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Origin 2 man of the match: Who was man of the match in 2018 State of Origin Game 2?

Boyd Cordner. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
24th June, 2018
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Boyd Cordner of the NSW Blues has been named man of the match in Game 2 of the 2018 State of Origin series.

The Blues won the match 18-14 and therefore claimed the 2018 State of Origin series 2-0, having also defeated Queensland at the MCG 22-12 in Game 1.

More Origin 2:
» TIM GORE: Baby Blues end the Maroon dynasty
» The Liebke ratings
» Nine talking points
» Match report: Blues take the series
» WATCH: Video highlights
» Re-live the match with our live blog

The game started well for Queensland – they scored the first two tries of the match through Valentine Holmes and Dane Gagai.

However the Blues then took control of the game – they scored their first try of the match through Josh Addo-Carr, but the second was more controversial.

It was Cordner who was involved in one of the most crucial plays of the game, eventually awarded a penalty try that – coupled with a James Maloney conversion – put the Blues ahead for the first time all night.

The Blues were able to add another try early in the second half and give themselves an eight-point buffer, but then Queensland came back hard again.

The Maroons were able to bring it in to just a four-point margin, but despite the Blues missing James Roberts for a ten-minute sin bin late in the game, Queensland just couldn’t find a way to break through.

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The match came to an end with NSW still holding that four-point advantage – and with it the game, and the series.

There wasn’t necessarily an obvious match of the man – Billy Slater and Kalyn Ponga both caught the eye for Queensland, while James Maloney’s reliable boot was crucial for the Blues.

In the end though it was NSW skipper Cordner who got the win after leading his side to a series victory.

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