Wall of Blue sends State of Origin series to a decider

ONCE again, NSW has shown it can take a game off the greatest team in State of Origin history. But this is about winning a series.

State of Origin Game 2

ONCE again, NSW has shown it can take a game off the greatest team in State of Origin history. But as Blues coach Ricky Stuart made patently clear last night only moments after his side's victory at ANZ Stadium, this is about winning a series.

It's about ending six years of torture. Six years of being downtrodden. Six rotten years of watching the Maroons raise the State of Origin shield.

On to Suncorp Stadium.

"I am happy and very proud," Stuart said following his side's series-levelling victory.

"They had to really hang in there at the back end of the game. They (Queensland) were coming. We knew they would be coming at us.

"That was an Origin game tonight and these blokes have shown they can win Origin games. Now they have to show they cane win a series.

"We have to prove to ourselves more so than anybody else that we can win a series."

Last year, winning at Suncorp Stadium proved beyond the Blues. Time will tell whether they have learned their lesson from that painful defeat.

No one can question their commitment. When Maroons centre Justin Hodges knocked on with less than a minute remaining last night, the Blues jumped into each other's arms.

They celebrated like it was a series win. For that they will have to wait another three weeks.

"We have to improve, there is no two ways about it" NSW captain Paul Gallen said. "We have to keep getting better."

Hooker Robbie Farah, who finished with 64 tackles, said: "It's a great feeling. The crowd was incredible. We spoke all week about creating a blue wall, turing up for your mate no matter what they threw at you."

NSW backrower Greg Bird was named man of the match after being one of the best in Game I.

"When you defend your line for so long, repeat set after repeat set, you grow a lot," Bird said. "You know you just have to get down the other end."

Origin II was a mirror-image of Origin I. Much like three weeks ago, a sin-binning and some decisive calls by the video referee played their part.

Only while it was NSW screaming blue murder at Etihad Stadium, the Maroons were on the wrong end of the calls.

The end result is that Origin will head to a decider. For that, the Blues can thank a six-minute period after halftime when the game swung dramatically their way.

The Maroons, after taking a two-point lead into the halftime break, made the worst possible start to the second stanza when Corey Parker was helped from the field after having his left shin sliced open by a stray boot.

It got worse moments later as the Maroons were reduced to 12 men. Video referee Steve Clark had been called into action twice in the first half and he was involved again only two minutes after the break.

Pearce put through a kick on the last tackle which sat up in the in-goal for the Blues chasers. Leading the way was Todd Carney, whose pursuit of the ball was interrupted by Cooper Cronk. Billy Slater managed to put the ball dead but Clark reviewed the play and ruled Cronk had committed a professional foul.

Amid NSW pleas for a penalty try, Cronk was given a spell in the sin-bin and the Blues took advantage. Only two minutes after Cronk was dismissed, Carney was again the central figure as NSW hit the front. He sliced through some soft defence and sent Brett Stewart scurrying away for his second try of the game.

A six-point lead became 10 in the 48th minute through a piece of good fortune. With Cronk still biding his time in the bin, Jarryd Hayne charged back into the Maroons defence and lost the ball under pressure from Johnathan Thurston. Josh Morris was the first to react, picking up the ball and racing away.

Clark was again called into action. Again, he ruled in NSW's favour, this time ruling Thurston had stripped the ball and it was play on.

In the blink of an eye, the Blues had surged to a 10-point lead. Much like Origin I, the match officials had played their part.

Queensland still had some bite in them, With 18 minutes remaining, Darius Boyd batted down a Thurston kick and Greg Inglis swooped, scoring the 14th try of his record-setting Origin career. Thurston converted from the sideline and the difference was back to four points.

With nine minute to go, the Maroons had a chance to level the scores. Brent Tate flew high to take a Cronk kick. He had two shots at it but just as it looked like he had the ball in his grasp, Michael Jennings' knocked it loose. Danger averted for NSW. Victory secured. Series level. On to Brisbane.

"They showed us how good a team they are," Stuart said of the Maroons. "They showed us how good they'll be in Brisbane."

The Maroons could be without Slater for Game III with a knee injury, while Corey Parker was taken to hospital with a gash to the leg that went to the bone.

NSW 16 (Brett Stewart 2, Josh Morris tries; Todd Carney 1 conversion, 1 penalty) Queensland 12 (Ben Hannant, Greg Inglis tries; Johnathan Thurston 2 conversions)