Maroons take game two to set up decider

What now for the Blues

The Blues must now win at Suncorp Stadium to regain the Origin Shield and coach Laurie Daley is expected to make changes. Liam Martin will play his third match for Penrith this weekend after returning from injury, Tom Trbojevic is back for Manly, Haumole Olakau'atu was overlooked for Origin II and Latrell Mitchell and Blayke Brailey may be available.

Fulltime washup: Queensland were the better team for 7 minutes in Origin I until Kalyn Ponga was sent off and with 13 players for the full 80 minutes they proved too strong for NSW at the MCG. Watched by a record Origin crowd of 91671, the Maroons overcame a 12-8 halftime deficit to power over the top of the Blues in the second term. The signs were there from the opening set of the first half when Selwyn Cobbo broke into space and the Queensland winger finished with a hat-trick of tries as the Maroons spine of Cameron Munster, man-of-the-match Sam Walker, Kalyn Ponga and Harry Grant dominated proceedings. The Blues had dominated the middle of the field in the first half but they had no answer to the rampaging Maroons in the second half. 

77 min: Mitch Barnett has scored a consolation try after good lead up work by Cam Murray. Cleary converted. Maroons 44 Blues 24.

Breaking: Moses is off

73 min: Cobbo has completed his hat-trick after Ponga tapped on the ball for Tabuai-Fidow who passed to the Dolphins wing star.

Record crowd: The crowd of 91671 is the biggest ever for a State of Origin, eclipsing the previous record of 91513 at the MCG in 2015.

64 min: Tedesco's attempt at a short kick didn't go 10m and Roosters team-mate Collins made the Blues pay after a run out of dummy half from Grant. Walker converted. Maroons 38 Blues 18.

62 min: Staggs has been sent to the sinbin, prompting Daley to send Strange into the game. Koroisau will now be the man to miss out.

62 min: Staggs has shot out of the line to put a big shot on Ponga after he passed the ball to Tabuai-Fidow, who linked with Cobbo, who kicked for the speedster to score. Walker converted. Maroons 32 Blues 18.

61 min: Some individual brilliance by Nawaqanitawase as he dances past Cobbo to score and put NSW back in the game. Cleary converts from out wide. Maroons 26 Blues 18.

 

60 min: The Maroons have lost their challenge after Collins lost the ball from the kick off and the Bunker reject his claim that it was because of a shoulder charge by Robson. 

58 min: Queensland go further ahead after another cross field kick from Munster isolates To'o and Fifita leaps above him to score. Walker converts. Maroons 26 Blues 12 

55 min: Fonua-Blake is on for NSW - leaving Daley to decide whether to use Koroisau or Strange.

53 min: Cobbo has got his second try after a brilliantly executed scrum move in which Ponga drifted around Walker and into space before passing to his winger. Walker converted from the touchline. Maroons 20 Blues 12. 

46 min: The Maroons have scored another stunning try after Toia leaped above NSW fullback and Roosters team-mate James Tedesco to catch a Walker bomb. Toia passed to Plath who shifted the ball to Munster. With a huge overlap to his left, Munster kicked for an unmarked Cobbo to catch the ball and scored. Walker converted from out wide to put Queensland ahead. Maroons 14 Blues 12. 

44 min: The Blues had a great attacking opportunity after a charge down by Plath of a Moses kick ricocheted into the hands of To'o.

41 min: The Maroons have started the second half in style with Cobbo making a break in the opening set.

All eyes on Walsh, Strange

A key for the second half is likely to be how rival coaches Laurie Daley and Billy Slater use their benches - in particular Ethan Strange and Reece Walsh. Slater has used forwards Trent Loiero, Max Plath and Lindsay Collins - meaning secondrower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki won't get to make his Origin debut if Walsh plays. For the Blues, Cameron Murray and Victory Radley have been, leaving prop Addin Fonua-Blake, hooker Api Koroisau and Strange, who was arguably NSW's best player in Origin I after receving a late call up for the injured Mitch Moses. Daley suggested Strange could play in the secondrow but if that was to happen Fonua-Blake - one of the game's best props would miss out or hooker Reece Robson will have to play 80 minutes. Game on!

Halftime Summary

The scene is set for an epic second half after an opening 40 minutes that was played at a frantic pace as both teams battled for dominance. NSW were on top for longer against a Maroons side disrupted by the loss of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Cameron Munster for HIAs.

39 min: Desperate defence by the Maroons, led by Fifita, has driven Young over the sideline.

37 min: Munster has been cleared to return.

34 min: To'o has saved the Blues by beating Robert Toia to a kick in goal and knocking the ball dead.

33 min: The Blues are under more pressure after Staggs batted a loose ball over the sideline. The Maroons have a scrum feed near the NSW line.

32 min: Radley is penalised for another high tackle on Nikora.

32 min: Victor Radley is on report for a high shot on Loiero

BREAKING: Fa'asuamaleaui has passed his HIA and is ready to return

31 min: Selwyn Cobbo has made a trysaving tackle on Nawaqanitawase but replays showed just how close the NSW winger came to scoring.

29 min: Munster has come from the field for a HIA after hitting his head on the ground after the pass leading up to Queensland's try. Cotter is back on. 

27 min: Loiero has scored for the Maroons after a long range break by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. He was tackled but Harry Grant raced out of dummy half and linked with Cameron Munster, who hooked an overhead pass for Walker. Max Plath, who had come on to the field for Reuben Cotter, backed up to receive the pass from Walker before sending Loiero sailing through a gap. Walker converted. Blues 12 Maroons 8. 

25 min: The Blues make another break on the right edge through Staggs but he loses the ball.

21 min: Nawaqanitawase has scored on debut after a Cleary grubber kick was knocked forward by Cameron Munster into the hands of the NSW playmaker who threw a long pass to his unmarked winger. Cleary converted from out wide. Blues 12 Maroons 2.

20 min: Maroons prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is off for a HIA. Lindsay Collins is on

16 min: Trent Loiero is the first interchange of the match after being thrust into action early by Maroons coach for Flegler.

15 min: Hudson Young is penalised for a high shot on Walker and Briton Nikora takes exception. 

14 min: We go down the other end and Cleary kicks for Nawaqanitawase but the ball is knocked on.

11 min: Queensland are denied a scoring chance after Jojo Fifita knocks the ball on into Brian To'o as they compete for a Sam Walker bomb.

7 min: The Blues have hit back immediately through Kotoni Staggs after Flegler spilled the kick off and Mark Nawaqanitawase picked up the loose ball and passed inside to his centre. Nathan Cleary converted. Blues 6 Maroons 2.  

6 min: The first penalty of the match is awarded against Nathan Cleary for knocking the ball out of Harry Grant's hand as he picked it up at dummy half. Sam Walker kicks an easy penalty goal. Maroons 2 Blues 0 

2 min: Kalyn Ponga has been put under pressure early and come through with flying colours after leaping high for a Mitchell Moses bomb.

Kick off: James Tedesco has kicked off and Tom Flegler has taken the first hit up for Queensland.

From the sheds

 

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Late Mail

Blues: Laurie Daley's team will line up 1-19 with no late changes. Haumole Olakau'atu dropped out of the 20-man squad an hour before kick-off. 

Maroons: No late changes on game day for the Maroons who line up 1-19. Reserve Heilum Luki made way 60 minutes before kick-off.

Catch up

Great read here by Cameron Mee on Origin's role in the rise of rugby league in Melbourne.

It's unbelievable to think how far we've come. The NRL and Melbourne Storm have dramatically increased the profile of rugby league in Melbourne, but Origin is just on another level even down there.

Frank Ponissi

Colleen Edwards writes about how the Maroons are looking to the spirt of Fatty's Nevilles of 1995.

A lot of Queenslanders still talk about and are very proud of that team. It is a pretty good team to base your game off.

Harry Grant

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki has been the subject of a tug-of-war for his international allegiances between Tonga and Samoa – and that’s just within his family.

My mum was cheering pretty hard when Samoa got up over Tonga. My dad was a bit filthy but he was proud that I was in the Tongan squad and representing not only him but our last name, as well, and our family back in Tonga and all over the world.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

Here's Taryn Heddon on the threat of Reece Walsh from the interchange

England named a World Cup squad today that includes Blues forward Victor Radley - but not Ethan Strange

My mum is from England and my grandma is born and raised in New Zealand, as well, so it's cool to have that choice but I want to play for Australia if I get picked.

Ethan Strange

Numbers Game

• The Maroons have won Game Two in six of the past eight series.
• The Blues have taken a 2-0 series lead only five times since 2000.
• James Tedesco will play his 25th Origin to become the third most capped Blues player.
• Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow requires one try to join Valentine Holmes as Origin’s third highest tryscorer.