2007 State of Origin Series - Game II

Game II

Brett Stewart was called in to make his Origin debut only 24 hours prior to the match as a replacement for the injured Anthony Minichello. The Maroons went into this match having never won an Origin match at Telstra Stadium in 11 outings. It was also referee Shane Hayne's first State of Origin match.

The opening minutes were almost all played in Queensland's half of the field, with the Maroons defending successfully until just before the eight-minute mark when Blues debutant fullback Brett Stewart scored the first points of the match with a close-range try from dummy-half. Jamie Lyon's conversion brought the score to 6 - 0 in favour of New South Wales. Queensland then evened up the battle for field position, the game being played almost entirely in the Blues' half from then until the twenty-first minute when the Maroons scored. Their hooker Cameron Smith ran from dummy-half on the fifth and last, down the short side and through his tacklers shot a remarkable pass out to the feet of Greg Inglis. Inglis then picked up the ball and crossed out wide (for the fifth time in only three Origin matches) to touch down after improving the field position for his kicker. Johnathan Thurston's conversion was successful so the score was 6 all with three quarters of the match remaining. Queensland dominated field position and crossed the Blues' try line three more times in the remainder of the first half but couldn't score, leaving the sides level at a single converted try each for the break.

The first penalty of the match was given after ten minutes of the second half, followed by the second eight minutes after that, providing the Blues with some attacking opportunities which they failed to convert to points. Following the third penalty of the match, which went Queensland's way, they were attacking the New South Wales line and got their second try on the sixty-three minute mark. A pass (that appeared to be forward but was allowed by the referee) went to Thurston who, keeping the ball alive, chipped a grubbing kick through the line of defence for centre Steven Bell to pick up and dive over the try-line in the corner. The ensuing sideline conversion was missed by Thurston, leaving the score at 10 - 6 in favour of the Maroons. The following ten minutes were a fairly even arm wrestle played mostly in the middle of the field. With under three minutes remaining Brent Kite lost the ball in a tackle and Shaun Berrigan picked it up and ran 45 metres to put it down. However the try was disallowed by the video referee, ruling that Berrigan had also knocked the ball on when he picked it up. The Queenslanders managed to hold out New South Wales' desperate attack to leave the game at 10-6.

"This could be the start of a Queensland dynasty."

Of the match, Queensland captain Lockyer had this to say: "In games I've been involved with, that's the gutsiest I've been in." It was the first win for Queensland at Telstra Stadium following an 11-game losing streak at the venue, and the first time the Maroons had won four consecutive Origin matches since their 8-game winning streak which lasted from game 2, 1987 to game 3, 1989. Meninga was critical of referee Shayne Hayne's performance in the match after a with no penalties until the 51st minute and a final count going New South Wales' way 4-1.