The Queensland Maroons have silenced the home crowd and taken a half time lead at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, with the score 4-0 over the New South Wales Blues 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 – Full 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.
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