NSWTA has once again taken the Touch Football State of Origin Series Shield with a rousing 8-6 series victory at Dolphins Stadium on November 9 and 10. Bragging rights remained firmly south of the border after the Men’s Open team clenched the overall series win meaning that NSWTA remained the title holders, something they have enjoyed since 2004. Earlier both the Women’s 35’s and Mixed Open ensured the title would be retained following their game three series victories meaning NSW had reach the 7 series mark. The final game of the 2018 State of Origin was just like any other – full of passion, mental toughness and just pure grit. Across the weekend it was Origin at its best, there were some heated exchanges, wonderful displays of athleticism and that unbreakable NSW heart throughout the series. Queensland fought hard which ensured that Origin would come down to the wire. However with that blue steel Team NSW came out on top. NSW Touch Association General Manager Dean Russell was wrapped with the Team NSW effort. “As a state we ask a lot of our players and coaches at this level and they never fail to deliver. They all bleed blue and we will be more than happy to be taking the shield home with us………again!” MEN’S OPEN GAME 1 NSW 8 DEFEATED QLD 7 GAME 2 NSW 6 DEFEATED BY QLD 8 GAME 3 NSW 12 DEFEATED QLD 9 SERIES WINNERS: NSW PLAYER OF THE SERIES: SCOTT BUCKLEY, NSW Coach Paul Sfeir was ecstatic with his players performance and is excited to see where his 7 debutantes will go to next. “That is my 3rd one of these in a row so it’s a credit to the boys getting the win; between the hurdles we had to get over with Vawdon Cup, State Cup, a lot of boys pulling out and that disappointment of the loss in Game 2,” said Sfeir. “Queensland threw absolutely everything at us, they’re a great team and Men’s Open is just the greatest quality of Touch Football.” The NSW boys dug deep in the final game finishing up with 12 touchdowns to Queensland’s 9. The NSW Men’s Open lost 1 of their key players early in Game 1 which proved challenging but Sfeir was stoked with the performance in the end. “We lost Justin Costello after 4 minutes in that first game and we brought him in to defend on the right but the boys just really picked it up which is a credit to their passion and determination.” STATE OF ORIGIN BLUE STEEL WOMEN’S OPEN GAME 1 NSW 7 DEFEATED BY QLD 9 GAME 2 NSW 10 DEFEATED QLD 7 GAME 3 NSW 2 DEFEATED BY QLD 8 SERIES WINNERS: QLD It wasn’t the year for the NSW Women’s Open going down to Queensland for the second series running. Coach Michael Moussa said the girls played with a lot of heart but they just ran out of legs in the end. “They put some systems in place, came out a little harder than they did in that second game and we didn’t go with them,” said Moussa. “They ran hard and fast in that game and we couldn’t really match them.” Keeping In Touch 2018 | 25