Blues see end to seven-year victory itch

FOR long-suffering NSW fans, the seven-year wait for State of Origin triumph could soon be over.

State of Origin 2

FOR long-suffering NSW fans, the seven-year wait for State of Origin triumph could soon be over.

The Blues last night levelled the series with a 16-12 win at Sydney's ANZ Stadium and will carry momentum into the final game in Brisbane in three weeks. But, trailing 6-4 at half time, the home side had looked destined to follow a well-worn Origin tale.

Blues fans know it well: their team starts strongly, has the better of the opening exchanges, but is unable to breach the relentless Queensland defence often enough to build a sizeable lead. Inevitably, the Maroons grab back the lead. Once they hit the front they are rarely beaten.

Last night, Ricky Stuart's side, who have not won the interstate series since 2005, turned back the Maroon tide. This time, the Blue Wall held firm.

Whatever Stuart said at halftime to his players, who had seen Queensland go to the break with a shock lead after a dreadful Akuila Uate blunder, it worked.

With the help of Queensland halfback Cooper Cronk, who left his side a man down when he was sent to the sin bin for holding back Todd Carney, NSW scored two sensational tries from within their own half in quick succession. Minutes after Cronk's indiscretion, NSW fullback Brett Stewart finished off a downfield break by Carney. Four minutes later, Blues winger Jarryd Hayne broke through the Queensland defence, but appeared to lose the ball in a tackle. However, the video referee ruled the ball had been stripped and a try was awarded to Josh Morris, who picked up the loose ball.

A try to Greg Inglis brought the score back to 16-12, but despite the Maroons' best efforts that's how it ended, leading to jubilant scenes in the NSW camp.

The Maroons will this morning rue their failure to open the scoring in the 12th minute, which could have set the match on a far different course. Stewart lost the ball as he was tackled in the in-goal area and Queenslander Dave Taylor only had to ground the loose ball. Bizarrely, he tried to pick it up - and bungled it.

The first half was more brutal than brilliant. In the greasy conditions that followed four days of rain, both sides struggled to engineer a coherent attack. Fumbles were frequent, last-tackle plays chaotic. Forwards flourished as the game descended into the type of contest that typified Origin matches of old.

Stewart opened the scoring in the 25th minute, when he surged at the diminutive Thurston, forced his way over the line and grounded the ball despite a body-hugging tackle from Thurston.

Just as they did in game one of the series, NSW had all the momentum but were unable to convert it into points. Then, late in the half, Uate inexplicably allowed a Cronk bomb to bounce. The ball was regathered by Ashley Harrison, who sent team-mate Ben Hannant crashing over under the posts for a 6-4 lead.

With a partisan crowd of 83,110 fans largely behind the Blues, the lead was short-lived and the home side hung on for a win.