State of Origin 2: Queensland defeat NSW 26-16 at Suncorp Stadium

A BATTLING NSW side only had themselves to blame after a number of key errors ensured Queensland retained the State of Origin shield.

It was yet another night of pain for NSW at Suncorp Stadium.

A FINGERNAIL.

That is all that stood between NSW and a famous win over Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.

Trailing 20-16 in the 71st minute, NSW looked to have scored the try which would have given them a chance to take the lead and the impetus to kick-on and secure a series-levelling win.

But just as it has been for much of the last decade, and indeed again, luck wasn’t on the Blues’ side.

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It was that familiar feeling for NSW players and supporters.

NSW five-eighth James Maloney grubbered into the Queensland in-goal with NSW’s Michael Jennings and Tyson Frizell on the chase.

Frizell clearly grounded the ball but replays showed a Jennings fingernail ever so gently flicked the ball forward moments earlier.

The try was denied. It was a millimetre in it.

“They always say it’s a game of inches,” NSW skipper Paul Gallen said.

“How close was it? Jenko just touches that ball. If he didn’t touch we would have been in front by two. That’s how close it is.”

The heartbreaking moment wasn’t lost on NSW coach Laurie Daley.

“It would have been nice if it was given but that’s the difference between the two teams,” Daley said. “They are capitalising on their chances, we’re not.”

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Buoyed by the no-try ruling, Queensland winger Corey Oates scored moments later to secure the 26-16 victory and ensure State of Origin III is a dead rubber.

“We created opportunities — a slight touch down there (from Jennings) and we could have scored,” Maloney said. “We had them on the ropes and we let them off the hook.”

Although NSW refused to be burdened by the scar tissue of their 52-6 Suncorp Stadium hammering from 2015, the Maroons somehow found a way to win their 10th series in 11 years.

“We got lucky with that no-try,” Maroons halfback Cooper Cronk said.

The Blues will be desperate to avoid a 3-0 clean sweep when the two teams meet in Origin III at ANZ Stadium on July 13.

Sam Thaiday could miss two crucial games for this tackle on Paul Gallen.

They’ll have to do that without halfback Adam Reynolds, who will have an MRI on a possible season-ending shoulder injury.

Dane Gagai scored a hat-trick in front of a full house of 52,293 as the Maroons withstood the NSW fightback.

Not even Sam Thaiday being placed on report in the 13th for viciously spearing Paul Gallen into the turf could take the gloss off another victory over the Blues.

Thaiday was hit with a grade two dangerous throw charge and faces three weeks out, but can play Origin III with an early guilty plea.

NSW Few have endured such Origin pain as Paul Gallen and Robbie Farah.

A superb 80-metre solo try by Gagai propelled Queensland to a 10-4 halftime lead before his efforts in the 47th and 63rd minutes sealed the winger’s Origin treble.

For the first 30 minutes, NSW had a more energetic edge as the teams were level on 4-4 after trading penalty goals.

Ironically, it was the Blues’ willingness to be more adventurous that proved their undoing. Running the ball on the last tackle in the 32nd minute, Blues centre Michael Jennings became trapped and Gagai snapped up his loose pass to streak away, sensationally sliding across the tryline after being ankle-tapped inches short by Tyson Frizell.

Tyson Frizell proved the Blues do have the ability to hurt Queensland.

Frizell’s second-half try and Maloney’s long-range effort got the Blues back within four points at 20-16, but they couldn’t land the killer blow.

“It’s devastating that we lost but there’s still one game to go,” Daley said. “I’m very proud of our team. We could have conceded a couple of times but they kept fighting.

“Unfortunately though you’re judged on the scoreboard. I couldn’t fault our guys. They played for one another.”

Laurie Daley’s men can still look the future with promise, despite the result.

Maroons skipper Cam Smith was named man-of-the-match, but NSW prop Aaron Woods had the final say.

“It sucks,” Woods said.

State of Origin 2016 Game II

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FULL-TIME QUEENSLAND 26 (D Gagai 3 C Oates tries J Thurston 5 goals) bt NEW SOUTH WALES 16 (T Frizell J Maloney tries A Reynolds 3 J Maloney goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins. Crowd: 52,293.