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State of Origin 2020 Game 2 live: Nathan Cleary, Cody Walker silence their critics as NSW set up decider

Nathan Cleary and Cody Walker starred as NSW defeated Queensland 34-10 in a drama-filled contest which featured an all-in brawl, with two players sent to the sin bin.

Brent Read and Adrian McMurray
Nathan Cleary celebrates during NSW’s big win over Queensland. Picture: Getty Images
Nathan Cleary celebrates during NSW’s big win over Queensland. Picture: Getty Images
16 min read
5:22PMNovember 11, 2020.
Updated 10:55PMNovember 11, 2020

Nathan Cleary and Cody Walker starred as NSW defeated Queensland 34-10 at ANZ Stadium to set up a series decider next week. The drama-filled contest featured an all-in brawl, with two players sent to the sin bin. Read how it all unfolded below.

Brent Read 10.39pm: Blues’ brutal act of vengeance on Maroons

Nathan Cleary answered the critics at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night. He silenced the doubters. He did it by leading NSW to a win that kept alive the State of Origin series and ensured the fight for the coveted shield would head to Suncorp Stadium.

Maligned for failing to record a try assist or line break in his previous six Origin games, Cleary was in seventh heaven as he orchestrated a first-half attacking blitz that gave NSW an upper hand they would not relinquish.

NSW celebrate a try in their big win over Queensland. Picture: Brett Costello
NSW celebrate a try in their big win over Queensland. Picture: Brett Costello

The Blues produced their fourth biggest Origin victory in history — a 24-point win which had Cleary’s fingerprints all over it.

Cleary had his first Origin line break in the 17th minute. By the 23rd minute, he had two try assists. He pinned Queensland on their tryline with a precise kicking game. He controlled the game. He owned the result, teammates rushing to pat him on the back after he applied pressure on Jake Friend.

There was even a 40-20 inside the final five minutes. Blues legend Andrew Johns had called for his head in the lead-up and Cleary’s response was to produce a Johns-like performance.

Asked about the criticism during the week, Cleary said: “We blocked that out pretty well this week. That is the pleasure of being away in camp, surrounded by a great bunch of blokes and a great coaching staff. We just had to focus on ourselves and it is no different this week. We haven’t done anything yet. We still have a game to win up in Queensland. That is our focus this week.”

Queensland’s cause wasn’t helped when they lost talismanic five-eighth Cameron Munster in the third minute after he suffered a head knock and failed an assessment. Even if he had been available, it may not have been enough given the way the Blues played in the opening 40 minutes. They made only one error. It was near-flawless football.

Read the full match report here.

Adrian McMurray 10.06pm: NSW dominate, set up decider

Haas and Fa’asuamaleaui return from the sin bin, and it looks like all hope of a Queensland comeback is gone.

Cleary nails a 40-20 with less than five minutes remaining, and they force a goal line dropout. Hunt is pinged for taking out Tedesco in the air from the dropout, and NSW elect to take the two. Cleary nails the kick, and NSW take a 34-10 lead into the final seconds of the match. And that’s where it remains! Off to Suncorp Stadium for the decider.

Nathan Cleary and Cody Walker celebrate after winning game two of the 2020 State of Origin series. Picture: Getty Images
Nathan Cleary and Cody Walker celebrate after winning game two of the 2020 State of Origin series. Picture: Getty Images

That was quite the contest. Cleary and Walker were superb, as were the NSW forwards and wingers Tupou and Addo-Carr. Plenty to like about the Blues ahead of the decider, but it is of course a whole different ball game in Brisbane. There will be plenty of Origin content on the site and app tonight, as well as in tomorrow’s print edition. Thanks for joining us, we'll be back to blog game three next Wednesday.

Adrian McMurray 9.51pm: Addo-Carr in again

Well, that was short-lived for Queensland. Addo-Carr gets his second off a lovely kick from Walker in behind Sami. Cleary misses, but it won’t matter too much. NSW lead 32-10 after 67 minutes.

Adrian McMurray 9.48pm: Queensland comeback?

Hold the phone – Queensland are in here! DCE puts Papalii in near the posts, Holmes converts and it’s 28-10 to NSW after 63 minutes. Queensland couldn’t again … could they?!

Adrian McMurray 9.42pm: Haas, Fa’asuamaleaui sent to sin bin after brawl

Queensland get a penalty in good field position, after Yeo took Holmes off the ball. Nathan Brown doesn’t take long to get stuck into someone, it’s Jake Friend, and then all hell breaks loose. Haas and Fa’asuamaleaui have to be separated by pretty much everyone else, jerseys are ripped and the pair are sent to the sin bin.

Haas calls out Fa’asuamaleaui as he walks from the field. Shades of Adam Blair/Glenn Stewart at Brookvale Oval there. NSW still lead 28-4 after 57 minutes. Will this inspire Queensland?

Adrian McMurray 9.34pm: NSW improve their lead

Junior Paulo drops it close to the Queensland line, just NSW’s second error of the night. There’s a bit of a flare-up afterwards, as Paulo and Friend face off. There’s a ‘bring back the biff’ call in commentary, but honestly, the game is fine without it. I don’t think a couple of blokes laying into each other makes for a better contest, but hey, I could be wrong. Let me know what you think in the comments.

NSW are in again, this time through Tupou! Yet another try from a scrum. Queensland fail to number up and the Roosters combination of Tedesco and Tupou delivers points on the left. This is too easy for NSW. Cleary misses, NSW lead 28-4 after 54 minutes.

Adrian McMurray 9.24pm: Wighton adds to Queensland’s misery

The second half begins, and it takes just three minutes for NSW to improve their lead!

Walker and Wighton combine, Cleary converts and NSW are out to a 24-4 lead after 44 minutes. This could get ugly.

Brent Read 9.12pm: Cleary answers his critics

NSW halfback Nathan Cleary has answered his critics with an inspirational opening half in the second State of Origin game at ANZ Stadium.

Much maligned leading into Origin II for his inability to grab the game by the scruff go the neck in Adelaide, Cleary recorded his first line break for the Blues in his seven-game Origin career when he sliced open the Queensland defence in the 17th minute.

He didn’t stop there either as he recorded two try assists to help NSW take an 18-4 lead into the break, keeping alive their hopes of levelling the series leading into Origin III at Suncorp Stadium next week.

Picture: Getty Images
Picture: Getty Images

The Maroons’ cause wasn’t helped when five-eighth Cameron Munster was forced from the field in the third minute after a head knock. Munster played no further part in the game, stripping Queensland of arguably their best player.

His absence was compounded by the outstanding play of Cleary, who bounced back from his Adelaide horror show to mastermind the Blues’ first-half dominance.

It started well enough for Queensland even in the absence of Munster. The Maroons sent Ben Hunt into the action when their talismanic five-eighth departed and soon enough they were in front thanks to a spectacular effort by teenage winger Xavier Coates.

Daly Cherry-Evans and Dane Gagai created a sliver of space and Coates went airborne as he grounded the ball with his entire body off the ground.

The Maroons were on the back foot early in the opening game in Adelaide a week ago. On this occasion, they would take the early ascendancy.

It didn’t last long as two NSW players with a point to prove orchestrated the fightback. Cleary came into Origin II having been lashed over his form in Adelaide.

Statistics emerged showing in his six games, he was yet to create a try assist or make a line break. He broke that drought in the 17th minute as he split the Queensland defence down the centre.

Picture: Brett Costello
Picture: Brett Costello

It was then Walker’s turn. Recalled at the expense of Luke Keary, Walker threw a dummy and brushed off the attention of Kurt Capewell to roll over the tryline.

Cleary had thrown the last pass and the Blues were leading 6-4. The momentum had dramatically shifted. Cleary wasn’t done with yet.

He pinned Queensland on their tryline with a kick that resulted in Phillip Sami being caught in-goal.

He then threw the pass to James Tedesco and the Blues stand-in skipper stepped inside Ben Hunt to score. The game was 23 minutes old and Cleary not only had a line break, but two try assists as well.

The Blues were in charge and they continued to pin Queensland on their line with Cleary’s finely-tuned kicking game. A Coates mistake presented them with another opportunity, Tedesco created some doubt and Addo-Carr did the rest. The Blues led 18-4.

Adrian McMurray 9pm: NSW cruising at halftime

TRY NSW! Addo-Carr crosses this time. The Blues go back to the right where they’ve had so much joy, and it’s Tedesco the architect this time, Addo-Carr stepping back inside for his seventh Origin try in his eighth appearance. Cleary converts, NSW lead 18-4 with a minute left in the half.

And that’s where it remains at the break. Queensland can’t come back from here … can they? It’s gonna take one hell of a halftime address from Bennett this week.

Adrian McMurray 8.56pm: NSW well on top

Some friendly fire sees Frizell leave the field – that was nasty.

Jake Trbojevic has been folding blokes left, right and centre. Impressive stuff from the man with arguably the best tackling technique in the game. NSW have started to work it to their left a bit more – Walker kicking for Tupou – but the Maroons have contained him. The NSW winger has been brilliant in yardage sets making plenty of metres.

Cleary has been great, and he forces a goal line dropout with a handy long kick that Sami bats dead. That’s his second this half. NSW still lead 12-4 with five minutes to go in the half. This has been all the way of NSW, Queensland are doing well to hold on here.

Adrian McMurray 8.42pm: Tedesco improves NSW’s lead

NSW are in again! This time it's the skipper Tedesco. Some footwork at the line fools Hunt and the fullback increases NSW’s lead. The Blues are doing some real damage by attacking down their right – don’t be surprised to see them keep hammering that side of the field. Cleary converts and NSW lead 12-4 after 24 minutes. The NSW halfback has been very good so far, and is answering some of his critics.

Adrian McMurray 8.35pm: Drama for Queensland as NSW hit the front

Munster has failed his HIA and won’t return tonight. Huge blow for the Maroons.

The Blues are back in the contest though as they score through Walker! The livewire five-eighth spins out of an attempted tackle from Capewell to bring NSW level. Cleary, who made a break in the lead-up to the try, converts. NSW lead 6-4 after 19 minutes.

Adrian McMurray 8.24pm: Coates opens scoring in style

OH MY WORD – Queensland are in through Xavier Coates! They spread it right, Gagai draws and flicks out the back to the towering winger, who dives spectacularly to open the scoring. That was some finish! Holmes, back from suspension, takes the kicking duties from DCE but can’t convert from out wide. Queensland lead 4-0 after 10 minutes.

Adrian McMurray 8.19pm: Early drama for Queensland

Drama for Queensland early – Cameron Munster is off for a HIA after hitting his head in the in-goal. They’ve got a ready-made replacement in Ben Hunt on the bench, but if Munster is omitted, that swings things the way of NSW. No score after 5 minutes.

Picture: Grant Trouville
Picture: Grant Trouville

Adrian McMurray 8.10pm: Is it that hard to observe a minute’s silence?

Here we go! Queensland are out on ANZ Stadium, and NSW make their way from the Centre of Excellence across the road via the tunnel and out onto the ground. Onto the anthem (hasn’t there been some discussion about that today?), and the Last Post is played on Remembrance Day. Some in the crowd don’t observe the silence … very ordinary stuff.

NSW to kick-off, let's go!

Brent Read 7.36pm: Will Queensland take the shield tonight?

NSW will start Wednesday night’s State of Origin game as short-priced favourites for the second game in succession as bookies and punters alike bank on them bouncing back from their shock defeat in game one in Adelaide.

Coach Brad Fittler is no doubt hoping the bookies have it right, otherwise he will taste series defeat for the first time in his Origin coaching career.

The Maroons are coming off one of the most remarkable wins in their long and storeyed history, pulling off a remarkable upset in Adelaide Oval.

They paid a price for that win – Christian Welch and AJ Brimson were ruled out for the Maroons after suffering injuries in Origin I. Those absences have been offset by the return of Valentine Holmes from suspension.

Holmes has been a prolific tryscorer at Origin level, crossing eight times in his five appearances. The Blues also made changes, chiefly losing Cameron Murray to injury and dispensing with five-eighth Luke Keary to allow Cody Walker to return to the NSW side.

While Walker gets a second chance, it could be the last chance for halfback Nathan Cleary. The Blues playmaker comes into Origin II under immense pressure, having failed to fire in the opening game. In the aftermath, statistics emerged illustrating his impotence at Origin level – in six games he has failed to create a try assist or make a line break.

He won’t come across better conditions to break his duck on either front, blue skies overhead and a crowd 40,000 expected to turn out at ANZ Stadium.

Adrian McMurray 7.11pm: No late changes for NSW, Qld

The final teams are in, and both sides are as per program, 1-17. James Tedesco becomes NSW’s 20th Origin captain, while Nathan Brown and Isaah Yeo will debut from the interchange. Dunamis Lui and Moeaki Fotuaika will both make their Maroons debut tonight.

Graphic: Yeara Chaham
Graphic: Yeara Chaham

Adrian McMurray 6.18pm: Why Gus won’t be in commentary

There’s confirmation that Gould won’t be in the commentary box at ANZ Stadium tonight.

A Nine spokesman told The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield: “As with State of Origin Game 2 last year, Phil Gould and Andrew Johns have swapped places this week to ensure both have a presence in the commentary box alongside a fellow Queensland legend (Billy Slater) and the iconic voice of Ray Warren.

Phil Gould. Picture: Getty Images
Phil Gould. Picture: Getty Images

“Gus will still be a big part of the broadcast, and will again deliver his ‘Last Word’ analysis before the game to pump up the Blues fans as only he can.”

So there you have it. Mystery solved! And we’ll still get the iconic ‘Last Word’ in.

Will Swanton 6.01pm: V’landys has lost the plot if Origin stays in November

COMMENTARY

Peter V’landys might possess the most magical administrative wand since Albus Dumbledore and the most vivid imagination since Albert Einstein and the most tenacious never-give-up mentality since Phar Lap but he’s lost the plot if he thinks State of Origin in November is a going concern.

Peter V'landys. Picture: Getty Images
Peter V'landys. Picture: Getty Images

The build-up to Origin II is the flattest since Origin I. No one is to blame for the plague other than the bloke in China who ate the bat and so it’s not V’landys’ fault that this year’s off-season Origin has been forced upon us all. But there’s a distinct feeling to it of trying to listen to a Christmas tune in June. Origin’s still a great song, tra-la-la-la-la, but now’s not the time.

You know so. The players know so. The coaches know so. NSW duo Brad Fittler and Jack Wighton were photographed laughing their heads off at training on Monday. Someone must’ve told them Origin might be in November every year. The series’ colours were lowered last week by something it’s not used to: competition. When it went head-to-head against the Melbourne Cup, Origin ran a distant second for public interest. It’s big … but we now know it’s not as big as the Cup. Even though the Cup is over, Donald Trump is out and Anthony Van Dyck is dead, Origin still feels flatter than one of Jake Friend’s dummy-half passes. Which are usually forward, by the way.

Read the full story here.

Brent Read 5.50pm: NSW’s hopes on Teddy’s shoulders

James Tedesco ran for more than 260m in the opening State of Origin game, but his words as much as his actions could shape NSW’s ability to keep the series alive at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night.

Tedesco is preparing to make his debut as captain of his state, stepping into the sizeable shoes of Boyd Cordner in a game that could decide this year’s series. The Blues are once again heavy favourites, in part because they have the brilliance of Tedesco at the back.

James Tedesco. Picture: David Swift
James Tedesco. Picture: David Swift

As good as he has been for NSW on the field, his influence off the park has been just as important this week — notably, he made it his business to pull aside under-siege halfback Nathan Cleary and offer words of encouragement in the lead-up to Wednesday night.

“I spoke to Nath — I think he puts a lot of pressure on himself,” Tedesco said. “We all know how good a player he is and how well he has played this year. I think the big thing for Nath is going out there and being himself and not putting that external pressure on himself.

“Sometimes I think he can overthink a bit. I gave him some words of advice to be yourself and play footy.

“I think if he does that he can definitely lead us to victory. I feel like he does carry a lot of responsibility for our team on his shoulders.

“He doesn’t need to do that — we all have our own roles. Being the captain, I feel like it is my team. That is more on me and increasing my talk during the week.

“I think the boys have responded well.”

Read the full story here.

Adrian McMurray 5.15pm: Gould ‘not calling’ Origin II

It’s hard to tell whether Phil Gould is being serious or taking the mickey these days, especially when it comes to his Twitter account. We’ve seen him drop an ‘s’ from team names all year (Panther, Rooster etc.). But it appears he has been dropped from the Nine commentary box for Origin II.

“I’m not calling the game tonight. Andrew Johns and Billy Slater are doing the honours. I’m just watching tonight. Looking forward to it,” Gould wrote on Twitter.

Gould attracted his fair share of criticism recently, his grand final call very much through the lens of a Panthers supporter. Some will miss him in commentary, some won’t, but it looks like the former NSW coach will be in the studio instead tonight.

Will you miss Gus in the commentary box tonight? Have your say in the comments below.

Will Swanton 5.00pm: Bennett, Biden proof old blokes rule again

COMMENTARY

What do you think of Nathan Cleary? “I can’t tell you much about him,” Wayne Bennett said. Are you offended by the label of worst-ever Queensland team? “Will they drug-test journalists? I think they should,” Bennett said. Will you be Origin coach next year? “I’ll see what next year’s lookin’ like,” Bennett said. Thoughts on Daly Cherry-Evans? “I like working with him,” Bennett said. What does Josh Papalii bring to the Queensland squad? “A mullet haircut,” Bennett said. What do you like about Dunamis Lui? “He doesn’t talk much, and I like that,” Bennett said.

Wayne Bennett during Maroons training. Picture: Getty Images
Wayne Bennett during Maroons training. Picture: Getty Images

Old blokes rule. This is his 45th year of coaching. On the cusp of arguably his greatest achievement in State of Origin II, let’s start at the start. It’s 1976. Realising he was a bit of a dud player, thrown on the wing like all the dud players were in those days, too skinny and weak for any real involvement, hardly worth the bother unless the useless puny sods could toe-poke goals and occasionally finish off everyone else’s hard work, Bennett was in his mid-20s when he thought coaching might be more his go.

The team was Ipswich. He was still playing, but he was not exactly Josh Addo-Carr for speed. He was not exactly Maika Sivo for strength, biceps only just big enough to lift a cup of tea. And he was not exactly Suliasi Vunivalu for acrobatic aplomb. Joh Bjelke-Petersen was Queensland premier, Malcolm Fraser was prime minister, Greg Chappell was the Test cricket captain and television advertising was still allowed for tobacco and alcohol. Killer commercials, those.

A bit of a genius as a mentor, with a big beating heart for his players and a head for winning games of football, Bennett became a full-time coach. He took charged of his first Queensland State of Origin side in 1986. Bob Hawke was prime minister by then, Bjelke-Petersen was hanging on as premier, Allan Border had become Test captain with a gloriously grumpy disposition and ads for durries and booze were over. Wally Lewis was Bennett’s captain. Mal Meninga and Gene Miles were his centres. He had a crackerjack side, but it was a disaster. The Blues won 3-0 after Royce Simmons staggered around Lang Park in a terrible state, refusing to leave the field in traumatic post-concussion scenes that would never be allowed today.

Forty-four years after his first coaching gig, the 70-year-old Bennett, a national treasure when he’s not being a curmudgeonly old thing, or perhaps especially at those times, is on the cusp of one of his greatest accomplishments – taking a Queensland side that doesn’t have a Lewis or Meninga or Miles to a shock series victory over the star-studded NSW. Bennett isn’t that old. Joe Biden is taking command of the free world at 77, so Bennett might be around for another decade. If the Maroons leave Sydney’s ANZ Stadium singing their aye, aye, yippee, yippee team song while Bennett is slow-dancing like everything good and satisfying in the universe has entered his very soul, it will match any of his seven premierships and five Origin series triumphs.

Read the full story here.

Brent Read 4.30pm: Why Cleary should look to DCE

The dust was still settling on NSW’s insipid second half in the opening State of Origin game when damning analysis of Nathan Cleary’s performances for the Blues began spreading like wildfire on social media.

Nathan Cleary looks on at NSW training. Picture: Phil Hillyard
Nathan Cleary looks on at NSW training. Picture: Phil Hillyard

It made for unpleasant reading. Six Origin games, no try assists, no line break assists and no line breaks. So damning, we were forced to double and triple check for the sake of accuracy. Turns out the stats were spot on.

Cleary spent the season scoring and creating tries and line breaks for Penrith. Yet Origin once again proved a wasteland and it took an embarrassing defeat to expose the statistical frailties in his game at the highest level.

Statistics, of course, don’t always tell the story. Cleary has been a cool and calming presence for the Blues. His priority is to kick Queensland into corners and control the tempo. There is enough attack elsewhere to create the havoc necessary to win Origin games.

Yet there is no question more will be expected of him on Wednesday night given the series is at stake. The time has come to reward the unflinching loyalty of coach Brad Fittler, who reacted to his performance in Origin I by handing him the vice-captaincy.

Read the full story here.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/state-of-origin-2020-game-2-live-phil-gould-not-calling-origin-ii/news-story/4f62d2c30f85934fc883b338aca25388