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Queensland has snatched an unlikely 6-4 lead over New South Wales in the shadows of half-time in State of Origin Game 2 at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
Listen to the halftime highlights
First half of the Origin by the clock
Seeking an unprecedented seventh straight series triumph, the Maroons were outmuscled by the much-improved New South Wales who sought to impose themselves on the game with a domineering physical presence.
After a cagey start from both sides, the hosts started to win the battle of field position and took the lead on 25 minutes as Brett Stewart muscled his way across in the right corner despite Johnathan Thurston’s best efforts to hold him up.
Uncharacteristic errors started to creep into the Queensland game with four separate players knocking the ball on in the opening stanza, allowing New South Wales to threaten the line with regularity.
As the hits piled on, players dropped like flies in a typically bruising Origin affair with Billy Slater, Justin Hodges, Paul Gallen and Tate all feeling the pain of a relentless opening 25 minutes.
Ricky Stuart would have been pleased with what he saw from his vantage point on the New South Wales bench, but he might have been concerned that for all of their physical dominance, his side were not able to convert pressure into points.
Stuart’s nightmare became reality just seconds before the break as the Blues were undone when defensive indecision allowed Ben Hannant to pounce on a loose ball and score under the posts.
New South Wales has won 12 of the 19 Origin clashes played at this venue but the team that has won the Melbourne game has gone on to hoist the trophy on every single occasion.
With just 40 minutes standing between Queensland and more Origin glory, will that 40th minute lapse be a back-breaker, or can New South Wales find a way to put their dominance on the scoreboard and force a live Game 3 at Suncorp Stadium in July?
Follow our State of Origin 2012 Game 2 live blog for running commentary and discussion as the second half gets underway.
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