Qld legend shell-shocked as NSW shatter records in ‘extraordinary’ Origin demolition job

NSW destroyed Queensland in the first half of Game 2, shattering all sorts of State of Origin records and leaving a Maroons legend stunned.

Well, who saw that coming?

NSW absolutely demolished Queensland in the first half of Game 2, producing a recordbreaking opening 40 minutes to keep the series well and truly alive.

A clinical performance and superb display from halfback Mitchell Moses saw the Blues run in six tries to none to lead 34-0 at halftime.

Liam Martin was put through a hole to open the scoring, before NSW attacked the edges with great success.

Zac Lomax and Brian To’o had first half doubles, and Latrell Mitchell went over for a try before opening his shoulders with some aggressive defence in the second half.

It was the most dominant first half in the 44-year history of State of Origin.

The previous halftime record was 21-0 by the Maroons way back in Game 3 of the 1993 series, a game they would win 43-22.

The Blues’ highest first-half score was in Game 1 of the 2002 series, a paltry 21-4 in comparison to this demolition.

Commentator Mat Thompson described NSW’s dominance as “extraordinary statistics”.

Queensland fought back in the second half, adding some respectability to the scoreboard to finish 38-18.

Zac Lomax scored a first half double. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“It wasn’t a great first half for us,” Billy Slater told Channel 9 ahead of the second half in one of the great understatements ever made. “We need to start again.

“The amount of possession the opposition had was incredible. Not much you can say.”

Not surprisingly, Michael Maguire was beaming, while trying to keep his players’ minds on the task ahead in the second half.

“We’ve just got to keep at it now, do exactly the same, have the same mentality we just did,” he said.

“It’s nice to see them go out there and do what we’ve been talking about.”

The Blues were on fire. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

NSW fans had plenty to cheer about. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Former NSW coach Phil Gould said it was clear the Blues came to the MCG as the more motivated team.

“We witnessed men against boys,” Gould said on Channel 9.

“This was over very early.

“I got the feeling from the time Stephen Crichton first touched the ball and ran over his opponent steaming down this right hand side, physically NSW were superior here tonight.

“But it all comes on the back of the halves. The 7 and the 6, their leadership and their confidence, their direction and their delivery, their kicking game, has just driven Queensland mad.

“Everyone else in a blue jersey has just had to run hard.

“They’re putting you in the right place and running at the right holes and Queensland have had absolutely no answer whatsoever.

“This is men against boys here tonight.”

It’s rare to see Queensland dominated like that. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Queensland legend Darren Lockyer was also concerned about the psychological blow the Blues were inflicting.

“Look, at this point in time you have to also start thinking about building some confidence for Game 3,” Lockyer said at halftime.

“This hole is enormous. It’s massive. I don’t know what, where we go from here.”

“They’ll be semi embarrassed after tonight,” Lockyer added at fulltime.

“They will go there (with) their tail between their legs. They will go there with a different attitude.

“They will play for the crowd, but the crowd’s not going to get them there on their own.”

Darren Lockyer was shell-shocked at halftime. Photo: Channel 9.

“They have been absolutely relentless and their kicking game has been perfect,” Brad Fittler said.

“Forced two restarts and a tackle one metre out. They’ve been backing their attack up with perfect kicks. That’s where the pressure comes from.”

Jeremiah Nanai scored Queensland’s first try in the 53rd to finally get the Maroons on the board. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow added another try five minutes later.

Gould said at halftime: “I can’t take any positives out of the second half for Queensland. They’ve got the regroup, rethink their football, rethink their attitude.

“The decider in Queensland has been NSW achilles heel for four decades. It is a hurdle they’ve got to get over.”

State of Origin Game 3 will be held at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on July 17. Queensland have won the last two series.