Under-fire halfback Nathan Cleary led the way as the Blues licked, stamped, and locked-in a mouthwatering State of Origin Suncorp decider, dismantling the Maroons in the heart of New South Wales territory on Wednesday night.
There were no signs of the hesitant New South Wales outfit that had been shellshocked by Queensland just a week ago, as the Blues ran out 34-10 winners at ANZ Stadium to level the series at one apiece.
Cleary, 22, has been lashed with criticism all week after his disappearing act in Adelaide.
The Panthers playmaker well and truly brushed those shadows away on Wednesday night, pulling the strings with two forced drop-outs, a 40-20, a line break assist, and five conversions.
He was matched in equal parts by re-promoted halves partner Cody Walker, who scored the Blues’ first try, and laid on a try assist to boot.
It was the skipper that provided the most in an explosive Blues attack, however, with James Tedesco scoring a try, setting up two more, twice breaking the line, and putting two teammates through as he roamed from fullback. He never slowed down either, running a whopping 238 metres.
Xavier Coates opened the scoring at ANZ Stadium in Game 2, crossing early for the Maroons with a sensation diving try in the corner.
The Blues battled their way back off the back of a handful of penalities and six again’s, before Walker barged through on the right flank to put the home side two points up through Cleary’s first kick.
Tedesco scored soon after — and Cleary slotted it home again — to balloon the lead to 12-4. The Blues didn’t let the foot off the pedal either, romping in another through Josh Addo-Carr just ahead of the break.
Jack Wighton and Daniel Tupou got in on the action too in the second half, with both crossing the line. Josh Papalii was able to barge over to close the gap a little, but one final four-pointer for Addo-Carr silenced the Maroons on Wednesday night.
The State of Origin series now switches to Queensland next weekend, as the Blues and Maroons hunt a 2020 victory at Suncorp.
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