Blues attack improved in game two but it was not enough to stop the Queensland juggernaut

THE Blues managed to cross the tryline twice against Queensland, but, as usual, it still wasn’t enough. So where will the next try come from, asks Nick Walshaw.

James Maloney ran 90 metres to touch down for the Blues and break the try-scoring drought.

JAMES Maloney ran 90m, untouched. Could you believe it? Could anyone?

Knowing that in the 145 minutes since this Origin series started, the Blues had scored only 14 points.

Two tries. A worse strike rate than even an eighties fat kid, and we know this to be true, at Blue Light Discos.

Yet suddenly, here was Jiimmy Mac ... awaaaaaay.

James Maloney ran 90 metres to touch down for the Blues and break the try-scoring drought.

Having not only intercepted a wayward Queensland pass, but now running the length of Suncorp Stadium to score beside the posts.

Which was wonderful, sure.

But by the finish, also the very subject on which the future of NSW Origin exists.

For before the Maloney intercept — which came directly from a Maroons error — the Blues had only 10 points in their favour.

And four of those were from penalty goals. So where in the State do we find more?

For coming into this one, Blues skipper Paul Gallen had said 20 points would be enough to win it.

Dane Gagain crossed the white stripe three times.

And for the most part, he was right. Save those final six minutes when Corey Oates put the result beyond doubt.

But still, NSW needed 20. And scored 16.

Just as back in Sydney, long before this series was declared a dead rubber, it was a dozen points put forward by coach Laurie Daley as the figure they wanted. And, again, it was bang on.

But the Blues, they scored four. So as for where the points will come?

“It’s an execution thing,” said Daley. “Queensland are capitalising on their chances. We’re not.”

And certainly there were moments. Indeed, had Michael ­Jennings been a bee’s appendage closer to that rolling ball . . . well, who knows?

Tyson Frizzell impressed in his first Origin performance.

“But that’s the margin between the two sides at the moment,” Daley said. “We create opportunities but we can’t quite get it done for some reason.”

So apart from unearthing proof that Dane Gagai was actually born in Marrickville, not Mackay ... well, how do we get it done?

For sure, again, the heart was there.

Take Maloney, who threw himself into everything. Or Blues debutant Tyson Frizell, not only chasing Gagai for 90 metres, but then diving, throwing out a desperate ankle tap attempt and — gasp — causing the Maroons flyer to stumble. Fall.

Then watching on helplessly as momentum took that eventual Man of the Match across the white stripe.

Which is how it now goes for NSW.

Corey Oates closed the game out for Queensland.

But always short.

And, yes, we understand that this contest, by its very nature, is a place where points are hard earned.

But still, the Maroons get there.

Gagai alone last night scoring a dozen points — or more than NSW did for almost an hour.

Indeed, for 54 minutes in this one, the Blues could not cross the stripe.

A figure which, when added together with the series opener, gave them just four points in over two hours.

So who is going to finish that next try? And where? For relying on Queensland to again err . . . well, you may waiting a while.