certain to claim a try that would’ve levelled the scores at 16-16 – only to see the ball knocked from his grasp by Blues centre Michael Jennings.
Maroons five-eighth Johnathan Thurston had his radar on target at ANZ Stadium, slotting a goal from the opposite sideline eight minutes earlier and, had Tate scored, he would’ve had an opportunity to give Queensland the lead.
And while replays suggested officials erred in awarding the Blues a 20-metre tap – when it should’ve been a goalline drop-out – Tate refused to point the finger at the referees, preferring to shoulder the blame himself.
“I asked the (touch judge) but he just told me they’d made the decision. There’s not much else you can do,” Tate told AAP.
“But I’m not blaming them – I should’ve scored it. I had the ball in my hands and it would’ve evened up (the scores).
“I’d be looking at myself more than the referees.
“If you’re looking for us to go point the finger at them, it’s not going to happen, because they (the referees) did a good job and NSW were just better than us.”
Tate was adamant Queensland’s bid to secure a seventh-straight Origin series was not under threat, despite NSW’s improved showing in 2012 in their second series under coach Ricky Stuart.
“This team hasn’t won six series in a row without being under pressure. That’s something we’ve got to deal with now,” the North Queensland star said.
“We just weren’t good enough tonight – that’s the way it goes.
“I think every year you’re winning, they say you’re getting closer to a loss but we’re still really confident within this group.
“We’ve been in this position before – it’s the same as last year. I’m not losing any confidence or sleep over it.
“They’ve got to come to our place now and we need to be better. She’s one apiece and they’re coming to our house now. It’s on in Queensland.”