Paul Vautin's savage sledge for Queensland caught on hot mic
Queensland legend Paul Vautin summed up the feelings of many dejected Maroons Origin fans with a brutal comment that was accidentally caught on Channel Nine's coverage.
The Blues cast aside an extraordinary build-up to Sunday night's Suncorp Stadium clash, by clinching the series in Game II courtesy of a historic 26-0 thrashing.
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It was the first time Queensland have been held scoreless in Brisbane and followed a record 50-6 thrashing of Paul Green's men in Townsville.
Now a cumulative scoreline of 76-6 leaves Fittler's side with wiggle room in July 14's third game to eclipse the previous-best 62-point differential NSW accrued in a 3-0 series victory in 2000.
While the rampant Blues were understandably ecstatic after the match, Queensland players past and present were left shattered by the result.
Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans admitted after the match that the Blues had more motivation than his side to reclaim the Origin trophy after defeat in last year's series.
Cherry-Evans did vow that his side would do everything to avoid a series whitewash in Sydney, but a clearly devastated Vautin - who won series with Queensland as a player and coach - completely wrote off his state's chances in a moment that clearly wasn't supposed to go to air.
Seconds after the Maroons skipper finished up his on-field interview with Darren Lockyer, the Maroons great threw back to Channel Nine's Origin host James Bracey only for Vautin to start speaking - completely unaware that his microphone was still turned on.
"They may as well call off the third (game)," Vautin started saying before he was cut off and Bracey resumed the broadcast.
When Vautin did actually give his thoughts on the game a short while later, he was just as scathing about the Maroons' performance.
“I think we are a slow and sluggish team,” he said.
“I really believe we just don’t have enough pace and we were gone after 10 minutes, so it makes you wonder.
“There was no punch at the line. People were just trotting into the line. It was very, very disappointing. Quite deflating to sit there and watch what they produced tonight.
The Maroons plucked a series win last season but the Blues have now made it three from the last four as they eye their own sustained period of dominance.
Blues coach Brad Fittler admitted afterwards that being on course to replicate the team he captained to a clean sweep in 2000, is a tremendous honour.
"That was a great team," Fittler said of his 2000 side.
"So (to be on track to replicate them) it's a bit of a sign of respect to each other ... (Sweeps) are not easy. They (Queensland) only had one (during an eight-year run).
"It can be (a period of dominance), but a lot of things have to work in your favour."
Blues backs fire for Fittler's side
A last-minute injury to much-hyped Maroons debutant Reece Walsh on Saturday was quickly trumped by the eligibility concerns that saw his replacement Ronaldo Mulitalo withdrawn on game-day.
It certainly didn't bother the Blues though as they weathered an intense first 10 minutes then exploited a tiring Maroons pack who weren't helped by their disjointed backline.
NSW scored three tries and bombed another in a decisive 21-minute period to blow Queensland away then desperately snuffed out the Maroons' best efforts when their own offence dried up in the second half.
"It hurts a lot right now but we're going to have to shake it off (because) they're licking their lips for 3-0," Cherry-Evans said.
"I just hope the silver lining tonight might be that it sparks something inside of us that kicks us into gear.
"It's tough enough they've won the series, let alone (potentially winning) 3-0."
The Maroons looked lost when they did get a peek at the Blues' line, their attack clunky and slow as halves Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster struggled to create.
It cost them too, Valentine Holmes pushing a pass that found the fingertips of Mitchell, who raced almost 90 metres for a 12-0 lead.
It was Mitchell's third big play of an influential first half, the centre dragging Holmes back in goal to earn a repeat set and stripping Kyle Feldt in a play that led to Addo-Carr's first try.
With Queensland's exhausted forwards out on their feet or already benched, the floodgates were completely opened when Addo-Carr again streaked clear after 32 minutes.
He found Tom Trbojevic for an 18-0 lead, Cameron Murray blowing another golden chance in a one-sided first half.
In for the injured Harry Grant at hooker for Queensland, Andrew McCullough was replaced by Ben Hunt just before halftime while centre Dane Gagai missed seven first-half tackles.
Addo-Carr's second try sparked wild celebrations with 10 minutes to go as Queensland became just the fifth side in Origin history to be held scoreless.
with agencies
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