League: NSW force Origin decider

Josh Dugan of the Blues celebrates with team mates after scoring the final try of Origin II. Photo / Getty

NSW 26 Queensland 18
New South Wales kept alive their hopes of claiming back to back series wins by toppling Queensland 26-18 in the second State of Origin clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In front of a record Origin crowd attendance of 91,513, halfback Trent Hodkinson converted second-half tries to Aaron Woods and Josh Dugan to bring the Blues back from 14-18 down to level the series and claim their fourth win in eight visits to the Victorian capital.

The result conjures memories of 21-years ago when current coach Laurie Daley's Blues side squared the series with a 14-0 win over Mal Meninga's Maroons in the first interstate clash at the MCG.

Origin II: As it happened

They will hope history continues to repeat in the third and deciding clash at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on July 8, when they will endeavor to be just the third Blues' side (1994 and 2005) to recover from a 1-0 deficit to go on and win the series.

After failing to close the game out in the series opener in Sydney last month, the much maligned Blues' halves pairing of Hodkinson and Mitchell Pearce proved their doubters wrong and repaid Daley's faith in their selections with composed and assured performances.

The Blues were much improved from game one, gaining good yards through James Tamou and returning captain Paul Gallen, and threatening on both edges through the likes of Warriors back-rower Ryan Hoffman, and young forwards David Klemmer and Boyd Cordner.

In a frenetic start to the game, NSW dominated early possession and capitalised when Michael Jennings evaded Will Chambers to score the first try with Hodkinson's conversion giving them a 6-0 lead before Queensland had touched the football.

The Maroons hit back after 10 minutes when captain Cameron Smith combined with Corey Parker to put prop Matt Scott in beside the uprights with Johnathan Thurston's boot levelling the scores.

A rib injury forced Gallen from the field for 10 minutes but quick ball movement inside the Blues' own half saw Michael Jennings threaten twice, before Pearce's cross-field kick found Josh Morris for their second four-pointer, with Hodkinson again adding the extras.

The Maroons' lethal right side attack was proving just as elusive, with Thurston, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Darius Boyd working a slick play for Inglis to finish to become the highest try scorer in Origin history (16) and bring his side within two points.

A high shot from Queensland's Justin Hodges eventually saw Hoffman depart for concussion tests but the Blues regrouped and an offside call allowed Hodkinson to add a further two for a four-point advantage at the break.

Queensland tore into their work from the resumption and sustained pressure saw Matt Gillett dive over with Thurston converting to make it 16-14, before a penalty allowed him to extend their lead heading into the final quarter.

Starved of the ball and territory, the Blues finally enjoyed some rare possession on the opposition line when front-rower Aaron Woods dummied and burst past Scott and Slater to level the scores for a third time, before Hodkinson again nosed them in front.

Their momentum was stalled when Pearce was denied a try but the Blues benefitted from a contentious video ref ruling that saw Inglis called back for an earlier knock-on.

The Blues resumed their attack and sealed victory when Dugan sliced through for the match-winner 10 minutes out from fulltime.

Queensland tried to get their attack going but rigorous and committed NSW defence ensured there would be no Houdini act.

Queensland 18 (Matt Scott, Greg Inglis, Matt Gillett tries, Johnathan Thurston 2 cons, 1 penalty)
New South Wales 26 (Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Aaron Woods, Josh Dugan tries, Trent Hodkinson 4 cons, 1 penalty)