State of Origin 2026 will head to a decider, after Queensland levelled the series with a 44-24 win over New South Wales
Just like Game I, the game was full of entertainment, drama and controversy, in what was yet another Origin classic.
A ruthless second half from the Maroons would earn them the win, with wingman Selwyn Cobbo crossing for a hat-trick in the victory.
The Blues would lead the game at half-time after tries from Mark Nawaqanitawase and Kotoni Staggs, an incredible effort on neutral territory saw Queensland take the game to a tie-breaker, and we now head to Brisbane for a third decider in three years.
Here is how the action unfolded, and for one England international, it would be a below-par evening after he landed himself in some hot water.
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Queensland beat New South Wales to level 2026 State of Origin series
After opting to kick an early penalty goal, Queensland would find themsleves take an early lead. However, that lead would last mere seconds after an error from prop Tom Flegler gave the Blues possession instantly. Origin debutant Mark Nawaqanitawase picked up and offloaded to Kotoni Staggs, who scored the first try. Nathan Cleary added the extras from the right edge.
Dual-code international Nawaqanitawase would then add the second try just under 15 minutes later, after Nathan Cleary found him in space with a peach of a ball to send him over for his first Origin try. The half-back was again successful from the boot to give New South Wales a 12-2 lead after 23 minutes.
The Maroons wouldn’t need to wait too much longer to get their first score, and they did so in quite impressive fashion. Keeping the ball alive close to the line, they shifted it through plenty of hands before Melbourne forward Trent Loiero to score. Sam Walker added the extras to reduce the deficit to four.
England international Victor Radley landed himself in trouble with the officials with two penalties for high tackles in back-to-back sets. Despite calls for one, he wasn’t shown a card, but his errors allowed Queensland to have four consecutive sets on the Blues’ line, though they were unable to capitalise on the field position.
With no further scores until the break, Laurie Daley’s Blues went into the sheds with a 12-8 lead, and one hand on the series win. Queensland were dealt a boost after both Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Cameron Munster were able to return from their respective HIA’s, meaning they both returned for the second half.
Billy Slater’s Maroons would level the game just seven minutes into the second half, after they were able to bat down a kick, allowing Munster to produce a cross-field kick to Selywn Cobbo, who scored in the corner. Up stepped Walker for a crucial conversion, who nailed it from the sideline to give his side the lead.
The Dolphins winger would get his second try just minutes later, with Walker and Kalyn Ponga combining brilliantly from a scrum play to create the overlap for the try. Walker was one of the best players in Origin Game I, and he again showed his class on the big stage here.
The second-half blitz would continue, with Jojo Fifita scoring his first Origin try to increase the lead to 12 points. A sublime kick from Munster put the ball on a plate for the Gold Coast Titans man, and Walker’s conversion gave his side a three-score lead.
As they looked to mount a comeback, Nawaqanitawase crossed for his second with 20 minutes to go, as the Blues looked to produce a similar comeback to what they did in Game I. Cleary’s conversion reduced the deficit to 8.
However, the Blues’ night went from bad to worse, as not only did Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow score from a kick back inside from Cobbo, but try-scorer Staggs was sent to the sin-bin for a late shot on Ponga. Following that, a Harry Grant line-break would send Lindsay Collins over for the Maroons’ sixth try, and the one that would hand the win to Queensland and level the series. Walker’s seventh conversion would take the lead to 38-18.
Tries from each side would see out the game, with Cobbo’s third and a consolation from Blues prop Mitch Barnett rounding out the action, and making the full-time score 44-24 in the Maroons’ favour.
