Queensland
6
Match Complete
New South Wales
38
| 75 |  | J. Maloney | ||
| 73 |  | J. Addo-Carr | ||
| 57 | | J. Addo-Carr | ||
| 55 | | J. Maloney | ||
| 53 | | T. Trbojevic | ||
| 49 |  | J. Maloney | ||
| 44 | | J. Maloney | ||
| 36 | | J. Maloney | ||
| 34 | | T. Trbojevic | ||
| 19 | | N. Cleary | ||
| 18 | | T. Frizell | ||
| K. Ponga | | 14 | ||
| W. Chambers | | 13 | ||
| 8 | | N. Cleary | ||
| 7 | | T. Trbojevic |
| 1 | Tries | 6 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 5 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Hey! You’re looking at an old blog! Keep up to date with Game 1, 2021 live scores here.
Match result
The NSW Blues have forced a decider, winning Origin 2 38-6 in Perth.
Tom Trbojevic scored a hat-trick on his State of Origin return, Josh Addo-Carr grabbed a double, while James Tedesco and James Maloney were both impressive in guiding the Blues to victory.
The Maroons’ only points for the game came through a penalty try to Will Chambers early in the first half.
Final score
NSW 38 def QLD 6
More Origin 2
» Origin final score: NSW dominate Queensland in Perth to force decider
» WATCH: Tom Trbojevic combines with James Tedesco to score awesome hat-trick
» Full State of Origin results
Match preview
The New South Wales Blues will take a virtually unrecognisable team into a do-or-die Game 2 against the Queensland Maroons as State of Origin makes its first trek to Perth. Join The Roar for our live scores and blog from 7:50pm (AEST).
The Blues went down by just four points in the series opener after taking an early lead, but will now need to use unfamiliar combinations to claim victory in an unfamiliar city.
The NRL announced on Friday that Optus Stadium is sold out for Origin 2, and the Blues will be hoping to drum up some support, with Brad Fittler making seven changes for Game 2.
Gone are Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell, Josh Morris, Angus Crichton and the injured trio of Nick Cotric, Payne Haas and David Klemmer.
The sacking of Mitchell came as the biggest surprise for the Blues, with a completely new and out-of-position centre combo of Tom Trbojevic and Jack Wighton (who was the bench utility in Game 1) selected.
Blake Ferguson is also recalled on the wing, while James Maloney returns to join up with Nathan Cleary in the halves as the Blues look to replicate the 2018’s success.
Daniel Saifiti is the left-field selection to start in the front row, while NSW will run without a bench utility, as Dale Finucane, Tariq Sims and Wade Graham take the three remaining spots.
On the other side of the park, Kevin Walters and his Maroons are a lot more settled, making no unforced changes, with only the injured Jai Arrow and Joe Ofahengaue out. Dylan Napa will start in the front row, with Jai Arrow and Tim Glasby added to the bench.
Their only concerns are around Moses Mbye, who went into anaphylactic shock on Friday, but miraculously is set to play, and Napa, who has a wrist complaint.
Daly Cherry-Evans holds the keys to the Maroons castle through his kicking game, so long as the forwards can match it in the middle third, while Ben Hunt’s passing game – which was questionable in the series opener – also holds importance.
What they do need to do is whether the early storm. The Blues started the last game strongly, but a mix of poor interchange rotations hurt them in the second half.
No Klemmer will lessen the impact they can have in the opening 20 minutes, but the solid Finucane, Graham and Sims should allow them to hold sway in the middle third during the later stages of the game and manage workloads better.
If they can do that and find ways to score, then the classy brilliance of Josh Addo-Carr, James Tedesco and Damien Cook will shine in attack. If that happens, it’s hard to see Queensland being up to the challenge of defending them for 80 minutes.
Prediction
We will get a decider, folks. There wasn’t a heap between the two sides last time, and this Blues bench looks better than the one which let the side down.
Blues by 4.
Game information
Kick-off: 7.50pm (AEST – 5:50pm local)
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
TV: Live, Nine Network
Online: Live, 9Now
Betting: Queensland $1.91, New South Wales $1.91
Overall record: Played 115, Queensland 62, New South Wales 51, drawn 2
Game 1: QLD 18 defeated NSW 14 at Suncorp Stadium
Referees: Gerard Sutton and Ashley Klein
New South Wales Blues
1. James Tedesco, 2. Blake Ferguson, 3. Tom Trbojevic, 4. Jack Wighton, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. James Maloney, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Daniel Saifiti, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Boyd Cordner (c), 12. Tyson Frizell, 13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14. Dale Finucane, 15. Tariq Sims, 16. Cameron Murray, 17. Wade Graham
Queensland Maroons
1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Michael Morgan, 4. Will Chambers, 5. Dane Gagai, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Dylan Napa, 9. Ben Hunt, 10. Josh Papalii, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Josh McGuire
Interchange: 14. Moses Mbye, 15. Jarrod Wallace, 16. Tim Glasby, 17. David Fifita
Kathryn
Guest
If that argument had any validity, you could suggest that Kevvie had the winning formula after Game 1, & therefore should’ve taken it into & won Game 2.....no dice.
Kathryn
Guest
Hope he got to keep the Labrador
Insider
Roar Rookie
But no # dynasty Lololol
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
It's more fun that way and far less boring. Don't you agree? ;-)
Brendon Waldron
Roar Pro
Yeah a series can be decided after 2 games, but a game is not a decider unless the series WILL be decided. I think you understood that well enough though, Right? You just wanted to be difficult...
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
That slap in the head to Saifiti was a cowards dog shot though and typical of the way this bottom feeder plays the game. That's why whatever Chambers copped from Latrell Mitchell he had coming to him. That negative style of play would stop pretty quickly if players were routinely and consistently penalised for these cheap shots. At present the referees are seeing this but giving players a verbal warning instead which is the same thing as a fee pass to keep committing these low acts.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Freddy knew he got some of his selections wrong for game 1 and made the necessary changes for game 2 - even if some were forced by injury. Tommy T and Graham weren't available for game 1 and he recognised he needed the experience of Maloney, Wade Graham, Ferguson, etc. and hardness of Finucane and Sims for game 2. Omitting Walker and Mitchell were tough calls but they were right. The injection of experience and hardness proved the difference. You're right he stuffed up his interchanges in game 1 but didn't make the same mistake last night.
steveng
Roar Rookie
lol Papi but, the Rain Man was brilliant?
steveng
Roar Rookie
Mate, don't get me started on this subject lol as the cheap penalties, forward passes and every infringement(s) in the rule book have been going on pro Qld for y_e_a_rssss lol that was SOO big "Draw Card" to get all of us from NSW to get agro and watch and as the saying goes "winner are grinner and the rest can please themselves' it went on for years and decades! Some of the refereeing decisions over the years, those 'Grasshopper' Gomersall years favouring Qld (RIP the Grasshopper but I still have to mention him) have been unbelievable, anyway, the Blues look good and its getting better??? lol
Scott Pryde
Expert
Should be 4 for Queensland and 3 for NSW.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Hope he fines himself then for fairness and consistency. He'll probably just take the money out of the NSW kitty and claim "That's in QLD!"
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Watch and learn Brendon. Andrew Johns and Peter Sterling, Brad Fittler, Phil Gould et al are puppets for higher powers and their strings are pulled by CH9 and FOX Sports (and Nick Politis in the case of Gould and Fittler). Why else do they sound more QLD than the retired QLD players on the commentary team? It's probably the same reason Fatty was saying no try. It's all for effect. Besides, the bunker are listening to the commentary teams from both broadcasters in any case so they can adjust their calls to cut back on controversy. If you listen closely they sometimes repeat the exact words and phrases spoken by the commentary team just moments before. Tin foil hat? Or do you have your own? ;-)
Tyke
Roar Rookie
All that is irrelevant now, no JT, no Smith, no Slater, no Cronk. Your current squad can’t afford to think about past series
Sharon
Guest
Would like to know the football doubles numbers please
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
But he did say "NSW" and not 'the other team'.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Chambers is OK, a good player. But McGuire is a fair dinkum hacker and a blight on the game.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
He's getting his tackle numbers up bro!
mushi
Roar Guru
Well if you said it then it has been carved in stone
mushi
Roar Guru
if Freddy knew what he wanted… where was that prescience prior to game one? What that game showed is that his maligned middle forward rotation in game 1 cost them the match, if Freddy could coach the more talented blues would have been locking it up last night. Hopefully he goes in with hubris again and we’re gifted another clanger.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Oh dear