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Queensland have produced a dominant performance in State of Origin 2 to defeat NSW 26-6 at Suncorp Stadium, squaring the series at one-all.
After a subdued performance in Sydney, Queensland were expected to fire in front of 51,690 spectators at Suncorp Stadium and it didn’t take long for that to be confirmed.
Within the opening minute Blues five-eighth James Maloney was penalised for a strip and from the ensuing set of six Sam Thaiday charged through a number of NSW tackles to cross for the third Origin try of his career.
Jonathan Thurston successively kicked the conversion.
It was a frenzied, all-attacking start from Queensland and when a ragged NSW defence was penalised for offside, Thurston added another two points to make it 8-0.
Check out how it unfolded: 2013 State of Origin Game 2 – Queensland 26-6 NSW
Queensland had the visitors on the back foot again after Michael Jennings was penalised for a late hit on Thurston in the 14th minute and when the Maroons forced a line-dropout, Thurston again attacked the right edge of the NSW defence, targeting the wing of Nathan Merritt.
Thurston threw a deft dummy in the direction of Greg Inglis, drew in Merritt and passed a cut-out ball for Darius Boyd to run onto and dive over in the corner. Thurston made no mistake with the conversion and Queensland led 14-0 after 18 minutes.
Queensland’s Darius Boyd celebrates scoring a try during Game II of the 2013 State of Origin (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
NSW steadied as half-time approached and had several half-chances at the Queensland defence, but the halves combination of James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce couldn’t find the final pass and the Blues went into the break 14-0 down.
HT here at Suncorp. What do we need to do to get back into it? #origin #uptheblues pic.twitter.com/x5yPXoPP1X
— NSWRL (@NSWRL) June 26, 2013
Any prospect of Queensland easing off in the second half soon evaporated, and NSW were forced into several repeat sets of defence.
In the 47th minute another brilliant Thurston cut-out pass put Darius Boyd over in the corner for his second try of the night, and it was 18-0 after Thurston made his first blemish of the night, hitting the upright with the conversion.
Tempers threatened to erupt in the 51st minute when Billy Slater appeared to throw an elbow at Mitchell Pearce after Pearce had swung an arm into a tackle on Slater, with players rushing in from both sides before the referee intervened, penalising Queensland.
From the penalty NSW spread the ball toward the wing of Merritt, but the debutant was unable to finish off a move to the right and the ball sailed harmlessly into touch.
On Queensland’s next set of six the fighting that NRL CEO Dave Smith had vowed to eradicate began, when Trent Merrin collected Brent Tate with a punch to the side of the face that sparked an all-in brawl.
For their part Merrin and Tate, as well as Greg Bird and Justin Hodges, were sin-binned for an incident that is certain to come under scrutiny after the scenes witnessed in Sydney.
Queensland’s Brent Tate is sent off after a brawl during 2013 State of Origin Game 2
Inglis took advantage of the open space in the 55th minute when he flew to catch a Coooper Cronk kick and dove in low to score.
Thurston added the conversion and the Maroons held a 24-0 lead with 25 minutes still to play.
NSW added a consolation try in the 70th minute when Brett Morris got on the end of a Robbie Farah chip to score in the corner, with James Maloney kicking the conversion from the sideline to leave NSW 24-6 down with 10 minutes remaining.
With the clock running down inside the final two minutes, Queensland were awarded a penalty that Thurston converted to seal a 20-point win.
#Origin Fulltime in Game 2: @Qld_Maroon 26 defeat @NSWRL 6 to level the 2013 Series at 1-all! To Sydney we go! pic.twitter.com/56eX5Q6vj7
— NRL (@NRL) June 26, 2013
The night began on a different note, with Channel Nine’s traditional pre-match coverage interrupted by the Gillard/Rudd leadership spill, with news of the Queenslander’s victory filtering through prior to kick-off.
It would be an ominous sign for the night ahead.
WE RULE … @couriermail P1 first edition away #queenslander #QLDvNSW #spill #auspol pic.twitter.com/4oqprdc43x
— Steele Tallon (@SteeleTallon) June 26, 2013
GAME 2 GALLERY
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