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The New South Wales Blues have claimed their first State of Origin series victory in nine years over the Queensland Maroons with the final score of 6-4 in Game 2.
Both teams enjoyed early opportunities, with Darius Boyd and Cameron Smith both going close for Queensland, while a bomb almost let NSW score.
>>State of Origin Game 2 half time report
>> 2014 State of Origin Game 2 live scores
The opening passages of play were fearsome and competitive, and after things threatened to boil over on a number of occasions, Johnathan Thurston opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a penalty goal.
There was plenty of niggle throughout the opening 20 minutes. This was highlighted by a penalty against Johnathan Thurston for a slap in the face to Beau Scott, and a few extra hand on the ball penalties from both site.
It was clear both sides wanted to gain early ascendency. Neither was giving an inch.
The game was punctuated by jersey holding, threatening gestures and frequent lectures from referee Ben Cummins to the players.
New South Wales had a mountain of possession in the middle section of the half, but were simply unable to capitalise on a slew of penalties that went their way.
A forearm to the face Johnathan Thurston from James Tamou saw Queensland take a 4-0 lead, with Johnathan Thurston becoming the highest point scorer in Origin history, overtaking another Queenslander Mal Meninga.
New South Wales showed more willingness to use the ball in the first half, but were unable to crack the Queensland defence, despite all that possession. A couple of fundamental errors cost them dearly, and the halves Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson didn’t throw too many different looks at Queensland.
On the other hand, the Maroons were content to keep the game fairly tight. The penalty count mounted against them, but they kept infringing, with referees Hayne and Cummins blowing penalty after penalty.
And while the Blues hit harder on a consistent basis than Queensland, the Maroons were resolute not allowing one line break from the Blues, keeping the Blues crowd right out of the game.
The best chance of a try came right at the end of the half, with Queensland centre Justin Hodges latching onto the end of a beautiful set play from Queensland, before Daly Cherry-Evans almost managed to kick for himself to score, only for Josh Reynolds’ boot to get there first.
The second half started in much more dynamic fashion than the first, with NSW showing some enterprise in attack. Blues half Trent Hodkinson sparking a play that almost led to a try, but only for Billy Slater to show up at precisely the right moment for the Maroons.
Neither side saw any reward initially, despite an increase in the number of slipped tackles and offloads. Both defences continued to prove resolute.
An interception from Greg Inglis looked to have changed that, with Queensland crashing over through Sam Thaiday in the 51st minute. But he was denied by a Jarryd Hayne hand that managed to dislodge the ball as the big lock crashed to the turf. It was a crucial play for NSW, keeping them in the game and preventing Queensland taking a 10-0 lead.
The loss of winger Brent Tate to a leg injury in the 54th minute was always going to prove a blow for the Maroons, being replaced by Chris McQueen.
NSW continued to squander chances given to them by the Maroons, with Bird spilling a great chance for possession on halfway, and Lewis doing the same, both from Reynolds inside passes. They didn’t play to Hayne as often as they did in Game 1, but with continued opportunities being gifted to them by the Maroons, they weren’t short of chances.
Hayne failed to get the opportunities he craved, and after five consecutive sets of six inside the Maroons’ 20 metre zone, Trent Hodkinson finally slipped through the defence of Queensland. He made no mistake with the conversion, and the Blues were in a 6-4 lead.
Then, perhaps the most controversial moment in the game. Aaron Woods left a kickoff from the Maroons, and watched it hit the dead ball line on the full. Replays showed the ball had grazed Woods’ chest, but the Blues took their penalty kick for the sideline quickly, allowing no time for video referee intervention.
More pushing, shoving and niggle ensued, as it had all night, with Johnathan Thurston thrusting a forearm in the face of Josh Reynolds, and a protracted scuffle involving almost all the players from both side.
Laurie Daley watched on with delight as NSW managed to hold off Queensland’s final charges, and clain their first Origin series victory in nine years.
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