The Queensland Maroons have levelled the 2017 State of Origin series with a thrilling 18-16 win over the New South Wales Blues in Game 2, forcing a decider in Brisbane.
The Maroons fought back in the second half, scoring two tries to none after conceding three in a row in the opening 40 but they were able to sneak over the line to send it to Game 3.
More State of Origin 2
» Queensland’s champions refuse to lose
» Match report: Maroons steal Game 2 win to force a decider
» Watch all the Origin 2 highlights
» Why the State of Origin man of the match process is broken
» WATCH: Andrew Johns blasts the Blues’ woeful second half
With a decider in the balance and an outstanding Queensland comeback in the bag, here are five talking points from Game 2.
The Queensland dynasty survives
Queensland has been one of the most dominant sides in Australian sporting history, winning a slightly ridiculous eight series in a row and ten of the last 11, but alas for the Blues, their era of domination isn’t quite over.
In one month, New South Wales have gone from dismantling the Maroons up in Brisbane with a chance of shattering the dynasty, to letting the series slip through their fingers at home with another daunting trip north staring them in the face.
With an ageing side and forward pack struggling to match the might of the Blues big men in Game 1, it was a huge effort from Queensland to bounce back and maintain the success they’ve enjoyed over the last decade.
Vital experience and calmness under pressure really got them over the line in the end as the Blues fell apart with late in the game trying to protect their lead.
It’s one hell of an achievement to be able to beat Queensland in Brisbane twice in one year, especially up against a Maroons side looking for retribution from Game 1. There is little to no chance they’ll be embarrassed at home like that again and the Queensland dynasty will likely to keep rolling on.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
The Blues collapse under pressure
New South Wales may have conceded first but they were on fire in the first half, scoring three quick tries before the break to take a 10-point lead into the sheds.
They were still fighting hard early in the second stanza, but once the Maroons found the line through Dane Gagai in the 53rd minute, the Blues went into their shell.
They began to protect the lead instead of trying to win the game and it really showed in the end as they struggled to get out of their own half inside the final 15 minutes while the Maroons piled on the pressure.
As soon as the foot came down from Queensland, the Blues began losing their way, throwing the ball all over the shop and making errors in attack and defence.
Despite hanging on as long as they could, the Maroons saw blood in the water and thrived under the Blues crumbling conundrum.
Experience versus youth
Queensland’s well-known experience was broken in Game 1 and they suffered because of it, but this time, bolstered by the “big three,” the Maroons found the mix of ageing experience and new-blooded debutants to get them over the line at the end of the day.
The Maroons stalwarts are starting to ease up on the park and are on their way out with father time working against them, but they showed in Game 2 that they have the youth and depth to continue to fire and keep up with the pace of Origin, and more importantly, the pace of the NSW side desperate to win a series.
With Jonathan Thurston leaving rep footy at the end of this series and Cooper Cronk likely to follow as he moves to Sydney, Queensland will be battling a delicate balance of transitioning their elder statesmen with the new breed in the next 18 months.
Where was this in Game 1?
The final 15 minutes was nail-biting rugby league and gave us the dramatic and tension-fuelled finish we were all hoping for in the series opener.
Queensland really started to fire after conceding three tries in a row in the first half, taking the attack to the Blues right side edge in the second stanza and got them back in the contest.
Game 1 never really looked like being a tight game outside of the opening 15 minutes and, despite being a surprise result, this one really turned the heat up on the players and fans as an 80-minute contest.
It ebbed and flowed across both halves, climaxing in a tense finale that had hearts in mouths and New South Wales fans wondering where it all went wrong.
If Game 3 is anything like this one, we should be in for an exciting final chapter of the 2017 series.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Referees not up to the big stage
It’s a bit of a cheap shot to have a go at the officials, but regardless of the result, there were a few blinding decisions that the refs either failed to make or just made in the wrong direction.
On two separate occasions, NSW players were taken out on the kick chase with Darius Boyd, in particular, making no efforts to hide his direct change of line towards the chasing player and even dropping a healthy shoulder in as well.
It wasn’t just Queensland though. Billy Slater was taken out and taken high by Aaron Woods in the second half while giving chase and nothing was called.
The first try of the game came under controversial circumstances when it looked as though Valentine Holmes back heel touched the sideline on his way over.
It was a forward pass bonanza in the first half as well with Queensland getting away with a host of passes from out of dummy half and through broken play.
Offside calls and strips all seemed to be called the wrong way throughout the contest.
It will certainly be an easy targetting point for Laurie Daley to toss the blame towards.
Carlos
Guest
A lot of money in a decider... But hey I'm sure Sports Bet and Channel 9 don't care about the money. They just want what's best for the fans and to enjoy the game regardless of how many people are watching or betting.
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
The officials channelled the Grasshopper who was the worst ref I have seen - only used one arm awarding the cane toads countless penalties and so it continues.
Emcie
Roar Guru
seems legit
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
NSW have a massive surplus so I am not fussed as who really cares - your state is going backwards and only have SOO to hang you hat on/ Banjo's and Cane Toads - your Hero Joe Bjelke Peterson would be rolling in his grave over what has happened to his beloved sunshine or more appropriate moonlight state.
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
your opinion or your ghosts of the past like the Grasshopper and Joe Bjelke Peterson
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
Even with Maroon and White eyes painted on you must agree the officials played an important role in QLD's victory though - forward passed missed/ players tackled without the ball (2 NSW) - No penalties which should have been/ QLD first try should not have been awarded as the players boot touched the line but oh didn't for some reason have the camera angle - very convenient etc etc - All knew it would be a game 3 decider -
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
Refs/linesperson/Bunker would have received 10'S from Queensland - all knew it would be a game 3 decider
steveng
Roar Rookie
Wade Graham has a better kicking game than Pearce. he proved that in this game. Pearce was nowhere to be seen, especially in the second half when NSW needed good tactical kicks and a 1/2 that can control the game. Pearce must go and Matt Moylan must be put in as 5/8 and Maloney as 1/2, Moylan has got a tactical brain on his shoulders and leaves Pearce for dead, in every respect.
Nico
Guest
Pre-game a ton of NSW supporters and journalists jumped on the band-wagon about how NSW's forward pack was going to run over the top of QLD and set up a dynasty or something like that. NSW has had the size advantage in the forwards for probably the last 10 series and hasn't that worked well out for them. Problem is though dynasties aren't based on forwards alone - you'd be hard pressed to find a champion side that didn't have at least one champion half. Maloney and Pearce might be improving but as they showed on Wednesday, they're not there yet.
Fight Fair
Guest
if Queensland get origin how come they picked a N.S.Welshman for ten years. Hypocrisy that's in Queensland!
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I'll be honest. It was me. For whatever reason my tipping comp still awards the bonus tips for a perfect week during bye rounds and I couldn't bring myself to tip the upset. So I made sure it wasn't one. It's put me right up in the top 3 on the tail of a devious 9 year old who I don't believe for a second is making his own tips.
Bee bee
Guest
Who rigged it Pete ? The refs? The players? Nine? Sports bet? God? Maybe a more accurate explanation is : NSW lost intensity with the finish line in sight and a bunch of freakishly good Qld veterans took advantage and played out a scenario they have mastered to the point running through it on auto pilot.
Carlos
Guest
But Kreig, they have such a massive impact on the outcome of a game. Why should we accept such rubbish.
Carlos
Guest
Good comment, Game one was great because it wasn't full of weird and bizarre inconstancies... Game II had way too many weird and bizarre inconstancies that seemed to largely favour one side... With that side being the side who needed to win for a game III decider. A lot of money in a game III decider...
Carlos
Guest
Look I'm not saying NSW were 'robbed' but there was a lot VERY wrong with the referring in that game. If Hayne passes to Morris NSW win... So you can stay thats the game right there. Lets be honest here if NSW had won and that first VH try was a NSW try... They would be screaming murder in Queensland and they'd be right too... Though to me the two biggest calls were non calls. I had no problem with Maloney being penalised for pushing Slater over off the ball. If that was a penalty Boyd tackling Dugan without the ball preventing him from contesting a kick was 100% a penalty. That one was particularly damaging. Instead of having an attacking set on QLD try line Blues had to defend a 7 tackle set. Same with the Hayne non penalty. Those two decisions artificially shifted the momentum and flow of possession and were potentially game saving moments given to QLD. Again lets be honest here if it had been the other way QLD would be blowing up and rightfully so. I can't help but wonder in an age of networks going under. An integrity bankrupt gambling industry as major sponsors... How much money is not made if it doesn't go to a decider? Last years dead rubber was the lowest rated SOO since 2010 with a huge (have a look at the figures) drop in eyes on screen... I suspect the difference between a game II decider and game III decider for CH9 and Sportsbet is a lot of revenue... So when I see such obvious poor adjudication I can't help but be suspicious.
Andrew
Guest
Refs aren't to blame for the result but every time they pulled back to wide shots both team were way off side. The blockers on kick chase were a joke as well - The QLD blockers and the Wade Graham coat hanger on Slater - so both ways. To many soft strip or interference penalties as well. They didn't decide the game, but like many of the players, they were below their best
Peter G
Guest
It was all too predictable for my liking. I think State of Origin is rigged
Dan
Guest
*Hayne has to go, bring Latrell Mitchell in for game G3 *Fifita had a quiet G2, needs to step up for G3 Woods dropped for G3, replaced by??
Naitch
Guest
Forward passes out of dummy half are a deadest blight on the game and in the last few seasons have been out of control. They need to bring back the penalty for a deliberate forward pass and apply it to every forward pass out of dummy half. The ball can't "float forward" when the hooker is stationary at the ruck so in my opinion, dummy halves are guilty of deliberately throwing a pass forward. Touch Judges also have a role in this; what are they there for if not to adjudicate forward passes and put the flag up when the ball/player goes into touch. Both of which they don't do anyway. Get me with a carton of tins and a microphone and i'll watch it from my lounge room at home and police forward passes, free of charge.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
The only reason NSW lost was because in that second half, for whatever reason, legit or otherwise, they changed their approach to playing the game. Everything else about referees or blaming Pearce or Hayne or Thurston is god or whatever is just whinging.