Key events
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CONVERTED TRY! NSW 24-44 Queensland (Barnett, 77)
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Conversion! NSW 18-44 Queensland (Walker 72)
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TRY! NSW 18-42 Queensland (Cobbo, 71)
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CONVERTED TRY! NSW 18-38 (Collins, 65)
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Conversion! NSW 18-32 Queensland (Walker, 64)
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Yellow card! Staggs (64)
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TRY! NSW 18-30 Queensland (Tabuai-Fidow 63)
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CONVERTED TRY! NSW 18-26 Queensland (Nawaqanitawase, 60)
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Conversion! NSW 12-26 Queensland (Walker, 57)
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TRY! NSW 12-24 Queensland (Fifita, 56)
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Conversion! NSW 12-20 Queensland (Walker, 53)
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TRY! NSW 12-18 Queensland (Cobbo, 52)
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Conversion! NSW 12-14 Queensland (Walker, 47)
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TRY! NSW 12-12 Queensland (Cobbo, 46)
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Half-time: NSW 12-8 Queensland
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CONVERTED TRY! NSW 12-8 Queensland (Loiero, 26)
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Conversion! NSW 12-2 Queensland (Cleary, 23)
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TRY! NSW10-2 Queensland (Nawaqanitawase, 21)
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Conversion! NSW 6-2 Queensland (Cleary, 10)
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TRY! NSW 4-2 Queensland (Staggs, 8)
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Penalty! NSW 0-2 Queensland (Walker, 7)
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Kick-off!
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Queensland XIII
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NSW XIII
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Preamble
CONVERTED TRY! NSW 24-44 Queensland (Barnett, 77)
NSW have had their share of luck tonight as well, and they get another slice with a chargedown landing their way to turn a clearing kick into a dangerous attack. Yeo is held up inches from the line. So is Young. But Barnett cannot be stopped after lovely hands from Murray.
Cleary makes it 12/12 off the boot for the night between the two kickers.
76 mins: Discussion on the TV has already turned to what NSW must do to arrest their decline. They have been eviscerated in the second half today. They were second best for an hour in Sydney. But for that Ponga send off they could be on the back of an historic hiding.
74 mins: Queensland execute a textbook restart set. NSW can’t get out of their own half, despite a bullocking run from Young.
91,671 is the confirmed crowd in the MCG – a new Origin record, by about 100 patrons.
73 mins: We’re going to another series decider in Brisbane.
Conversion! NSW 18-44 Queensland (Walker 72)
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a purer display of goal kicking. Walker makes it 7/7 from the left touchline. Again it travels with the trajectory of a frozen rope.
TRY! NSW 18-42 Queensland (Cobbo, 71)
Six again for offside, then a set restart for the marker not starting square. Surely Queensland score. Eventually they engineer some room on the left, Cobbo spots his opportunity after a Ponga tip-on, and darts around and over in the left corner! Klein doesn’t fancy it in real time so it goes to the bunker. They check the feet, and the grounding, tick and tick! Selwyn Cobbo is having the series of his life!
70 mins: Queensland eat up the tackles in the red zone. Ponga almost gets some room on the right, then on the last Loiero finds an offload that’s touched and the Maroons get six more in the shadow of the posts! This is like a boxer being pummelled on the ropes.
68 mins: It’s 13 v 12 so Queensland just go sideline to sideline, running the Blues ragged. NSW do well to stand their ground and force the Maroons to kick. Walker does just that, a grubber, that the chasers follow to drag Tedesco in goal. The resulting drop out is marked by the imperious Cobbo.
67 mins: Tedesco manages 10m from the restart this time but Queensland still come up with the ball. Robson is then penalised for stripping Walker after the tackle on halfway and there’s no love lost between the Roosters teammates as the kick is send down to the left corner to set up another attacking opportunity.
66 mins: Grant has been magnificent tonight, dominating from the play-the-ball.
CONVERTED TRY! NSW 18-38 (Collins, 65)
Queensland are in overdrive! Tedesco’s kick gifted field position and a couple of tackles later Grant snipes through the ruck unmarked. Does he have a support runner? He sure does, it’s big Collins, who accepts the pass and crashes over next to the posts. What a second half this has been from the Maroons.
Walker makes it 6/6.
65 mins: NSW try the short kick off but Tedesco can only execute an absolute shank that doesn’t travel 10m and Queensland can ram home their advantage.
Conversion! NSW 18-32 Queensland (Walker, 64)
Undeterred by the delay and distractions around him, Walker continues his flawless night off the boot.
Yellow card! Staggs (64)
It’s just 10 in the bin for Kotoni Staggs. NSW have a mountain to climb with 12 men.
What will happen to Staggs? He will get time, but is it 10 or 20?
TRY! NSW 18-30 Queensland (Tabuai-Fidow 63)
Unbelievable. Ponga, Cobbo, and Fifita do some grunt work up the guts, then Queensland get to work. The Maroons go to the left, Ponga taps on – and gets collected high behind play by Staggs – the attack goes on, Tabuai-Fidow runs on, offloads to Cobbo, who returns the favour by grubbering through for his centre to dive over unopposed. Liquid end-to-end footy.
62 mins: Queensland were furious with the referee in the aftermath of that score. The whole momentum of the match has turned on that decision not to penalise Young and Robson for not wrapping in the tackle. The Blues are now fizzing and the Maroons have to regroup.
CONVERTED TRY! NSW 18-26 Queensland (Nawaqanitawase, 60)
Can NSW benefit from yet another stroke of luck?
They get to the posts after three tackles then Klein blows against Collins for holding the man down after the tackle. NSW look to the left but Walker is there to close that route – twice. So Cleary cuts to the right and the ball ends up in Nawaqanitawase’s hands with three to beat. He stops, shakes his hips like Elvis, makes Cobbo stumble like a drunkard, and uses that split second to dive for the line with bodies hanging off him! Incredible individual skill from the NSW winger.
Of course Cleary slots over two more points from the touchline.
58 mins: Collins spills the ball on the restart carry. Queensland challenge, looking for a shoulder charge – which isn’t forthcoming – despite neither Young nor Robson wrapping. The bunker is decisive. Cameron Smith is absolutely furious on TV.
Conversion! NSW 12-26 Queensland (Walker, 57)
Not only is Walker making kicking for goal in front of 90,000 spectators at the MCG look easy, he’s doing it from the touchline with the ball not deviating from its line.
TRY! NSW 12-24 Queensland (Fifita, 56)
Fonua-Blake is on to help the Blues drive to halfway, but that won’t cut the mustard with an eight point deficit. Especially as Grant is able to snipe from dummy-half from his own 40 to attacking 40 where Ponga is on his shoulder to streak towards the corner. The play the ball is rapid and Queensland can smell blood again, Munster spots To’o isolated on his right, and the crossfield kick is inch perfect for the onrushing Fifita to mark and touchdown like he’s playing the other football code at this temple of sport.
54 mins: Laurie Daley looks haunted in the NSW box as Queensland run the restart safely out of defence.
Conversion! NSW 12-20 Queensland (Walker, 53)
This is a goal kicking clinic from Clear and Walker. The latter splits the uprights from the left touchline to take Queensland beyond a converted try clear.
TRY! NSW 12-18 Queensland (Cobbo, 52)
Queensland score behind the scrum! It’s a training ground routine executed to perfection. Walker is critical, throwing the ball blindly into the air, trusting Ponga would be there on the wraparound – he was – and from there it’s devastating, the fullback driving through the line, then timing his pass wide to Cobbo who completes the move with a powerful finish under pressure from Nawaqanitawase. More brilliant running footy from the Maroons.
51 mins: Queensland make it to 20m and Munster has two to target in the right corner against only To’o. The kick is dangerous but the Panther competes in the air and is satisfied to concede the knock-on.
50 mins: Loiero has been good off the bench and he and Grant run Queensland out of their defensive end from the restart. Tedesco offloads on tackle four as the Blues cross halfway then cut to the right to watch Staggs gain more metres after contact. Cleary tries the cute chip and chase but Ponga is not only alive to it but able to sidestep away from the chase then hurdle the despairing Cleary. NSW do well to regroup but on the last Walker’s kick is charged down and lands back Queensland’s way for another set on halfway.
Conversion! NSW 12-14 Queensland (Walker, 47)
From the left touchline Walker continues this pure demonstration of goal kicking at the MCG. Queensland hit the front!
TRY! NSW 12-12 Queensland (Cobbo, 46)
The Maroons are forced to grind for field position then look for room on the right with Fifita crossing halfway and remaining in play. Munster hoists up a big bomb on the last, Toia contests successfully in the air against Tedesco, Plath keeps it alive, offloads to Munster, who dinks his second kick of the move, this one is a pitching wedge to the unmarked Cobbo on the left and he has the simple task of catching and diving over the line! We’re level!
46 mins: Another mighty stroke of luck for the Blues. Kicking on the last 25m out the ball strikes a Queenslander – Plath – and bounces NSW’s way. To’o can run it to halfway and set up attacking field position out of absolutely nothing. Can NSW capitalise? No, Radley loses in contact 20m from home.
44 mins: NSW can only make it 25m coming out of defence, not that it matters if you have Moses in your team. His massive boot is returned again by Cobbo, who steamrollers Cleary as he runs out to the 30. Queensland build down the right with Nikora busy before Munster lands his bomb perfectly, inches from the line, that To’o has to gather and surrender immediately. The chase is intense and NSW again struggle to clear their lines.
42 mins: Lucas with metres after contact but the drive is stalled when Murray is forced to dive to hold onto a poor pass. In response Cobbo takes the kick and glides by the chasing Young and out to his 40m line. Munster, back on the field, links with Ponga down the left. The skipper can hoist an attacking kick from 20m out, but Nawaqanitawase is unchallenged under it.
41 mins: Ponga with the shallow restart and we’re back under way at the MCG.
“Just settle down,” is Billy Slater’s message at the break.
“Don’t go into our shell,” is Laurie Daley’s.
That half was played on NSW terms. Tedesco’s energy, Staggs’s drive, Haas’s power, Cleary’s control, and Moses’s boot all caught the eye. But that said, their two scores came from unstructured footy, the first try a nightmare from Flegler, the second a bonus from Munster’s inability to drag in a kick.
Queensland lacked oomph up front and once Munster left the field for his HIA there was nobody to share kicking duties with the Walker, who trails Moses in distance by about 20 metres.
Half-time: NSW 12-8 Queensland
The Blues are on top at the MCG. Queensland will be pleased to be only four points down at the break with the series on the line.
38 mins: Flegler’s horror night continues, deflecting a NSW palm-back straight into Blue hands on his defensive 20. With the wind in their sails the Blues attack dangerously to the right but Nawaqanitawase is hauled in. Then they go to the left but To’o runs out of space. Still they come through Young until bosh – a thumping hit from Fifita takes man and ball into touch for a massive sigh of relief.
37 mins: To prove the point Walker kicks shallow on the last straight to Nawaqanitawase, who reaches his defensive 40m line before he’s hauled in. NSW are building.
36 mins: NSW run out to halfway, kick to Cobbo, and gang tackle the Dolphin on his 10m line. Walker spots space in behind and kicks early in the set for a 40-20 but To’o scrambles well. Cleary marshals a steadying drive, one featuring both centres running strong lines. The kick on the last is enormous and Tedesco flies through to claim it at pace but Cobbo does magnificently to win the duel. The kicking game of the Blues is a massive advantage.
34 mins: Tino gets close one out. Walker grubbers on tackle three – Toia and To’o are in a foot race for the touchdown, and the Panther is first to it to slap it behind. And out of nowhere the bunker calls a knock-on against Toia just as the dropout was about to be taken! Massive bonus for NSW with Queensland exerting repeat pressure.
32 mins: Queensland with a full set 20m out. Walker and Grant invite their forwards to drive one out. Then they go to the right with Ponga into the line before Toia accepts the tackle. The Maroons try to go side to side but execution is lacking and Tabuai-Fidow does well to rescue it with a toe-poke off the deck that forces Staggs to slap the ball out of play. Queensland get another shot from 15m.
31 mins: Radley almost takes Loiero’s head off with a characteristically wild high tackle. Queensland want more than just a penalty but Klein isn’t biting. Instead they get a set inside attacking 30. Ponga steps up to play No 6 and guides his team down the left – then Radley is pinged for another high swinging arm! This time on Nikora.
30 mins: Neat from the Blues to draw bodies to the left edge. Young and Yeo in particular are busy. That opens room on the right for NSW to go through hands, which they do, until it’s with Nawaqanitawase with only Cobbo to beat. The Rooster leaps, reaches horizontal, then bends double backwards in the air, and plants the ball down near the corner flag. Is he over!? No! By a mater of milimetres the ball is planted partly on the sideline in-goal. Almost an incredible finish.
28 mins: Queensland make little ground from the restart and Walker’s kick is shallow. NSW are soon inside the Maroons’ 30 – where Koula is caught high by Walker for a penalty. The Blues decline the two points and kick to the left corner.
27 mins: Interesting. Munster had his head slammed into the deck during that incredible move and he has been invited to take an HIA. Queensland bring Cotter on as his replacement. Will he play five-eighth for the next 15 minutes?
CONVERTED TRY! NSW 12-8 Queensland (Loiero, 26)
What a try! Ponga starts the move by stepping into the line, Tabuai-Fidow capitalises, jinking inside to leave Staggs for dead. Grant sharks from dummy-half to maintain momentum, hurls the ball infield where suddenly the Maroons turn into the 1970s Barbarians rugby team, passing like the Harlem Globetrotters and executing runarounds as the MCG opens up before them. Loiero is eventually an unstoppable force to run home behind the posts. Scintillating footy.
Walker dabs over the extras from under the dot.
26 mins: Queensland have a full set in attacking territory but make little impact. On the last Walker kicks to the Hammer who does well in the air but the ball lands kindly for NSW a couple of metres from the try line. The Blues run out of defence and invite Moses to kick 65m on the fly to Cobbo. Daley’s tactics are all paying off so far.
25 mins: Cobbo gets away with an awful defensive decision to step out of his line and jam in, only to be bypassed by NSW like he’s not there. Munster bails him out with a superb tackle that dislodges the pill from Staggs’ grasp in the process. The Maroons are only just holding on here.
24 mins: Queensland need to find something here, and soon. NSW are winning the battle up front and they are playing well within themselves – Penrith-like – for the time being.
That earlier interchange for Tino was a an HIA it turns out. I’ll keep you updated.
Conversion! NSW 12-2 Queensland (Cleary, 23)
From the right sideline Cleary makes kicking for goal look simple.
TRY! NSW10-2 Queensland (Nawaqanitawase, 21)
NSW are getting the upper hand in the arm-wrestle and that becomes a position of dominance with a set restart on halfway – then another on the 30. The Blues draw bodies to the middle of the field then Moses and Tedesco show quick hands to try and release Koula on the left. He cuts back inside to set up A1 field position for Cleary to fashion an attack to the right. The halfback spots a gap and kicks early in the set, a grubber that Munster tries to drag in but can’t secure cleanly under pressure from Lucas. Cleary follows up to accept the crumbs and hurls a long pass out wide to the unstoppable Nawaqanitawase who crashes over in the corner.
19 mins: Ponga defuses a Moses bomb like it’s a training exercise, but his side has no go-forward at the moment with the Blues pack on top. Collins is also on the field, that’s two interchanges used already by Slater, and no sign of Reece Walsh.
18 mins: NSW remain conservative with ball in hand, probing gently down the left then hitting hard down the right with the dynamic Staggs again impressive. The Blues look drilled to avoid the errors that ruined their opening half in Sydney. Queensland make little ground in reply but Munster buys them metres with a mighty wobbling floater that Tedesco does well to mark.
16 mins: Queensland get a full set inside 30m. They look dangerous on the left through Tabiso-Fidow. Loiero comes off the interchange to make an impact. But then on the last Walker grubbers much too deep and NSW are donated a seven tackle relieving set.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/jun/17/state-of-origin-2026-game-2-nsw-blues-v-queensland-maroons-live
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