NSW Blues fall short of greatest comeback in State of Origin history as Maroons stay alive

The Blues have fallen just short of the greatest comeback in State of Origin history as Queensland stay alive in the series. Relive the action from Perth.

NSW have fallen short of the greatest comeback in State of Origin history, forced into an unlikely series decider in Sydney against a Queensland side riding on the emotion of their besieged coach Billy Slater.

In a case of so close, yet so far away, only the goal-kicking of Blues winger Zac Lomax separated NSW from claiming the series in front of a crowd of 57,023 at Optus Stadium in Perth.

On a rough night for Lomax, played in driving rain, the normally radar-like sharpshooter kicked two from five conversions.

Yet this was an Origin II loss that doesn’t hang on the shoulders of Lomax, yet instead the entire NSW side who only have themselves to blame, responsible for Queensland’s first-half points pile-on in Perth with errors and ill-discipline, which included five-eighth Jarome Luai placed on-report for an alleged eye-gouge on Reuben Cotter.

Jarome Luai was put on report in a tough first half for the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

On the end of an 8-0 nil penalty count and 10-2 at one stage in the second-half from referee Ashley Klein, Lomax was also placed on-report for a first-half elbow to the face of Maroons lock Trent Loiero.

Trailing Queensland 26-6 at halftime, the Blues chipped away at the Maroons huge lead with tries to Brian To’o (45th and 65th minute), Stephen Crichton (57th) and Angus Crichton (72nd) to bridge the Maroons lead to just two-points with more than five-minutes remaining.

Angus Crichton and Brian To'o celebrate one of their combined four tries. Picture: Getty Images

The Blues had the chance to secure the biggest comeback in Origin history in the final moments of the match, but Queensland’s defensive resolve held-on, forcing Payne Haas lose the ball while in possession and attacking the Maroons line.

“We were pretty lucky to hold on,’’ Maroons playmaker Tom Dearden said.

Down 1-0 nil in the series and amid a backdrop of rage and scrutiny over Slater’s pre-match war of words with former Blues prop Aaron Woods, Queensland were the side under all the pressure and with everything to lose in front of a sold-out Optus Stadium.

Remembering too, this was a Maroons side that were caned for lacking loyalty after sacking their long-serving captain Daly Cherry-Evans and promoting Dearden into the halfback role after losing game one of the series in Brisbane.

Yet Slater has been justified in his decision by the performance of his Maroons and so too Dearden, who was brilliant.

History is now against Laurie Daley’s Blues.

Maroons and Blues teams in a first-half scuffle. Picture: AFP

After winning game one of a series, the Blues have won two of the nine series that have gone to deciders.

“We just put ourselves under pressure in the first-half,’’ Blues captain Isaah Yeo said.

“I think we responded at halftime in the sheds, it’s disappointing in the end, but we get a decider in Sydney and we can’t wait for that.’’

The Blues began the match on top with Luai overcoming a shaky start to dribble a clever kick for Angus Crichton to toe through the Maroons line, allowing winger Brian To’o to pounce and score his eighth Origin try.

The Blues 6-0 nil lead quickly turned to 6-6-all in the 13th minute when slick ball-movement from rookie Queensland halfback Tom Dearden lured Latrell Mitchell into a poor defensive read.

Latrell Mitchell was lured into some poor reads by Tom Dearden and the Maroons. Picture: Getty Images

Dearden’s creativity saw him find enough space for centre Robert Toia to get on the outside of Mitchell and provide a simple run to the try line for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to strike.

Four handling errors inside the first 20-minutes from NSW and Billy Slater’s strategic decision to move Tabuai-Fidow from left centre in game one to the right wing paid huge dividends for the Maroons.

Once again it was the brilliance of Dearden who lofted a cross-field kick for Tabuai-Fidow to climb over the desperate clutches of the shorter To’o and score Queensland’s second try of the night.

Ill-discipline cruelled the Blues in the first-half, propelling Queensland to a 20-6 advantage and leaving Luai in hot water for an alleged eye gouge in the 23rd minute on Maroons forward Reuben Cotter.

Cotter’s teammate, Kalyn Ponga reacted immediately after the incident, motioning by raking his hand towards the match officials.

The Wests Tigers playmaker was placed on-report by referee Ashley Klein after replays showed Luai’s hand in the area of Cotter’s eyes.

It went from bad to worse for NSW when Zac Lomax gave a penalty away 20-metres outside his own tryline while in possession.

Lomax was placed on-report after lashing out with his elbow and connecting with Maroons lock Trent Loiero’s face.

Queensland slotted a simple penalty conversion lead 14-6.

With the clunky Blues unable to build any momentum, either through error or their own ill-discipline, Queensland kept the scoreboard rolling when Cameron Munster powered over in the 31st minute.

Maroons captain Cameron Munster celebrates his try. Picture: AFP

The Blues suffered a huge momentum shift in the 36th minute when the video referee denied Nathan Cleary a solo-try after it ruled Pat Carrigan was obstructed in his ability to make a tackle on the NSW playmaker.

The call proved massive with the Maroons bouncing down field to score another try to Kurt Capewell. Capewell benefited from a superb offload from debutant Kurt Mann to advance their lead to 26-6 at halftime.

It was enough to get the Maroons home and lock-in the Sydney decider on July 9.

Relive Queensland’s great escape in the blog below.