Wednesday night will see one of most anticipated clashes in recent Origin history with New South Wales just a win away from their first series victory in eight years.
STATE OF ORIGIN GAME 2 LIVE SCORES
In what will be a sell-out crowd at ANZ stadium, Queensland will be hoping to steal a victory in Sydney and extend the series to a game 3 in Brisbane.
Game 1 of State of Origin saw a classic encounter, with New South Wales coming out on top by a final score of 12 points to 8. In arguably his best performance at Origin level, Jarryd Hayne put on a master class to lead his side home.
MORE ORIGIN:
>> State of Origin Central
>> [WATCH] Highlights from Game 2 2013
>> State of Origin fixture
>> TURNER: Blues skipper Gallen poised for the game of his life
>> [WATCH] Highlights from Game 1 2014
New South Wales have named a virtually unchanged line up for Game 2, with injuries to the Morris twins seeing Josh Dugan and Will Hopoate replace them in the side.
Josh Reynolds was counting his lucky stars after getting away with a dangerous lifting tackle on Brent Tate in Game 1. He will line up on Wednesday night along with Greg Bird who will return to the side after missing the first match of the series due to suspension. Bird’s return will see a shift in the Blues’ line up, with Paul Gallen moving into the front row and James Tamou pushing to the bench.
The Maroons named a 22-man squad after being decimated by injuries. They were dealt a further blow with Corey Parker and Josh Papalii ruled out late.
With the side already missing halfback Cooper Cronk, they’ll be sweating on the fitness of Daly Cherry-Evans, who is in serious doubt for Game 2 after aggravating a knee injury last Friday against the Bulldogs.
Centre Greg Inglis also limped off in the Rabbitohs match against the Warriors, but is looking like a certain starter for Game 2.
All eyes again will be on New South Wales fullback Jarryd Hayne after his virtuoso performance in Game 1. The Blues will be hoping he’ll be able to repeat his heroics and lead his side home on Wednesday night.
With Daly Cherry Evans looking more and more to miss Wednesday’s match, plenty of pressure will be placed on likely replacement Ben Hunt to lead a Queensland side looking to avoid their first series loss since 2005.
The Blues will enter the match as favourites on Wednesday night but will be wary of a Maroons side that will undoubtedly lift with their backs against the walls.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of State of Origin Game 2 from 8:00pm (AEST) on Wednesday night.
Christopher Souter
Roar Rookie
Well. I'm glad I decided not to switch my TV off. Now, I'm hoping for a clean sweep. GO, THE BLUES!
Renie walters
Guest
Hmm I wonder who is going to get THE MAN OF MATCH
Renie walters
Guest
Come on BLUES make a the first TRY
Renie walters
Guest
Yeah I Agree With You Lol
Renie walters
Guest
Just want to say good Luck Maroons, but the Blues are going win again whoa whoa! GO YOU BLUES MAKE ALL THE NSW FANS PROUND AGAIN???
Giluwe Peandi Yana
Guest
“Go Maroons Go”...Thurston's kicks will slow the tidal waves from the Blues and spoil the NSW hopes. Die hard QLD...coming all the way from the jungles of PNG.
Charles NSW
Guest
NSW will win Game 2 as everything depends on it. The fans have had enough and will not settle for anything less. Greg Bird is back and the halves will continue to improve. Dugan will be an x-factor alongside Hayne that will put plenty of pressure on QLD. The team showed that they were now determined to make amends and will be pick the tempo with that in mind. The coach seems more switched on to what he has to do to win and hopefully will have a good game plan that will use both Hayne, Dugan and Jennings much better. I feel that NSW will win by at least 10 points. Go the Blues!
Nine in a row
Guest
With 15 blue jumpers on the field at the same time together with 2 in the video ref box - Queensland can stand proud to have still won the last 8 series !!!!
Tony S
Guest
Queensland leads at half time, just. Blues first to score in second half. Blues kick a penalty goal. Now they are in front. Maroons score with 6 minutes to go. Conversion successful. Maroons in front, just. Game is won in the last 2 minutes......maybe even "Golden Point "...Interesting. :-)
Batdad
Roar Rookie
Well said mate. Go Queensland!
Maroon Blood
Guest
"Where it belongs"??? Give it a rest. Queensland is the home of Origin, most game wins, most series wins, most points scored, most heroic last gasp victories (Game I being a minor glitch), only State to have both an Emperor and a King playing at the same time......and in the same jumper (All Hail, All Hail), best supporters, best home ground, best home-grown none-biased refs (RIP Grasshopper), best beer can throwers, best mascot, biggest coach, even bigger team manager..........ah, it's great to be a Queenslander and whatever happens tomorrow night, nothing will EVER change that. Go the Mighty Maroons!!
PNG LAST SURVIVORS OF JUNGLES
Guest
Maroons will show the blues how the origin games will be played. See for the first 20 mins and last 20 mins. Maroons will be very aggressive. Go the maroons. Logimo Tell Them
eri ebos
Guest
Go the Mighty maroons, we will win tomorrow night because we never say die. Die hard Maroons fan.
Sir Jamie Lyon
Guest
Were gonna win and win well. The trophy that has eluded us for years will finally return to were it belongs.
AlanKC
Guest
Okay by me but can you convince Dave Smith?
up in the north
Guest
I don't punt on the footy, but $3.40 looks pretty good.
Christopher Souter
Roar Rookie
Well, congratulations, then, Queensland! We Blues supporters might as well switch our TVs off and go to bed tomorrow night, as it's obviously a foregone conclusion.
Jay C
Guest
I hope I can get a piece of those odds
nopuritan
Guest
Some "Top Ten" SoO Stats: 1. Of the top 10 all time leading points scorers, only three current players make the list; Thurston (Q) Inglis (Q) Boyd (Q) 2. Of the top ten all time most Origin appearances only two current players make the list; Smith (Q) Thurston (Q) 3. Of the top ten all time leading try scorers only four current players make the list; Inglis (Q) Boyd (Q) Slater (Q) Hayne (NSW) 4. Of the top 10 leading goal kickers only two current players make the list; Thurston (Q) Smith (Q) 5.Of the top 10 players of all time to score the most points in a game only one current player makes the list; Thurston (Q) 7. Total points scored in SoO Qld 1645, NSW 1562 (difference: QLD +117) Of all the SoO games played, the Win - Loss ratio is currently QLD 53 won, NSW 45 won, 2 draws. from http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/records.html Current best odds: NSW $1.32, QLD $3.40 (as per oddschecker.com 17/06/14) Dare I state the obvious, Queensland will win...again.