State of Origin 2015: Game 2 Score and Recap for Maroons vs. Blues
This year's State of Origin will require a Game 3 decider after New South Wales Blues beat Queensland Maroons 26-18 in Game 2 of the 2015 series on Wednesday.
A late try from full-back Josh Dugan saw Laurie Daley's side fend off a second-half comeback attempt from their bitter rivals to level the series, per the official National Rugby League Twitter account:
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Having felt the sting of what it feels like to concede first in Game 1, the Blues made it their business to get off the line in far swifter fashion on Wednesday.
Last month, Cooper Cronk managed to open the scoring after 14 minutes, but Michael Jennings sliced through the Queensland defence to touch down after just four minutes this time around.
Trent Hodkinson added the extras to put New South Wales six points up following a smoothly worked transition through the back line and Jennings found it all too easy to lose his marker.
The Sydney Roosters' official Twitter account made sure to give its star his due praise:
Maroons five-eighth Johnathan Thurston had a tricky outing three weeks ago and was once again showing some signs of shakiness with the boot in midweek, but any nerves didn't last long as he eventually found his rhythm.
His interlinking play and injection of a straightened drive proved pivotal in seeing Matt Scott bulldoze his way to a Queensland equaliser under the posts, as shown by Wide World of Sports:
Thurston notched the conversion to tie the score at 6-6 before the game entered a frayed period, with both back lines going through periods of indecision and failing to find fluency through the hands.
Greg Inglis was one player Queensland might be expected to lean on in times of need, but the South Sydney Rabbitohs captain spent much of the first half out wide, evidently not at full fitness.
With passing passages hard to come by, Mitchell Pearce opted to lead with the boot with Josh Morris its recipient, although the Bulldogs star's try attempt was inspected upstairs following a debatable grounding.
Ultimately, the officials made the correct call as Morris' acrobatics paid off and the official New South Wales Twitter account showed Morris to have gotten his timing just right:
Once again, though, the fixture's tug-of-war dynamic was highlighted and the Blues proved incapable of holding their foes at arm's length when Inglis soared over for Queensland's second score.
In doing so, Souths star Inglis became the Maroons' all-time leading try-scorer in State of Origin history, as pointed out by the Rabbitohs' official Twitter account:
The NRL veteran seemed destined to break that record considering the drought that preceded Wednesday's outing, per OptaJason:
Hodkinson snuck in a 39th-minute penalty to give the Blues a 14-10 lead at the interval.
Some stern words from coach Mal Meninga appeared to take effect with Queensland, though, and after starting the first half as the quieter party, the Maroons surged back with a greater show of initiative after the restart.
Matt Gillett touched down under the posts with a 47th-minute converted try, smoothly followed up by a penalty from Thurston to give Meninga's men an 18-14 lead.
Blues front-rower Aaron Woods would not to be outdone by opposing prop Scott, however, and he levelled the scores with just under 20 minutes remaining, much to the pleasure of former Origin team-mate-turned-NFL running back Jarryd Hayne:
Having stuttered at the start of the second half, New South Wales now appeared to be in the ascendancy and Hodkinson's conversion established a 20-18 lead that could have been even more were it not for a controversial forward-pass decision.
Egged on by the thought of taking this year's series to a third-game decider, the Blues chased what looked likely to be a result-clinching fourth try, but Queensland held firm.
With the final whistle creeping within sight, New South Wales benefited from some good fortune as what looked like a forward pass to Dugan wasn't pulled up and the Blues found a game-clinching cushion.
Brett McKay of ESPN Scrum was among those to take note of the pass, but it was allowed to stand and an eight-point lead for Daley's side proved insurmountable for Queensland:
The reigning champions will be glad after posing much more of an attacking threat in Game 2 and mustering no fewer than four tries, but the Blues will be aware of the luck that came their way, too.
That being said, league fans the world over will rejoice at the thought of this year's State of Origin going to a decider on July 8 at Suncorp Stadium, with the Maroons looking to ensure the Blues' reign stops at the first juncture.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
