Here’s Emma Kemp’s take on the night’s action:
Summary
A week is a long time in rugby league. After being overrun in Adelaide seven days ago NSW showed all their class to dominate Queensland at ANZ Stadium and level the series.
All week long the lack of go-forward from the Blues’ pack was lamented by former stars, a problem rectified tonight with five NSW forwards all carrying for over 100m. Behind them Nathan Cleary was outstanding, controlling the game alongside the excellent Cody Walker, both demonstrating their brilliance with precision kicks completing nearly every set. With the halves dovetailing superbly there was no shortage of ammunition for the likes of James Tedesco and Josh Addo-Carr.
However much improved the Blues were tonight, the Maroons were down. They weren’t helped by Cameron Munster failing an HIA in the opening couple of minutes, but that can’t explain the concession of two set-piece tries from NSW scrums that resulted in 4-3 overlaps. Queensland held their own for 20 minutes, and opened the scoring courtesy of a magical finish from Xavier Coates, but thereafter they were battling in quicksand.
They will need to do a lot more to clinch the series next week, but with home support cheering them on and Wayne Bennett in their ear, you wouldn’t write them off yet. But for tonight at least it’s all about the brilliance of NSW.
NSW 34-10 Queensland
That was a heck of a riposte from the Blues after they were upset in Adelaide last week. The series is now poised perfectly for a decider in Brisbane next week.
Penalty! NSW 34-10 Queensland (Cleary 79)
Cleary adds a touch more gloss to the scoreline.
78 mins: Penalty to the Blues for Hunt tackling Tedesco mid-air after the drop-out. It was a 50-50 contest but the Blues skipper was there first and earned the decision. With the clock ticking down NSW go for the two points.
76 mins: 40-20 for Cleary caps off a superb night. He only just held onto an awkward pass in midfield then with his momentum moving forward he spotted the gap behind Sami and nailed the tracer bullet off his boot.
Updated
75 mins: Queensland’s heads haven’t dropped. They continue to give their all late into a long lost cause.
73 mins: A loose carry - from Haas I think - lets Queensland off the hook, but the Maroons can barely clear their lines before Tedesco is back in perpetual motion, terrorising the defensive line. The NSW 10m becomes halfway in the blink of an eye and before you know it Coates is defusing his umpeenth awkward bomb of the night.
71 mins: Cleary is playing a blinder, rescuing broken field footy, darting into a half-gap and offloading miraculously to Tedesco to thunder towards the Queensland line. Seconds later Walker dabs behind the Maroons’ line and Cherry-Evans concedes a penalty. NSW have been irresistible going forward tonight.
THANK you to the 36,212 passionate @NSWBlues fans who turned #ANZStadium into a Cauldron tonight to cheer our boys home in #Origin 2 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/AarSaz2H9b
— ANZ Stadium (@ANZStadium) November 11, 2020
69 mins: Since around the 20 minute mark every NSW drive seems to allow them a tackle or two deep in Queensland territory. The forwards have eaten up the early yards in the sets. This time Cleary orchestrates a move from right to left, showing and going before sending it through hands, but it’s all a little hurried and despite some improvisation they run out of space.
67 mins: Queensland win the short restart but one tackle later Su’A loses possession in a fierce two-man tackle.
TRY! NSW 32-10 Queensland (Addo-Carr 65)
The comeback is on! Only kidding.
NSW build a beautiful attack that swells with runners pounding the middle before Walker dabs an inch perfect left-footed kick in behind the slumbering Sami that allows Addo-Carr to sneak up on the outside and touch down a fraction before the ball went dead. NSW’s kicking has been outstanding tonight.
Although, Cleary misses his kick form the right touchline to extend the lead.
What a combo! 🙌
— NRL (@NRL) November 11, 2020
Walker and Fox combine to take the Blues to a 32 – 10 lead!#Origin pic.twitter.com/ExQbhhVhgw
Updated
TRY! NSW 28-10 Queensland (Papali'i 63)
Queensland make decent yards down the left wing and suddenly have a sniff of an opportunity from a six-again. That sniff turns into a deep breath when, camped on the NSW line, Cherry-Evans times his short pass to Papali’i to perfection, setting up his monster prop to steam into the diminutive Cook 1-1 and stomp his way over for a try.
Holmes adds the extras.
That’s a PAPA special. Ain’t stoppin’ him from there!#Origin pic.twitter.com/y88atB4BOQ
— NRL (@NRL) November 11, 2020
Updated
62 mins: Another early kick from the quickwitted Cleary causes mayhem in the Queensland defence. Turning on their heels the Maroon outside backs will the ball into touch but it stubbornly refuses and Gutherson pounces to touch down. But the flag is raised and replays showed the ball did touch the sideline on its point before bouncing back infield.
60 mins: Could that melee spark Queensland into life? 12 on 12 on the vast expanse of ANZ Stadium...
Not immediately. Despite a scrum 20m out the Maroons twice fail to spin the ball through hands to the left, then after a six-again they fail to execute the passing move to the right wing. Fumbly in attack and overworked in defence.
Yellow Carrd x 2!
57 mins: They could, but there’s some biff! Oi oi! Fa’asuamaleaui and Haas are in the middle of it, but there were arms raised from both sides as a couple of spot fires blew up. Haas trudges off with a ripped jumper for a ten minute breather, soon followed by Fa’asuamaleaui, who can be seen on replays swinging wildly at his NSW foe.
Payne Haas & Tino Fa'asuamaleaui have been sent to the sin bin.#Origin pic.twitter.com/7blC4ioUhV
— NRL (@NRL) November 11, 2020
Updated
56 mins: Coates is enduring a night to forget in defence. Every NSW kick has been aimed in his direction, and many have been wicked, including the latest from Cleary which the Queenslander allows to bounce and roll out 10m from his line. The Maroons mount their first decent set for about half-an-hour, allowing Cherry-Evans to kick a bomb from about 30m. In the chase Holmes is taken out off the ball and Queensland can finally enjoy some decent territory.
TRY! NSW 28-4 Queensland (Tupou 53)
“It’s like shelling peas” says Andrew Johns as Daniel Tupou crosses for his maiden Origin try. Just like the first half, off the scrum NSW exploit a 4-3 overlap on the opposite wing and after routine catch-and-pass footy Tupou has enough room to dash and dive over in the corner. Serious questions need asking about Queensland’s set-piece defending.
Cleary strikes the post with his touchline conversion attempt.
Don’t give him ANY space! 🔥
— NRL (@NRL) November 11, 2020
Tupou bags his first Origin try and the @NSWBlues are out in front 28 – 4! #Origin pic.twitter.com/MM2X4VdyGP
Updated
52 mins: NSW have runners left and right with halves running through their training ground repertoires. Brown hits the line hard, then Saifiti, then they go wide to the right where some magical hands from Gutherson, Tedesco and Addo-Carr keeps the ball alive. A Queensland knock-on in defence creates an attacking scrum. Oh oh...
Updated
50 mins: Queensland make little ground, inviting NSW back on the attack, a move that ends with Walker going to boot this time, targeting Coates in the corner just like Cleary. Five tackles later Friend, under pressure around his own 40m line, kicks out on the full in search of the 40-20. This is unraveling for the Maroons.
48 mins: NSW go quickly to the left wing but Tupou doesn’t have enough room to skip around the outside. Paulo then spills in contact for only the second incomplete set of the night from the Blues - and there’s a hint of afters following the fumble, but considering this is Origin that was nothing more than a few friendly handshakes.
46 mins: Queensland kick off, NSW bully their way back, Cleary kicks intelligently, Addo-Carr chases like a dervish and Sami is scragged into touch near the corner like an impatient cat cuffing an errant kitten back into line. This is no longer an even contest.
44 mins: If you’re following this from north of the Tweed, it might be time for an early night.
TRY! NSW 24-4 Queensland (Wighton 43)
Again NSW pound their way relentlessly towards Queensland’s line. A powerful series of drives, replete with smart short inside passes from Finucane and Cook, take the Blues inside 20m where Cook buys time for Walker who looks outside to the Dally M medalist who forces his way between two tacklers sufficient to reach out and touch over.
Cleary continues his sublime night with the boot.
Can finish 💪
— NRL (@NRL) November 11, 2020
Not a bad for @jackie_boii4 first Origin try 👏 #Origin pic.twitter.com/6lhVk2qN4t
Updated
42 mins: NSW return the kick-off with a meaty drive down the middle that ends with Cleary again targeting Coates in the corner. Queensland respond by spreading the ball from right wing to left on the first tackle on their own 10m line. They make little ground but it signals a change of intent.
NSW have almost double Queensland’s total of metres run and metres gained after contact. They lead line breaks 4-1 and tackle busts 19-11. It was one-way traffic for the last 20 minutes of the first half.
Can Wayne Bennett mastermind another comeback? Let’s find out...
After a week of scrutiny Nathan Cleary really turned it on in that opening half. His decision making, appetite to run the ball, and especially kicking, have run this contest.
Honestly, I think we could be in record territory. NSW looked hungry and sharp in that first half and with the crowd behind them they are not going to let up. Queensland looked unable to gain metres after contact through the middle and lacked a cutting edge out wide. Now without Munster, and already suffering a talent deficit, things could easily get ugly if they’re not careful.
Half-time: NSW 18-4 Queensland
The Origin whisperer Wayne Bennett is going to have to come up with something special to rescue this one. NSW well on top at ANZ Stadium.
Updated
TRY! NSW 18-4 Queensland (Addo-Carr 38)
From the scrum 10m out bang in front NSW play the ball through hands to the right wing and enjoy a 4-3 overlap. By the time Tedesco accepts contact and offloads to Addo-Carr on his outside, a step inside and try is inevitable. You can’t say it wasn’t coming.
Cleary drills a smashing conversion from just inside the right touchline.
3️⃣ in a row!😎
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) November 11, 2020
The Blues are starting to do some serious damage on the scoreboard.#Origin LIVE and exclusive on @Channel9. #9WWOS pic.twitter.com/Y7n6rLBjHx
Updated
37 mins: For the first time in an age Cleary is forced to kick from what seems like range, but in reality it’s still 30m out, and that means the Panther halfback can lob a wedge high to the left corner that Coates spills on his way down.
35 mins: Can NSW capitalise this time? Almost! Tedesco is held up inches short in the left corner. then a touched attempted intercept leads to a repeat set 10m out allowing Cleary an opportunity to snipe, only to be repelled, like so may Blues runners in the past ten minutes. Finally the kick goes to the left corner but Gagai claims it superbly - following up his earlier try-saving tackle on Tedesco. Queensland are only just remaining in touch here.
34 mins: Queensland barely clear their lines before Cleary has the ball in his hands again and he kicks on tackle two - superbly - behind the Maroon defence into the left corner where the charging Add0-Carr forces another line drop-out. “That was an Origin kick” purrs Billy Slater on TV.
32 mins: Queensland defend another full set in point blank range. The Blues focus on the middle for no reward until Walker kicks high to the left wing but after Tupou palms the ball back near the corner the Maroons get enough bodies in the way of Gutherson. NSW will be disappointed not to have taken advantage of a long spell of attacking dominance.
31 mins: A full set from point blank range begins with Paulo almost burrowing over. Queensland defend their line stoutly thereafter, even out wide when NSW spin the ball to the left touchline. Two tackles later Collins spills the ball in contact from Trbojevic and NSW are on the attack again!
29 mins: Another solid set from the Blues turns into something testing when Cook makes 20m from dummy half. That allows Cleary to go aerial again and the chase to nail an unfortunate Maroon inside 10m. Queensland look rattled - and you can hardly blame them - and an obstruction penalty in possession soon follows. It is all NSW.
27 mins: Friend and Arrow bustled hard for the visitors but their skipper was still kicking from inside his own half. That kick was returned by Tupou who pinballed away from the first row of tacklers and into Queensland territory. On the last the Blues cut left and Walker times his pass for Gutherson perfectly for the flying Eel to hit the line and almost break through for the score, but he’s inches short.
Needing to clear, Coates is poleaxed by Trbojevic and needs a breather to gather his thoughts. NSW are starting to flex their muscles.
25 mins: Queensland have been at least the equal of NSW for much of this half, but that individual class of the Blues that has been so feared is starting to come to the fore. Cleary and Walker are linking up superbly with much more forceful momentum than we saw in game one. The Maroons are going to have a job containing the scoreboard at this rate, let alone returning fire themselves.
TRY! NSW 12-4 Queensland (Tedesco 23)
Narrator: “Queensland could not hold on.” After returning the drop-out along the left edge NSW eventually spread to the right and with all the momentum shifting towards the touchline Tedesco shifts his bodyweight to his left and swaggers through a yawning chasm to score. Beautiful ball movement from NSW.
Cleary adds two more to extend the Blues’ lead.
Captain Teddy leads the way 👌
— NRL (@NRL) November 11, 2020
The Blues extend their lead, 12 -4! #Origin pic.twitter.com/urupi52NBN
Updated
22 mins: The Blues are starting to work through the gears now with Cook finding yards from dummy half and Tedesco stepping into the line. A cleaver kick on tackle four from Cleary, and a ferocious chase from Addo-Carr forces the first line drop-out of the night.
Queensland need to hold on for half-time without further damage before Bennett can regroup.
20 mins: Bennett will be furious with the way his side conceded that try, and the 90m of territory beforehand, after controlling field position in the opening quarter.
In further bad news for the Maroons, Munster has failed his HIA and will take no further part in the match.
TRY! NSW 6-4 Queensland (Walker 18)
Not just kick clear, they run clear too, through Cleary! A ragged series of phases with repeat six-again signals sees NSW pummel through the middle before Cleary dashes through a gap and sets up A1 field position. Near the line there’s a clear infringement at the ruck that is lucky not to be punished with a yellow card, but the Blues don’t care. They go back to the 10m line, feed the ball to the right, Walker spins inside Capewell and powers his way over. That’s exactly why he was recalled to the 13.
Cleary, who was instrumental in two separate phases of that try, slots the conversion to put NSW ahead.
Dummy, spin, SCORE! 😋
— NRL (@NRL) November 11, 2020
Walker goes over to get the @NSWBlues on the board and into the lead 6-4! #Origin pic.twitter.com/epHz2lpIIK
Updated
16 mins: Capewell has threatened to repeat his game one heroics on a couple of occasions tonight but Gutherson has been up to the task. Queensland have run the ball twice on the last tackle already tonight, shifting from one side to the other with plenty of poise, happy to keep NSW away from danger. But right on cue there’s a penalty near the NSW line and the Blues kick clear.
14 mins: NSW still can’t establish attacking territory. Cleary has been kicking on the last tackle from inside his own half for the majority of the game so far. He hasn’t been helped by a couple of soft penalties, and another 10m offside turns the possibility of building pressure into backs to the wall defence in their own 40m.
12 mins: Queensland, marshalled by Friend and Cherry-Evans shift from right to left with forwards hitting the line at speed. Eventually the kick goes high to Tupou’s wing and the Rooster takes a strong grab under attention from the onrushing Coates.
10 mins: Safety first from Queensland in their restart set, but a superb long kick gets in behind the Blues defence and forces them to run out from their own 10m line. Cleary goes aerial from his own half, but the chase is penalised for offside and the Maroons get a relieving kick to touch.
TRY! NSW 0-4 Queensland (Coates 8)
An error from Addo-Carr in contact - that on replay looks like an illegal strip - gifts Queensland a scrum on halfway. Fa’asuamaleaui and Lui make good yards through the middle before Friend and Su’A threaten to break the line. Cherry-Evans then spreads the ball to the right and in a blur the ball goes through Gagai’s hands and Coates flies like Sergey Bubka folding his way over the bar mid pole vault, and touches down in the corner for the most extraordinary finish you could imagine. A quite miraculous try from the youngster. Queensland ahead! Wow.
Holmes drags the touchline conversion attempt across the face of the posts.
Flyin’ Coates with the opener! #Origin pic.twitter.com/KhkzneV9l2
— NRL (@NRL) November 11, 2020
Updated
6 mins: NSW make little ground, forcing Cleary to kick from his own half, but it’s a wicked bomb that Holmes has to sprint and leap to collect, and the split second his studs hit the turf Gutherson absolutely marmalises him. That was a massive hit. The Maroons keep it safe and kick deep on the last.
4 mins: Munster suffered a whiplash head injury after that high take and Hunt is on already in his place while the HIA occurs. Frizell made the tackle and in the process the off-balance Munster’s head snapped backwards and hit the turf hard.
After absorbing the pressure Queensland executed a much more solid set and are then rewarded with a set restart. Nothing flash from the Maroons, keeping it tight, and Papali’i has a look for the line before three Blues jerseys swallow him up and force the turnover. A brisk start to the game.
2 mins: Queensland receive the kick-off but NSW pin them deep in their own territory with a fierce opening series of tackles. Cherry-Evans was forced to kick from inside his own 20 on the last! The Blues have much more go-forward and after four tackles they cut left and Wighton almost has a dart for the line. The kick is high towards the posts but Munster takes it under extreme duress. NSW starting very powerfully.
Kick-off!
Origin II is underway...
It did sound very odd through the TV. As though it wasn’t properly communicated to patrons what was actually taking place and that everyone needed to zip it. Of course, in situations such as this the sound of people yelling at others to pipe down become louder than the original disturbances.
one of the most poorly observed minutes of silence i can remember #origin
— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) November 11, 2020
Queensland are in their familiar maroon uniform once again tonight. Reassuringly, NSW are back in their all-sky blue number after they opted for an ugly black splodged affair in Adelaide.
Time for a special remembrance day ceremony in the lead up to the national anthem. General Sir Peter Cosgrove is leading the service.
Here come the teams out into the ANZ cauldron. It is a heck of a journey through the intestines of the Olympic stadium. The Blues’ ring walk looked like it lasted about five minutes.
WHOSE HOME IS IT?!
— ANZ Stadium (@ANZStadium) November 11, 2020
Up the mighty @NSWBlues 💪🏻#Origin pic.twitter.com/y1ngW0hYTI
Updated
“Siri, introduce me to rugby league.”
NRL Grand Final https://t.co/IS7DJqLoYL
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) November 11, 2020
This was a nice package on Brad Fittler. I’m drawn to characters who think differently and expose parts of themselves that are normally hidden.
Brad Fittler the player vs Brad Fittler the coach.
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) November 11, 2020
The long relationship of Freddy and rugby league.🏉#Origin LIVE and exclusive on @Channel9. #9WWOS pic.twitter.com/UT9tOuHYTg
Gerard Sutton is your match referee once again, retained despite the controversial end to Origin I.
Origin I might have been a gripping spectacle but it didn’t capture the nation’s attention in the way TV executives might have hoped. The series-opener attracted the worst television ratings since figures became available in 2003, attracting a national average audience of 2.38 million, down almost 25 per cent on the corresponding game last year.
NSW veteran Boyd Cordner misses out tonight after suffering a blow to the head in game one, the latest in a series of concussions for the Roosters forward that have once again brought into focus the management of head injuries in the game.
Queensland XVII
There are changes too for the Maroons, headlined by the return of Valentine Holmes in the No.1 jersey for the first time since 2018. He replaces AJ Brimson who was injured during his livewire performance in game one.
In the pack, Dunamis Lui makes his Origin debut in place of the industrious Christian Welch, who is ruled out after suffering a heavy knock late in game one, while Jaydn Su’A comes in for Coen Hess after making an impact off the bench in Adelaide with Moeaki Fotuaika filling the spare seat on the interchange bench.
The good news for Queenslanders is Kurt Capewell has been passed fit to start despite carrying a groin injury into last week’s game and aggravating it late on.
1. Valentine Holmes 2. Xavier Coates 3. Kurt Capewell 4. Dane Gagai 5. Phillip Sami 6. Cameron Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Dunamis Lui 9. Jake Friend 10. Josh Papali’i 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Ben Hunt 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Jai Arrow 17. Moeaki Fotuaika
NSW XVII
Brad Fittler has made a couple of big decisions as he seeks to improve on a below-par showing in the series opener. The most significant call sees Cody Walker replace Luke Keary at five-eighth in a bid to improve the cohesion in the Blues’ backline. The other headline grabber is the nomination of fullback James Tedesco as his state’s 20th skipper, the fullback deputising for injured clubmate Boyd Cordner.
Replacing Cordner in the starting XIII is Angus Crichton with Dale Finucane filling the space vacated on the interchange.
Finucane is part of a totally revamped bench featuring Junior Paulo, the big prop trading places with Payne Haas, while Nathan Brown and Isaah Yeo are both in line to make their Origin debuts with Cameron Murray missing out through injury.
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Clinton Gutherson 4. Jack Wighton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cody Walker 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Damien Cook 10. Payne Haas 11. Angus Crichton 12. Tyson Frizell 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dale Finucane 15. Junior Paulo 16. Nathan Brown 17. Isaah Yeo
Speaking of Bennett, he’s just been speaking to Karl Stefanovic in an interview that I almost mistook for an SNL skit where both character actors try to outdo the other for the lowest volume and pitch. Fire up gents!
"We can do things better."👀
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) November 11, 2020
Wayne knows they need to step it up to recreate their Game 1 victory.#Origin LIVE and exclusive on @Channel9. #9WWOS pic.twitter.com/KzFUiP6IP5
Following Queensland’s remarkable second-half turnaround in Adelaide plenty of praise has been lavished on inspirational coach Wayne Bennett. According to Nick Tedeschi: “The Maroons’ victory in Adelaide was a coaching win more than anything. It was Bennett out-coaching Brad Fittler as much as Queensland outplaying New South Wales.” Can the wily old fox repeat the trick again tonight?
While NSW failed to live up to their lofty expectations in game one, there’ll be no cause to panic in the Blues camp with this year’s Origin series bearing many similarities with last year’s successful campaign. Emma Kemp has more.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Origin II from ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Kick-off between New South Wales and Queensland is at 8.10pm.
Tonight’s clash is all about the Blues. Brad Fittler’s outfit must win on home soil to keep the series alive. After starting the series Winx-like favourites, defeat for NSW would rank among the greatest Origin disasters.
They weren’t far off the mark in game one but failure to convert a comfortable half-time lead allowed a resilient Maroons outfit the opportunity to secure a memorable victory. Fittler has responded with a series of changes, most notably at five-eighth where Cody Walker has been entrusted with steering the ship after Luke Keary failed to spark in Adelaide. With such a star studded squad NSW clearly have the cattle to level the series tonight, but it remains to be seen if they have the combinations to mould individual brilliance into fluid football.
For Queensland tonight is something of a free hit. Victory for this unheralded callow group would be the stuff of local legend, but defeat still leaves them with a series decider with home state advantage. Injuries have forced Wayne Bennett to dig even deeper into his already depleted squad, further reinforcing the Maroons’ underdog status, which is precisely how the veteran coach likes it.
After a comparatively genial opening contest in South Australia expect a bit more fire and brimstone this evening with a partisan crowd egging on the Blues and a host of former stars calling for a more confrontational clash. We should be in for a captivating spectacle.
I’ll be back in a short while with line-ups and whatnot. If you want to get in touch at any point, you can reach me on Twitter or email.
