Almanac Rugby League – 2026 State of Origin, Game 2: Droughts break, eventually!

 

 

It’s only 31 years since the Maroons won an Origin game in Melbourne – remember Fatty’s ‘Neville Nobodies’ by 20-12? In my mind’s eye I can still see Brett Dallas streaking away right at the end for a 90-metre try. The subsequent drought broke tonight when Queensland smashed NSW 44-24 to send this year’s series into a decider at the Cauldron.

 

I think the popular line will be that a frantic first half left NSW leading by 4 at the break before six Queensland tries in the second half blew the Blues away. But being a bit of a contrarian, I’ll take a different view. In terms of quality of play, the first half was one of the poorest halves of Origin footy I’ve seen. Frantic, yes, but disjointed, lacking any clear game plan, little method. For example, the Queensland try came out of chaos, not method. The Flegler blooper stood out and was really the only difference. Neither team was able to assert itself, and no individual seemed able to take the game by the scruff of the neck. We needed something desperately in the second half to make it worth watching.

 

Whatever Billy said in the sheds worked – the second half was all Maroon by 6 tries to two which wins a game every week. The final scoreline could have started with Queensland in the 50s if Staggs had been sent off for an incident that was as bad as, if not worse than, the Ponga incident from Game 1. Radley and Young were lucky to escape bins as well. In fact, the Young situation was part of a ‘three refereeing bloopers in a minute’ episode midway through the second half when the game was still, theoretically, for the taking. Young shouldered charged Collins, then stripped the ball in a two man tackle – and yet NSW got the scrum feed for a knock-on! Then, as Marky Mark surged for the corner, Cobbo was held back by the foot, limiting his capacity to tackle his opponent. Try awarded. Amazing!

 

Let’s start with the winners. I thought Cobbo was best on ground – three tries, excellent team play to set up Hammer, strong running from defence and in attack. The best I’ve seen him play. (His move to the Dolphins has reinvigorated his career.) Not far behind was Walker – a threat with ball in hand, scheming little kicks and a flawless goal-kicking display. Up front Tino did his father proud with a relentless effort in both attack and defence; Collins has a big motor and used it at full capacity – good to see him rewarded with a try. The pack, as a whole, came together in the second half to drive the team forward in attack and then, without the ball, kept NSW in their own 20m zone and under heaps of pressure with ferocious three-man tackling. Plath has a big Origin future. Munster organised, directed and kept the opposition guessing. Ponga made up for his Game 1 error with a commanding display at fullback. (Reece Walsh didn’t get onto the field, neither did Slater need to use him.) The Maroons’ second half was a committed team performance. (I feel that I should almost apologise to those not named.)

 

For the Blues, Murray gave his all, Marky Mark had his moments, Staggs never gives less than his all. But they were let down badly by their big names – Cleary was hardly sighted, Moses went awol, Teddy had an unusually undistinguished night. Their pack didn’t gel and Radley, for all his brooding menace, is a liability waiting to happen. When push came to shove in the second half, all of the big moments were won by the men from the north. To use JTH’s image from Game 1, there was no refereeing blunder to save coach Daley’s arse this time – his team was exposed.

 

What happens for Game 3? How many changes will NSW make after losing if they made so many after winning Game 1? Surely Api has to get a run; maybe BLM will be available; do they go back to the Crichtons, Stephen and Angus? Leniu? Edwards for Teddy? Strange to start instead of Moses? The possibilities are endless. The Maroons will probably stick tight, injuries and suspensions allowing. As they should.

 

Whatever, the Cauldron will be rocking on July 8th.

 

And well done to the Almanac’s own Cheer Squad at the ‘G’: Harms, Prop and RITV!

 

 

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Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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