Queensland staged a remarkable comeback in Melbourne to defeat New South Wales 44-24 in the second game of the State of Origin series, with winger Selwyn Cobbo crossing for a second-half hat-trick. The Dolphins player was instrumental in a dominant post-interval performance from the Maroons, who scored 36 points after the break to level the series at 1-1, setting up a decisive third match.
The victory was a crucial response from Queensland, who had suffered a narrow 22-20 defeat in Sydney two weeks prior after letting a 20-6 lead slip following a red card for full-back Kalyn Ponga. This time, the Maroons demonstrated resilience, overcoming an early 12-2 deficit and a temporary head injury assessment for captain Cameron Munster, who returned to play a pivotal role in the second-half revival.
New South Wales started strongly, with two tries from dual-code international Mark Nawaqanitawase on his Origin debut, contributing to their early advantage. However, Queensland found their rhythm, with Trent Loiero scoring their first try after a brilliant passing move. The momentum firmly shifted after half-time, with Munster's perfectly judged kicks setting up Cobbo's first two tries, and Jojo Fifita adding another. Despite Nawaqanitawase grabbing his second for the Blues, further tries from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Lindsay Collins, and Cobbo's acrobatic third sealed a comprehensive win for Queensland.
A standout performance also came from Sam Walker, in only his second Origin appearance. The Sydney Roosters half-back delivered an exceptional kicking display, converting all seven of Queensland's tries and an early penalty, maintaining a 100% record throughout the match. His precision proved vital in accumulating points and keeping the Maroons ahead during their surge.
The match was not without controversy, as NSW forward Victor Radley, the first England international to feature in State of Origin, conceded only a penalty for a brutal high tackle on Loiero, when a harsher sanction might have been expected. Later, Kotoni Staggs was sin-binned for a high shot on Ponga, further compounding the Blues' difficulties as Queensland capitalised on their numerical advantage.
Speaking after the game, Walker told Sky Sports, "It was really special to bounce back from such a tough loss in game one. I can't wait to get out there in Brisbane." The series now heads to Brisbane for the decider on 8 July, promising a thrilling conclusion to one of rugby league's most intense rivalries.
Source: Sky Sports