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What you need to know from Origin II

3 minute read

NSW stormed to victory against Queensland with a 38-6 win to square the series in game two of State of Origin at Perth Stadium.

TOM TRBOJEVIC of Australia celebrates scoring a try during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup match between Australia and Lebanon at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
TOM TRBOJEVIC of Australia celebrates scoring a try during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup match between Australia and Lebanon at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

STATE OF ORIGIN II AT A GLANCE

* RESULT: NSW 38 (tries: Tom Trbojevic 3, Josh Addo-Carr 2, Tyson Frizell; goals: Nathan Cleary 2, James Maloney 5) bt Queensland 6 (tries: Will Chambers; goals: Kalyn Ponga).

* KEY MOMENT: Blues centre Tom Trbojevic ended the contest when he crossed in the 54th minute to score the first NSW hat-trick since Matt King in 2005, and take the lead past three converted tries. It took the wind out of the Maroons' sails and ensured there would be not be one of the comebacks Queensland have become famous for.

* MAN OF THE MATCH: TOM TROBEVIC. The Manly sensation, who last played centres in the NRL in 2016, was simply unstoppable and one of seven changes by coach Brad Fittler who more than justified their selection. Trobevic ran for 118 metres and made 17 tackles in his shift that made the most of James Maloney's return.

* QUOTE: Blues coach Brad Fittler: "James (Maloney) ... he just got us the win. He steered us around. I didn't have to talk at halftime because he was talking. He's just a winner."

Maroons coach Kevin Walters: "Origin is won on attitude and effort and we didn't match them in any areas for the 80 minutes tonight. We got towelled up."

* TALKING POINT: Nathan Cleary's injury means Mitchell Pearce will likely be recalled for a final State of Origin redemption after a decade of misery. Pearce was thrown into the cauldron as a teenager and never managed to win a series as Queensland dominated for most of his representative career to date. But the 30-year-old is in career-best form at Newcastle and should get his chance to finally deliver a series victory in front of a home crowd in Sydney on July 10.

* KEY STAT: NSW enjoyed 60 per cent of possession which is enormous considering how tightly contested Origin clashes are historically. Further, they completed 84 per cent of their sets while the Queenslanders managed just 76 per cent. It meant the Blues ran for 863 more metres and they made the most of their opportunities, running in six tries to one.

* INJURIES: NSW - Nathan Cleary (ankle).

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