Match Centre

FULL TIME - Clinical from the Blues who have thumped the Maroons 38-6 to send us to a decider. 3-2-1s and report to come. Thanks for joining us.

James Tedesco has it back for the Blues who will have the final say here. 20 out on the last with 30 seconds to go. They throw it around and Jack Wighton eventually ends up with it tackled in the corner and that is the game.

Intercept! Josh Addo-Carr has it and you'd think it's over but he is chased down by a flurry of QLD players who appear out of nowhere. That may be why though, he goes down with cramp. James Maloney kicks early for Blake Ferguson but Corey Oates covers it.

Penalty QLD - Moses Mbye held down too long. They're 10 out.

An error from the Blues but it matters little.

Daly Cherry-Evans crash ball to Matt Gillett - tough one to take with a wall of blue in front and he drops it.

Early ball to Corey Oates who surges down the touchline but James Tedesco takes him in a strong hit. The Blues fullback has been brilliant tonight.

James Maloney penalised and QLD begin their new set just over halfway.

Simple kick from James Maloney into touch, 10 out.

James Tedesco with the kick on the last and Dane Gagai fields it for QLD. They are inside their own 10 though but a fantastic run from Matt Gillett brings them over the 30. Ben Hunt kicks early, he catches NSW out but it finds touch on the 30 so they are fine.

Kalyn Ponga throws an intercept though straight to Josh Addo-Carr but luckily for the Queenslanders he is swarmed on and NSW have it back on their 30.

Shallow bomb put up and Tom Trbojevic in the mix to take it but Kalyn Ponga gets him this time around. QLD working it out from inside their own half. Lovely kick and it's a 40-20, they're on the Blues line now with a chance to add some respectability to the score.

Queensland come up with an error though. Josh Papalii offloads for Daly Cherry-Evans who drops it. They just lack the polish and energy the Blues have played with tonight.

Great hands QLD. Will Chambers flicks it to Dane Gagai who threatens to go over in the corner but the Blues scramble to deny him. Good signs for Brad Fittler given the game is already won. Cameron Munster with a deft kick on the last, Wade Graham does well to field it but is taken in-goal.

QLD finally pick up a penalty and are 30 out.

Damien Cook inside to Tom Trbojevic but he drops it 30 out.

QLD are just not playing with anywhere near the pace NSW are. They clear it to Blake Ferguson who LOOPS IT LONG to James Tedesco and he already finds space and the Blues are near halfway. This is too easy for them.

An awkward bounce for Kalyn Ponga but he has it and QLD finally have the ball back.

Another penalty for the Blues, who find touch over halfway, and QLD are imploding.

QLD now moving it out of their own end. Cameron Munster clearing it from over his own 40 and Blake Ferguson is onto it and a great kick return sees NSW start their set on their 40. They spread it and they score!

James Maloney kicks to Blake Ferguson on the last, he tries to bat it back to Tom Trbojevic but the ball beats him and goes into touch.

Rain falling again and the ball is raked out so the Blues get another penalty. An ill-disciplined start from QLD. Blues 40 out.

NSW will shoot for a gift two points.

Blues inside their own half on the last. James Maloney clears it and it bounces up for Kalyn Ponga but James Maloney has been taken late in the legs and a penalty is blown.

Massive kick Ben Hunt. From inside the 40 it goes all the way in-goal. The chase is great and James Tedesco is taken on his own 10.

Tom Trbojevic crash ball to Tariq Sims on the last but QLD survive.

NSW will tap now. James Maloney turns it inside for Tyson Frizell who shows great strength to almost surge over again - he's been great tonight, each run with just as much venom as the next. Time off with Tim Glasby down.

Boyd Cordner with a great run and the Blues are already over halfway. Jake Trbojevic then past the 40. James Maloney with a great bomb towards the corner and Blake Ferguson is shepherded off the ball by Michael Morgan. Penalty.

Penalty Blues right in front of the posts, 10 out.

Nathan Cleary will not be back. Ankle injury. Wade Graham to five-eighth.

James Maloney grubbers ahead on the last and forces a dropout with Cameron Munster trapped in-goal.

QLD past the 40 through Tim Glasby. They then clear it on the last for James Tedesco, whose kick returns have been excellent. And he links with Josh Addo-Carr who steams down the touchline and the Blues are already 40 out. What a start!

Back at Optus Stadium. Can the Blues hold on this time?

HALF TIME - The Blues with the more energy and pace in the late stages of the first half and they lead 18-6 at the break. Nathan Cleary looked ginger at the end, will have to wait and see if he continues on in the second forty.

Josh Addo-Carr slips over and Daly Cherry-Evans takes advantage finding Will Chambers as he looks to capitalise on the overlap but Addo-Carr gets back in there to take the inside pass on the last.

James Maloney toes it ahead on the last for Dane Gagai who is taken in a good legs tackle by Jack Wighton on his own 10.

Cameron Munster kicks early and James Tedesco is back to cover it for NSW.

Tariq Sims breaks through the middle off a lovely inside pass and then links with Damien Cook. He grubbers ahead but the support falls over and QLD have it back.

Matt Gillett and David Fifita taking it up off the scrum, the latter's first run of the game. Tim Glasby then up past the 30. Ben Hunt kicks for a 40-20, the shape is good but James Tedesco is back to take it.

Damien Cook looks to grubber through but QLD play at it and toe it ahead. Nathan Cleary dives on it and the Blues have six again. NSW have a massive overlap on the left edge and James Maloney throws it long to Josh Addo-Carr who goes over untouched but it is FORWARD.

Boyd Cordner back on after successfully passing his HIA. Matt Gillett then penalised for being offside and momentum swings back in the Blues' favour.

Slick hands from QLD in the wet as Kalyn Ponga threatens to slice right through but he is taken in a strong tackle by Paul Vaughan. NSW then fumble the last-tackle kick but it is ruled backwards and they survive.

Apologies folks, Channel Nine had not actually stopped time so it is now the 33rd minute. Subtract five minutes from the times after the first try.

Damien Cook with a fantastic kick that just sits up in the in-goal area. Kalyn Ponga gets into the field of play and is tackled just before the 20.

Ben Hunt to Cameron Munster who goes agonisingly close to sliding over in the wet but the tackle of Tom Trbojevic and Josh Addo-Carr is enough to stop him. James Maloney then fields the tough kick on the last to save the Blues and make up for conceding the penalty.

They get another opportunity though as James Maloney concedes a penalty to gift them easy passage out of their own end.

Jarrod Wallace up through the middle. QLD 10 out. Daly Cherry-Evans inside to Matt Gillett who is taken in a strong tackle by Wade Graham. They shift it left to Kalyn Ponga who cuts it out to Corey Oates but he is put into touch. QLD need to go through the middle in wet conditions, it'll be tough to go around them.

Queensland with a good chance to hit back now as Blake Ferguson fumbles the kick on the last in the wet. Tough conditions means that every point will really count now.

Damien Cook back inside to Dale Finucane who drops it. Rain falling here at Perth - very heavy.

The rain is now coming down in Perth as QLD get us back underway off the restart. Even more focus on handling now.

Daly Cherry-Evans now clears it for James Tedesco who takes it on the full and then charges up to halfway. He then earns a penalty and the Blues march upfield once more. They're 30 out.

Nothing comes of the set though as Queensland survive. Not too threatening from the Blues who lacked direction there.

Nathan Cleary with the tackle that forced the ball loose. NSW 20 out.

Josh Papalii makes a mistake though in the set after points and NSW have a chance to hit back.

Queensland with a big chance to hit back, starting this new set 10 out. Matt Gillett and Josh Mcguire with customary hit-ups to begin the set before Ben Hunt kicks early. Will Chambers is going to be the first there but Jack Wighton checks him off the ball. Going up for a possible penalty try.

QLD start the set 40 out through Felise Kaufusi. Hospital pass to Daly Cherry-Evans then who is swarmed on by James Maloney. Josh Papalii held down too long and a penalty is called.

Nathan Cleary with a towering bomb - Tyson Frizell shoves Cameron Munster out of the way as he runs towards the ball - luckily for QLD they get a penalty as Kalyn Ponga drops the bomb.

QLD throwing it around a bit as it ends up with Josh Mcguire who takes it up to the 30. Josh Papalii then towards halfway before Ben Hunt turns it back inside to Mcguire for his second run of the set. The ball goes high on the last for Blake Ferguson but he takes it with relative ease.

Daniel Saifiti again with the first run off the restart. Blake Ferguson then over the 20 before Boyd Cordner surges past the 30. Just a simple set after points from the Blues, with Nathan Cleary putting in a bomb on the last which lands on the QLD 20 for Corey Oates.

Daly Cherry-Evans with a deceptive kick - James Tedesco and Josh Addo-Carr not communicating well and Will Chambers almost snatches it and scores but instead knocks it dead. Seven-tackle set Blues.

Queensland now over halfway through Felise Kaufusi and they go on the attack.

James Maloney undoes his good work by throwing a forward pass to Daniel Saifiti off the restart - lack of concentration there.

James Maloney with a nicely-weighted grubber that forces Kalyn Ponga to take it dead.

NSW spread it early to Josh Addo-Carr who is tackled 30 out. Dale Finucane then crashes up through the middle. He looks good early. Turned back inside for Jack Wighton now who almost breaks through. They shift it to the other edge and Tom Trbojevic is just held up over the line. Great signs early.

Nathan Cleary stabs down a clearing kick from inside his own 40. Kalyn Ponga reads it well though and Queensland have it back. They are up over the 40 and Felise Kaufusi comes up with the first error of the night. Blues playing with lots of energy, albeit only three minutes in.

Dane Gagai and Will Chambers help out their big men with solid carries to start the set. On their own 30 on the last, Daly Cherry-Evans clears it for Blake Ferguson who takes it up past the Blues own 30.

Daniel Saifiti with the first run up to the 20. Blake Ferguson then puts his hand up for a carry, picking up a couple of metres. Dale Finucane with a strong charge past the 40 then to Boyd Cordner who takes it up. Jack Wighton kicks and Kalyn Ponga is trapped 15 out. Nice early set.

Underway in Perth.

The national anthem is complete and the game is about to begin!

Kick-off expected in just over 10 minutes in front of a sold-out Optus Stadium.

The Maroons are 1-17 while Dale Finucane starts at lock for the Blues. Jake Trbojevic shifts to prop and then Paul Vaughan drops back to the bench.

Tonight's game takes place a neutral venue - Optus Stadium in Perth. There has been rain all day and it may impact the way both sides approach the match. The Blues were looking to throw things around but may need to abandon that strategy if the rain begins to fall while Queensland will put more emphasis on their advantage up front.

Having won the first game, obviously victory tonight for Queensland will see them take home the shield and in most cases, the team that does win game one goes on to claim the series.

Good evening and welcome to League Unlimited's live coverage of tonight's must-win clash for New South Wales against Queensland.