New South Wales produced a superb attacking display to run out 34-10 victors against Queensland tonight in front of 36,212 fans at ANZ Stadium to set up an Origin decider next week.
The Blues had the perfect antidote to last week's shocker as the home side found their rhythm to blow away Queensland. A double to Josh Addo-Carr alongside tries to most of the Blues backline saw the pre-series favourites bounce back in style.
In his first game as captain, James Tedesco led from the front. The fullback was well contained in the first game but he ran all over the Maroons tonight. Tedesco scored in the first half blitz and was involved in several others to make it a first game as captain to remember.
From the opening whistle, it looked a much steelier Blues line-up as they thumped the Maroons from the kick-off. They were given a slight scare when Broncos winger Xavier Coates showed off his aerial abilities to make it 4-nil. From then, it was a bluewash at ANZ Stadium.
Cody Walker was the big change for side headed into game 2 and the Rabbitohs half, was energetic. He scored the Blues first try to make it 6-4 then alongside the maligned Nathan Cleary directed the Blues to a blockbuster result. Cleary had the ball on the string again, his kicking trapped Queensland time and again. The Panthers half also added a 40/20 to his all round performance.
Addo-Carr inspired with his defense then Tedesco and Addo-Carr himself found the stripe to make it 18-4 at the break.New South Wales looked much more composed and were able to stifle the Maroons energy which was helped with Cameron Munster leaving the field with a HIA.
Half-time saw Wayne Bennett deliver a stirring speech to get his side back into the contest but tonight, the magic evapoured in the Sydney sky. Jack Wighton surged over from the restart and the game was settled at 22-4. Daniel Tupou added another to make it 24 from another simple scrum play.
There was some fight shown between Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Payne Haas after the two came together and were sin binned. Queensland did claw one back after Josh Papalii gave Rabbitohs fans a sense of deja vu when he ran over Damien Cook to make it 28-10.
New South Wales held firm and Addo-Carr added a second late to complete the 34-10 scoreline. We head up to the Sunshine state for a mouth watering decider to see if the Blues can win only their third series deciding game at Suncorp Stadium.