NSW have come agonisingly short of an unlikely comeback in the 2025 NRL Wheelchair State Challenge, as Queensland claimed a 48-36 victory to retain the shield at Liverpool’s Whitlam Leisure Centre on Sunday.
Having already mounted a small turnaround from a 12-0 deficit to 12-all after 30 minutes, NSW headed to the break 30-12 down but came within six points of the Queensland side with less than five minutes remaining.
Yet a late try for Queensland captain Bayley McKenna would halt any hopes of a successful NSW fightback in what was a thrilling contest between the two sides.
Queensland had the first opportunity to score within the opening minute but couldn’t overcome some desperate NSW defence at the left corner post.
The visitors were back on the attack from close range after a penalty and eventually broke the deadlock, with Brett Bazley steaming onto a short ball to score. Bayley McKenna added the two points to lead 6-0.
Queensland went on to take a 12-0, but the early deficit was short-lived as NSW turned the momentum to tie things up at 12-all.
The Queenslanders were in the lead once again in the 26th minute through Zac Schumacher off a quick tap, taking some solid contact from NSW No.7 Diab Karim before putting the ball down. McKenna converted to go ahead 18-12.
McKenna produced a try of his own shortly after when he weaved into space on the right edge, before turn back across field for a try on the left side. The skipper nailed the conversion to lead 24-12.
Queensland took a 30-12 lead into half-time courtesy of a second Schumacher try and McKenna’s fifth conversion from as many attempts.
Two minutes into the second half it was Schumacher and McKenna who linked up for McKenna’s second try, again converting his own try to lead 36-12.
The home side worked their way back into scoring position and did just that in the 51st minute, with the craft Craig Cannane turning back to the short side to send Karim over in the corner. Karim did well to convert from the sideline as NSW trailed 36-18.
The NSW side defended stoutly for a substantial period after that, but it was Schumacher who soon charged at the line to score his third beside the upright. Then McKenna added two more to improve the margin to 42-18.
The Blues found the scoresheet for a fourth time in the 66th minute with Karim involved again, sweeping around to the left and passing for Cory Cannane to go over the try-line untouched. Another sideline conversion brought the score to 42-24.
Within a few minutes Cannane had a double in that very same left corner, before Karim added a key conversion to reduce the deficit to 12.
With just over five minutes remaining a grandstand finish was on the cards when Karim found a gap in the defence for his third try, then converting to trail 42-36.
The NSW comeback wasn’t to be however, as McKenna scored again to put the result beyond doubt. He also maintained his 100 per cent record off the tee to lead his side to a 48-36 win.
