Zac Lomax celebrates with teammates after scoring a try. Photo / Photosport
New South Wales have salvaged their State of Origin campaign, sending the series to a decider after demolishing Queensland in a 38-18 bloodbath.
In front of 90,084 fans at Melbourne’s MCG, halfback Mitchell Moses was the key for the Blues, setting up four tries and tormenting the rudderless Maroons with his long kicking game.
Prop Payne Haas led NSW from the front with one of his most dominant Origin performances, while Latrell Mitchell made an impression by scoring a try in his first Blues appearance since 2021.
Moses, Mitchell and Haas will all be required to find that level once more as NSW dare to dream of winning the July 17 decider in Brisbane.
NSW have not won a decider in Brisbane since 2005 but they will go to Suncorp Stadium brimming with confidence after bullying the Maroons off the park.
Queensland were directionless and looked rattled when the Blues cruised to a 34-0 halftime lead.
Electric fullback Reece Walsh was barely sighted and his inability to inject himself into the game will only increase the focus on the Blues’ tactics to shut him down.
Queensland had threatened early when Jaydn Su’A burst through on the left edge but was unable to offload the ball to a supporting runner.
NSW breathed a sigh of relief and they drew first blood when they were granted four back-to-back sets.
Moses eventually exploited a tiring Maroons defence to send Liam Martin over for NSW’s first try of the night in the 10th minute.
Queensland needed to be faultless but a shanked kick from winger Murray Taulagi on the last gave the Blues a seven-tackle set.
Stephen Crichton dragged Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow back into the Queensland in-goal on the next set which paved the way for Mitchell to send Brian To’o over in the corner.
Queensland were lost and there was nothing they could do to stop the Blues motoring downfield.
Zac Lomax scored two tries for NSW in a strong Origin performance. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Moses was suffocating the Maroons with his boot and he continued that with a chipped kick for Zac Lomax in the right corner.
Lomax outlept Taulagi to touch down and Moses repeated the play, crabbing round to the left edge and glancing a grubberkick through for To’o to pounce on in the 26th minute.
Moses was dishing it out in defence, too, forcing an error from Tom Dearden that allowed the Blues to charge down the Queensland end through interchange prop Spencer Leniu.
The Sydney Roosters took the baton from Haas, who finished his first stint with an impressive 110m return from 13 powerful carries.
Leniu had one of his trademark cavalier runs which allowed the Blues to further turn the screw with Mitchell and Lomax scoring before halftime.
Lomax kicked five of his six first-half conversion attempts to give the Blues a 34-0 halftime advantage, the biggest lead in Origin history.
It took until the 50th minute for the Maroons to get off the mark, Jeremiah Nanai barging over after Blues forward Liam Martin and Queensland lock Patrick Carrigan had been sinbinned for a push and shove.
Either side of a try for debutant Blues fullback Dylan Edwards, Tabuai-Fidow and Taulagi both crossed for second-half Queensland tries but the Blues had already done the damage.
State of Origin I result?
In a horror start to Michael Maguire’s tenure as NSW coach, Joseph Suaalii lasted just seven minutes on debut before being sent off for a late and high hit on Reece Walsh. Queensland went onto win 38-10 in Sydney.
Who’s playing?
Very little change for Queensland. Maroons coach Billy Slater is sticking with the same side that won the opener with Felise Kaufusi having played his way into the 17 after playing in Game I as 18th man. Kurt Capewell has also earned selection on the interchange.
For the Blues, Latrell Mitchell headlines a host of changes, with the Rabbitohs superstar set for his first Origin appearance since 2021 after being named in the centres to replace the suspended Joseph Sua’ali’i.
Dylan Edwards will make his Origin debut for NSW at age 28 after a quad injury ruled him out of Game 1. Connor Watson, Mitchell Moses and Cameron Murray were also called in.
Where is it?
Origin returns to the MCG for the first time since 2018, when the Blues won 22-12. The MCG has hosted four previous State of Origin games while Melbourne has also played host at Olympic Park and Etihad Stadium.
Are there any Warriors playing?
Kurt Capewell has been named in the interchange for Queensland. He plays his first Origin game since 2022 and has been selected for his reliability and versatility. While a second-rower for the Warriors, he has played in the centres for the Maroons. Will be utilised on the edge as an outside back if the Maroons have an injury.
Elsewhere, former Warrior Reece Walsh lines up in Queensland’s No. 1 jersey, as a loose connection to the Kiwi club.
Kay match-ups?
Mitchell Moses vs Daly Cherry-Evans
Two halfbacks who enter Wednesday’s night game in differing form. Moses has struggled to recapture his best football since a foot injury derailed his season for Parramatta. But he has done enough to convince Michael Maguire he is the man to replace Nicho Hynes and lead the Blues to victory. Cherry-Evans’ status as a Queensland legend continues to grow after the Manly playmaker’s five-star showing in the series opener.
Latrell Mitchell vs Valentine Holmes
Mitchell’s return to the NSW set-up has Queensland on edge and nobody will be anticipating the presence of the Blues centre more than Holmes. Mitchell has made a point of hounding Will Chambers and Dane Gagai in the past and Holmes, whose form at club level has been up and down in 2024, faces one of the most testing battles of his career. Sparks will fly.
Dylan Edwards vs Reece Walsh
A battle of two fullbacks of contrasting styles. Edwards, who missed his debut in game one with a quad injury, is a workaholic who will be crucial if the Blues are to win the field position battle. Walsh on the other hand, is a magician who can make plays happen at the flick of a switch. The Queensland star hasn’t played a game since he was knocked out seven minutes into Origin I and will again be a target of focus for the Blues.
Payne Haas vs Patrick Carrigan
Two Brisbane teammates will lock horns in the middle, with metre-eater Haas needing to stand up and deliver for a NSW pack lacking punch. Haas’s Origin record has been questioned for the first time this series and against a familiar foe he can make a statement. Carrigan has developed into one of the game’s elite forwards and his ability to mix power with panache will be key to the Maroons’ fortunes.
Connor Watson vs Harry Grant
Grant has shown the ability over the last two series to come on at hooker and swing momentum in Queensland’s favour, with his willingness to run tormenting the Blues. Watson is in for his Origin debut and while he offers Maguire cover across the park, it’s assumed he will offer cover at dummy-half when NSW need to counteract Grant’s threat.
Who are the bookies backing?
The NZ TAB has the Blues as $1.78 favourites with Queensland paying $2.05 for the win and wrap up the series.
NSW 1-12 - $2.80
NSW 13+ - $3.90
Queensland 1-12 - $3
Queensland 13+- $5
How to watch?
As always, the Herald will have live coverage from the 10:05pm kick-off.
Elsewhere, Sky Open will broadcast the series opener, live and free, as well as the same coverage on Sky Sport 4.
If you’re wanting something a bit different, our friends at the Alternative Commentary Collective will also have their coverage on Sky Sport 9, starting at 9:55pm.
State of Origin II predictions
Chris Rattue: NSW 1-12
Nick Bewley: NSW 1-12
Will Toogood: Queensland 1-12
Alex Powell: NSW 1-12
Winston Aldworth: Queensland 1-12
Michael Burgess: NSW 1-12
State of Origin II lineups
New South Wales: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Brian To’o, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Zac Lomax, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. Mitchell Moses, 8. Jake Trbojevic (c), 9. Reece Robson, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Liam Martin, 12. Angus Crichton, 13. Cameron Murray.
Interchange: 14. Connor Watson, 15. Isaah Yeo, 16. Haumole Olakau’atu, 17. Spencer Leniu.
Queensland: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Xavier Coates 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c) 8. Reuben Cotter 9. Ben Hunt 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Jaydn Su’a 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Patrick Carrigan
Interchange: 14. Harry Grant 15. Moeaki Fotuaika 16. Felise Kaufusi 17. Kurt Capewell.
- With AAP
The Warriors' second-rower has been recalled for Queensland for State of Origin game 2.