Queensland centre Greg Inglis was the key man in a much improved performance that opens up the Origin best of three with a 30-0 annihilation of NSW at Suncorp Stadium sending this year’s series to a decider in Sydney next month.
The Blues were never in the contest and will need to regroup quickly with game three at ANZ Stadium on July 2 suddenly looking a tough task after becoming just the second Blues side after the 1995 team to be shut-out in an Origin contest.
Inglis set up two first-half tries and had the Blues dumbfounded all game, the Melbourne star turning the table on Blues opposite Mark Gasnier after being embarrassed in game one. Brisbane Broncos winger Darius Boyd scored two first-half tries, both converted by Johnathan Thurston who also posted 2 penalties giving the Maroons a 16-0 half time lead.
In the second half Ben Hannant and winger Israel Folau added further tries with Thurston converting both to please the 52,000 crowd at Suncorp Stadium. Final score:
Queensland 30 New South Wales 0
Teams
Queensland: Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Brent Tate, Israel Folau, Johnathan Thurston, Scott Prince, Steven Price, Cameron Smith (capt), Petero Civoniceva, Michael Crocker, Sam Thaiday, Dallas Johnson. Replacements: Karmichael Hunt, Ben Hannant, Nate Myles, Ashley Harrison.
New South Wales: Brett Stewart, Steve Turner, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Anthony Quinn, Greg Bird, Peter Wallace, Brett White, Danny Buderus (capt), Craig Fitzgibbon, Ryan Hoffman, Willie Mason, Paul Gallen. Replacements: Anthony Laffranchi, Anthony Tupou, Steve Simpson, Kurt Gidley.
Referee: Tony Archer
