With NSW leading Queensland 16-6 at ANZ Stadium last night and in total control, the Origin series was game set and match.
But for some inexplicable reason only coach Laurie Daley and/or captain Boyd Cordner would be able to answer, NSW put their cue in the rack and started to protect their well-earned lead.
Had Queensland been in that position, they would have gone for the jugular by adding points, never sitting on them.
Having won Origin 1 by 28-4 doing just that, playing for 80 minutes, NSW had effectively been in control for 133 minutes through the series.
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
Last night they were down 6-0 thanks to the most frequently penalised footballer in the NRL James Maloney taking out Queensland fullback Billy Slater without the ball. The penalty led to Queensland’s first try, a spectacular dive for the corner by debutant Valentine Holmes.
How he managed to keep inside the touchline by a blade of grass was a feat in itself.
Needless to say Johnathan Thurston landed the conversion from touch.
But NSW weren’t at all put off, and in a 13-minute burst from the 14th to the 27th NSW scored three cracking tries to Jarryd Hayne, Brett Morris and Mitchell Pearce.
It was Hayne’s 11th Origin try to equal the NSW career record set by fleet-footed Michael O’Connor.
Surprisingly, both Hayne and Morris scored with the ball under their wrong arm – and got away with it.
Maloney converted two of them and the miss ended up being the difference at full time.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
There should have been a fourth four-pointer but Hayne hung on with Morris unmarked outside him – an important miss as it turned out.
James Tedesco, Maloney and benchman Jake Trbojevic were responsible for manufacturing the tries, with Josh Jackson setting up his man-of-the-match award with a powerhouse first half in attack and defence.
That 16-6 lead was the result of NSW being faster and fitter compared to Queensland being flat-footed.
The only standout for Queensland was winger Dane Gagai who proved to be fitter, faster and more dangerous than his teammates.
It was no surprise when Gagai scored the two tries that put Queensland back in business, taking his Origin four pointers count to seven from just six appearances.
The second try in the 76th minute levelled the scores at 16 apiece, with the kick to come from the incredible Thurston, again wide out on his wrong side.
With the vast majority of the chockers 82,279 crowd creating a deafening din, Thurston curled his attempt right between the posts.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
As Queensland captain Cameron Smith said post match, “The noise was so loud I couldn’t even think, yet he landed the goal,” was the skipper’s salute in admiration.
So NSW led 16-6 for 53 minutes before Queensland scored 12 unanswered points in the last 27.
With all due respects to Josh Jackson, Dane Gagai was my man of the match for his two tries under enormous pressure, and topping two stats that proved my point.
He made 21 runs with Cordner second on 17, and ran 174 metres, just ahead of Tedesco’s 170.
So the scene is set for a blockbuster of a decider in three weeks at Suncorp which will double as the Origin retirement game for Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk.
NSW couldn’t get their act together in a home crowd of 82,279, but it will be a fair bit harder dealing with a parochial Suncorp crowd of 52,000-plus wanting two of their heroes to go out winners.
Buckle up Roarers, this will be one for the ages.
Mantra
Guest
yet Daley was being hailed as a Saviour after Game 1?? Every game brings a gross over-reaction...
Mark
Guest
Really? His name is Daley He has been involved in how many losses now?
c
Roar Rookie
correct answer
TigerMike
Guest
Yeah all of the above Plus the PM I meant MP was kicking to the wrong side this match compared to1 to their right instead if their left And beat the end while they had the lead with 5 to go he should have found touch for a stoppage scrum tine instead of kicking to their right winger side Gave them enough time and to play agsinst no set defence etc
sham
Guest
If NSW lose this series Daley should go. He is a great guy but had no real coaching experience before being handed such an important role. He has not coached an NRL side in what he would call a 'big finals game ' or any game for that matter. Sure Hayne got found out a bit but he did not pick himself at centre- Daley chose to play him there and he paid the price for it. Daley chooses Dugan at centre sure he defends well there but Dugan almost never passes so he is not that hard to defend against. Dylan Walker or Jennings bring more to the table attack wise than Hayne and Dugan and Jennings is a way better defensive centre than Hayne. But Daley will stay loyal for game three.
Brett
Guest
NSW became arrogant and believed their own hubris. They thought they had won the next 5 series already. Reality hurts huh?
Mike from tari
Guest
NSW, aggressive defence for 70 minutes, passive defence last 10 minutes, in that 10 minutes passive defending meant Smith could dictate play from dummy half, Smith, Cronk & Thurston continually geeing their players up, driving them, NSW, no talk, static defence, that's where the game was lost, no leadership.
Miniscule
Guest
Albo - according to your logic so if a team got all the penalties in the second half and they scored from those penalties it wouldn't have affected the result. Sure both Qld and NSW made mistakes but apparently Qld were squeaky clean for a half. Channel Nine wins again. All the 50-50 ref decisions went to Qld (statistically impossible in a game of any footy). Apologies Slater was knocked over coming thru on a kick but the touchies missed it - doesnt the bunker intervene on these events. The less said about the speed of the valentine try decision the better. Can you explain the 64th minute Qld penalty to me?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Great game but boy the Blues butchered that second half. Joey was spot on with his spray. Play direct, build pressure and play at other end. Instead they were lateral, making errors and giving away a silly penalty. And why didn't they target Thurston ! Really poor second half and the inexperience showed. It was all Qld in that last 20 minutes and they pulled off a great win.
Diplomatt
Guest
It can mean many things, Art. I am an enigma. And I'm guessing you are a Seinfeld fan?
Art Vanderlay
Guest
I'm guessing your moniker is about your "tackle"?
Diplomatt
Guest
That's all true and valid Albo. A champion team takes the ref out of the equation right? This NSW side has a long way to go unfortunately.
Albo
Guest
Whilst I agree that there was the usual poor officialdom on display again last night , and much went against NSW, it really shouldn't have mattered ! NSW should have still wrapped up the series easily, with the start they had last night. The referees didn't cause Hayne to butcher a try near halftime that would have finished QLD off for the series ? The referees didn't make Graham try to put a big hit on McQuire that failed and him bouncing out of it sparking a miracle try and sniff of a comeback, when QLD had been going absolutely nowhere? The referees didn't cause Graham & Hayne to give away penalties for stripping the ball on the QLD line when they had QLD pinned down and struggling, or make Pearce kick poorly to give away two 7 x tackle sets when NSW had them pinned down ? Forget blaming the officials when the win was theirs despite any refereeing errors, if only the players weren't so dumb ! For once I agree with Joey Johns. A dumbfounding display by NSW in that 2nd half , again prolonging the myth of the "Queenslander" !!!
Miniscule
Guest
Confected rubbish - no replays of controversial decisions that went Qlds way - where was the forensic look at Valentines foot from every angle which usually takes place and all the 50-50 decisions to Qld in second half . As Roy masters wrote about another referee - "he led the way in keeping SOO close until the final minutes so no team would run away with the match" Penalties 3-0 to Qld in second half - Even WWE would be embarrassed.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I guess, had the ref said no try, then it really would have been interesting...
Albo
Guest
Smith had just 8 runs for 36 metres ! And only 39 tackles, well below his average in SOO ! He is well down on his best form ( I think he is carrying an injury as well as his seniors card) , but he is still providing leadership and enough guile to get QLD home in these tight matches.
Albo
Guest
The answer is simple. The NSW team made many dumb errors in that 2nd half with Hayne & Graham particularly poor on the left side, continually allowing QLD free passes out of their territory and half chances to score ( which they took). QLD were going nowhere till Graham tried to put a big hit on McQuire, bounced off him, and suddenly all hell broke loose with an attacking raid leading to the try to get QLD a sniff. The halves Pearce & Maloney ( and probably the coaching instruction ) failed to manage the direction of the team in that 2nd half with a lack of attack at the armless Thurston, failure to create any attacking play , and poor 5th tackle kicks. The lack of NSW leadership in that half was truly exposed yet again. On the other hand we had Smith, Thurston and Slater playing well below their best , but with enough management ability to just get the QLD team home yet again.
Nic
Guest
It's not rocket science Qld have 4 of the greatest players of all time in their ranks and NSW don't Those guys really stepped it up in the second half (e.g. Smith ran as much as I've seen him do in years), they were ably supported by the rest and NSW coundn't cope
Hoy
Roar Guru
When Maloney was sweeping left and right in attack, NSW looked unstoppable. At the 50 minute mark, they simply shut up shop. It coincided with a few things... Frizell went off... QLD started playing to their structure for probably the first time all year and stopped running over the sideline... The NSW props were not getting big metres anymore... but the bottom line is they stopped attacking, and just rolled through the motions hoping that they had enough of a buffer. The refs let things go both ways... players got deliberately taken out, players through forward passes.. both sides.
Diplomatt
Guest
Very similar to the Hayne no try all those years ago. The behind camera angle shown at the stadium showed him clearly stepping on the line. Same as the Hayne no try.