The NSW Blues have successfully responded to their Game 1 defeat in Sydney, with a resounding 38-18 victory in Game 2, before over 90,000 fans at the MCG in AFL heartland. 

Capitalising on momentum and possession in the first half, the Blues blasted out to a 34-0 halftime lead- the biggest halftime margin seen in Origin history- before the Maroons added some respectability to the scoreline by scoring 18 points in the second half.

Despite some questions about the lopsided penalty counts in both halves of the crucial game, the NRL powerbrokers can only be delighted at the prospect of an Origin series decider at the spiritual home of State of Origin, Brisbane’s Suncorp stadium. This sentiment was reflected by players, commentators and personnel from both sides of the border:

“We’d like to have wrapped the series up tonight, but we struggled for possession in the first half. There were probably some 50/50 calls that didn’t go our way” said Maroons coach Billy Slater in the post- match press conference. “Still, we’ve got a Decider to look forward to and everyone loves that”.

Said former Blues coach and commentator Phil Gould “I had a feeling tonight that the Blues would respond. As soon as Stephen Crichton got his first touch of the ball, I just knew it. I knew that NSW would come out and make a statement tonight. I wish my predictions were as accurate on the punt. But this means that we go to Game 3 at Suncorp for the Decider, and we know it’ll be a completely different scenario up there. How many times have we seen it over the years? There’s nothing like Origin in front of a packed house at Suncorp. 

Unless it’s a Tigers game at Leichardt on a sunny Sunday afternoon. 

Or Penrith on a Friday night for that matter. They love their footy out there” said Gus, staring into mid-distance with the self-satisfaction of a man who’s seen it all.

“Well done to NSW, they were…probably…the better team tonight” said a crestfallen Jonathan Thurston. “All the Blues penalties in the first half will have Queenslanders asking a lot of questions because I really felt like we could wrap up the series here…but saying that, we’ve got a Decider- and we all love a Decider, don’t we?” said Thurston, before cackling and winking at former Blues enforcer Paul Gallen.

“G Train hates QLD. But G Train loves deciders. Everyone loves a Decider! G Train! G Train! G. Train!” said Gallen.

Peter V’Landy’s was asked for comment but his office had a Do Not Disturb sign hanging over the door.

More to come…