Polished Maroons claim series in seesawing thriller

v BYE

The Queensland Maroons have made it 10 series wins in the last 11 years after accounting for an improved New South Wales side 26-16 at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

Queensland led for the whole game, but New South Wales continued to loom before falling to defeat at the hands of a professional Maroons side. The Blues showed immense improvement in attack, yet in the end the Maroons capitalised on their opportunities better to grab yet another series win.

The game opened up in quite enterprising fashion, with both sides threatening early in an opening which appeared far more entertaining than that of Game 1. Yet, unfortunately (but understandably) both sides would opt for penalty goals and things would be tied up at 4-all by the 30th minute mark. The Blues seemed to be just winning things up front before an amazing try against the run of play to Dane Gagai saw Queensland take a slender 10-4 lead into the break.

In the second half, however, the attack seemed to flow a tad better. A scintillating pass from Darius Boyd saw Gagai grab a double in the right hand corner, and from here it appeared as if Queensland would grind out the series. 

Yet New South Wales weren't putting the cue in the rack - in the 56th minute Adam Reynolds would put Tyson Frizell over with an absolutely perfectly executed short ball and the Blues would find themselves yet again down by just six.

But then right when it seemed as if the visitors had a sniff, an absolute beauty of a grubber by Johnathan Thurston saw Gagai pounce on the ball and claim his 3rd! But this game was certainly a roller coaster ride, and New South Wales would be next to experience the thrilling high, with James Maloney intercepting a poor kick by the Maroons and pacing away at the speed of a snail, to just out run Dane Gagai and put the Blues back in it.

At 20-16 with ten on the clock, Golden Point looked a distinct possibility, and then New South Wales claimed a try - only for a minor touch from Michael Jennings spoiling a certain double to Tyson Frizell.

Like the professionals they are, the Maroons would all but wrap up the series when a perfectly executed set play saw Corey Oates cross is the corner. The Blues threatened late, with Jack Bird almost stepping his way to the line and Michael Jennings yet again having a slight touch on another try scoring opportunity, but in the end Queensland were too good.

The Maroons cruised to fulltime finishing 26-16 victors and 2016 State of Origin series winners. Having completed at 91% Queensland are deserved winners of the shield, while the Blues will look to avoid a whitewash on the 13th of July at ANZ Stadium.

At club level, South Sydney have concerns over Adam Reynolds after the NSW half went off with a shoulder injury in the second half, while Sam Thaiday is expected to miss a week or two for the Broncos after being cited for a dangerous throw on Blues captain Paul Gallen.