The Queensland Maroons have sent the 2017 State of Origin series to a deciding match with a 18-16 win over the New South Wales Blues in Game 2 in Sydney.
With less than five minutes to go and Queensland trailing by four, Dane Gagai broke through the NSW defence and scored the match-winning try after holding on to a superb Michael Morgan flick-pass.
With the scores tied at 16-all, Johnathan Thurston nailed the ensuing conversion, sneaking it through the left-hand upright to give Queensland the two-point buffer that they would take to the final whistle.
The match-winner was Gagai’s second try of the last 40 minutes. He had earlier broken away to open the scoring in the second half after some excellent work from Josh McGuire and an instinctive no-look pass from Will Chambers.
However, New South Wales fans were unhappy with the try, as Jarryd Hayne had appeared to be blocked from chasing the kick that led to Gagai’s try. It wasn’t the first time the referees earned the ire of the home crowd, with a similar block going unpenalized earlier in the second half.
But few fans could realistically begrudge Queensland’s victory, with the visitors far outplaying the Blues in the final 40 minutes of the game.
More Origin 2 coverage
» State of Origin results
» Five talking points from Queensland’s series-tying victory
» Check out all the highlights from the thrilling Game 2
» WATCH: Andrew Johns unleashes a furious rant about the Blues’ woeful second half
» WATCH: Valentine Holmes starts his Origin career with the first try of Game 2
The Blues had earlier taken a ten-point lead into halftime on the back of three quick tries to Jarryd Hayne, Brett Morris and Mitchell Pearce, despite debutant Valentine Holmes scoring the opening try of the game.
Holmes crossed in controversial circumstances, with his foot going awfully close to the touchline as he dived acrobatically over the line in the corner. However, the on-field decision was for a try, and the Bunker had insufficient evidence to award anything other than a four-pointer.
It was a short-lived advantage for the away side, with New South Wales quickly responding with a trio of tries. Jarryd Hayne was the first to score, finishing off a slick backline move from the Blues, before Josh Morris capitalised on a break from James Maloney to surge across the line.
Just 90 seconds later, Mitchell Pearce scored his second try if the series when he was the beneficiary of a superb run from James Tedesco, putting the finishing touches on a dominant first half.
However, that would prove to be the Blues’ final scoring play of the game, as they went the entire second half without breaking through the Queensland defence.
For the Maroons, Gagai was outstanding for the second straight game, and both Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith turned in far improved performances from the first match of the series.
The Queensland forwards were also far better than in Game 1, with Josh McGuire and Dylan Napa the standouts up front.
New South Wales had plenty of strong performers in the first half – Mitchell Pearce backed up his good opening game with a solid opening 40 minutes and Josh Jackson was outstanding throughout – but the entire side dropped off after halftime.
The series now moves back to Brisbane for the decider, which will be played on July 12 at Suncorp Stadium.
Psychodelia
Guest
No, but we had him for all these years, and he is one in a million. Unforgettable. Fantastic player, kicker, indigenous, the best laugh, the best eyes, the giving of his helmets and kicking tees, the bloke can't be beaten.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
He's not the messiah he's a very naughty boy.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The irrational hatred of Gallen still confuses me and use of him as an excuse for Pearce when the biggest failure Pearce had was when Gallen was injured is downright stupid. Not to say Gallen didn't get involved too often sometimes, but people act like it was his fault Farah kept feeding the ball to the forwards in good field position.
jacksyd
Guest
As a NSW supporter I can confidently say if Mitchell Pearce is selected for game 3 then kiss 2017 goodbye. In that last 20 mins when the pressure was on at 16-12, Pearce went to jelly as I feared he would. Nowhere to be found. All but 2 of his kicks placed little pressure on QLD. How many line breaks did he make? NONE How many try assists did he execute? NONE He backed up through the middle to score his try. WHOOPY DO. I don't understand why Andrew Johns went off after the game. He is his personal mentor at the roosters and one of several constantly pushing for his inclusion but at what point will it be acknowledged that Pearce doesn't have and never will have anywhere near the skills Johns possessed to take control of a game when called upon at this level. Pearce had an opportunity last night to silence his knockers in that last 20 minutes and finally include himself as an Origin hero but if that performance wasn't enough to look elsewhere then NSW can kiss 2017 goodbye.
Tony
Guest
NSW don't have "Great" players,. you can't turn up (in the last 10 years) lost every time and and be a Great player ,. there good or very good players, you must at least win 50% of these game to be "a Great" player!",.."but they can say i was good enough to play against Great Players"....
JoM
Roar Rookie
Neither will Qld after the next game
Geoff Schaefer
Guest
You only need to play for one half if it's against NSW.
Nambawan
Guest
A superb football game. Non stop flow, skillful passing, ferocious physicality etc etc. Wonderful entertainment really. Can understand why Ch9 is prepared to pay big for the product.
Les Norton
Guest
Agree about the way Cordner carried himself after the game. He is the leader and should be instilling belief in his troops, not sitting teary-eyed and shaking his head in disbelief. It sends bad signals to the rest of the team.
Les Norton
Guest
I really think that some credit has to be given to Qld's 2nd half defence. There were very few times that NSW kicked on the 5th tackle outside their own half. Sometimes you can only play as well as the opposition let you. NSW made mistakes because they were constantly put under pressure. To start bagging the NSW side just continues the lack of loyalty and faith in a side that has improved over the last few series. The dubious referee calls went both ways and at vital times for both sides so that nullified itself out.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Haha you keep telling yourself that mate ?
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Honestly? Morris, Bird, Roberts, and Croker are all better centres. But Haynes a better player. It's a tough choice.
AJL.
Roar Pro
Yes, 1998. Qld won games 1 and 3 at the SFS, NSW won game 2 at Lang Park. IIRC each side ended up scoring 53 points total in the series.
FrozenNorth
Guest
Lot's of focus on the second half but IMHO this game was lost mid way through the first when we were up 16-6 and hayne bombed that try on the left wing. From there, we never settled down and the entire team, especially Hayne, played too loose and too fancy and forgot that it was the grunt work up the guts that got them lead to begin with. For 60 minutes we played way too fancy and went wide too early. Oh and as suspected Cordner is soft, nearly in tears, harden the $%^& up for god';s sake.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Queenslands best by a mile in game 1 and had a blinder tonight.
robbo
Guest
Bla bla bla
robbo
Guest
Agreed very exciting ej get to lang park for the decider whichever way it goes will be a cracker!
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Woulda been 18-0 to QLD had the big hog been there .
Paul
Guest
That would be slanderous, let's but let the tv footage speak for it's self & say the got conned by the best con artists.In the NRL Smith, Slater et al
Paul Nichosl
Guest
The only reason nsw started defending their lead was due to refereeing.