This was published 5 years ago
Well, it all comes down to next Wednesday night!
Much like in 2019, the Blues have rebounded from a series-opening loss to level the series in emphatic style.
Can NSW travel to Brisbane next week for a daring hit-run mission or will Queensland make the most of home-ground advantage at Suncorp Stadium?
We have a decider on our hands. Be sure to join us next week!
For the past two years, the reborn Blues have played nothing like a club team.
When they snatched the series last year with a James Tedesco try in the final minute of the decider, they didn’t even look like the Blues. Those miracles usually belong to Queensland.
Herald chief sports writer Andrew Webster says NSW resembled their old-new self in game two at ANZ Stadium, defeating Queensland 34-10 to send the series to a decider in Brisbane next week.
But in the final episode of this strangest of strange seasons, who could possibly predict how it will end?
The NSW coach backed his game plan going into game two. "I thought in the first game we didn't put the back three under much pressure. That was our job to bring them into the game," he said.
"When you get beaten, you assume there would be a reaction. I was pretty confident going in ... I felt like if they were brutal early, that would allow us to get on top. There's always a reaction, especially in Origin."
A couple of days ago, NSW's great halfback hope of the next decade was told Andrew Johns said he should have been axed for Wednesday night's game.
"I didn't know that, but thanks for telling me," Nathan Cleary responded.
And with the words of Johns ringing in his ears, Cleary turned in one of the most dominant halfback performances in the modern Origin era as the Blues sent the series to a decider in Brisbane, winning a spiteful game two at ANZ Stadium.
Maybe he was just saying how proud he was?
Well deserved, he pulled all the right strings and the Blues are loving this.
They will have their tails up next Wednesday and it's the Queenslandd pack that has to really return fire.
Their opponents had double the run metres and that can only end in one result.
"We needed to finish out sets and we did that a lot better tonight," Cleary said.
And Cody Walker: "Nathan is very similar to my number seven at the Rabbitohs. We showed our intent in the very first defensive set but it means nothing yet."
We have a decider on our hands and that was never in doubt for the Blues once they found their groove.
They conceded the first try but smashed Queensland after that the Maroons never recovered from the loss of Cameron Munster after just two minutes. Nathan Cleary and James Tedesco were masterful for the Blues and their pack was lead by Daniel Saifiti, who was excellent.
Not all his lost for the Maroons but everyone will be watching Munster this week. They missed him dearly and also missed Christian Welch, who should return.
Fascinating week ahead.
A late penalty for Cleary. He knocks it over from nearly in front. Tedesco caught by Hunt in the air and, with just a minute to go, you may as well add to the tally.