A first half blitz from the Blues put Origin II to bed by half-time, with the Maroons accused of being “soft” by Phil Gould.
Queensland showed signs of life in the second half, with a strong enough response to give them some momentum heading into the decider at Suncorp Stadium.
But it was the Blues players who walked off with wide smiles after giving coach Michael Maguire his first win in the Origin arena.
IN PICTURES: Legend’s shattered reaction to Maroons shocker
READ MORE: ‘Soft’ Maroons hammered by Gus
READ MORE: Double binning after fiery exchange
As usual, Wide World of Sports pulls no punches in assessing the impact of all 34 players who took the field for the second Origin game of the series.
NSW BLUES
1. Dylan Edwards
Handed in a memorable State of Origin debut, having a hand in a couple of first half tries before scoring one himself. Safe under pressure as well.
Rating: 8.5
2. Brian To’o
Did his usual fine job, carting the ball forward from deep positions and bagged two tries for good measure.
Rating: 7.5
3. Stephen Crichton
Combined well with Zac Lomax on the right edge and took a timely intercept in the first half when the Blues could do no wrong.
Rating: 6.5
4. Latrell Mitchell
Justified his return to the big stage with a barnstorming game out wide, having a hand in a couple of tries and running one in through the poor Maroons defence.
Rating: 8
5. Zac Lomax
Followed up his fine debut in Sydney with an even better game – two tries, some pressure kicks at goal and strong runs with the ball.
Rating: 7.5
6. Jarome Luai
After leading the Blues’ attack in Sydney, was content to catch and pass and let Moses run the team in such fine style.
Rating: 6
7. Mitchell Moses
Relished in his recall with a brilliant attacking game, laying on try after try and kicking smartly. Easy pick as man of match.
Rating: 9
8. Jake Trbojevic
Again down on game time with just 34 minutes but led the team well and held the middle together in defence.
Rating: 6
9. Reece Robson
Gave good service from dummyhalf without taking on the line himself and tackled solidly up the middle.
Rating: 5.5
10. Payne Haas
After a quiet showing in game one, ran for 193 metres – by far the most of any forward on the field, getting the Blues going forward.
Rating: 7.5
11. Liam Martin
A mixed night, scoring the opening try, spending time in the sin bin but getting under the Maroons’ skin with his aggression.
Rating: 7
12. Angus Crichton
All class as an edge attacker, having a hand in a couple of tries and creating havoc out wide in the best performance of his Origin career.
Rating: 8
13. Cameron Murray
A typically busy game, tackling himself silly, firing off some quick play the balls that led to tries and having a hand in a try as well.
Rating: 7.5
14. Connor Watson
Felt his way in his first 17 minutes of Origin football but will be better for it in the decider in Brisbane.
Rating: 5
15. Isaah Yeo
Did his job from the bench, keeping the momentum up and providing a good link between the forwards and backs.
Rating: 6
16. Haumole Olakau’atu
Needs to be more involved in the decider – for a player whose running game can destroy rival defences, made just two runs for 19 metres.
Rating: 3
17. Spencer Leniu
Added to the Blue Tide when he came on late in the first half – a genuine super sub who added energy and enthusiasm.
Rating: 7
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QLD MAROONS
1. Reece Walsh
Smashed out of game one by the Blues, he was shut out of game two, never given time or space to show his class. Only just got over 100 run metres.
Rating: 5
2. Xavier Coates
Like Walsh, was given no room to move by the speed of the Blue defensive line and was barely seen.
Rating: 5
3. Valentine Holmes
Had his hands full opposite Latrell but was one of the few Queensland outside backs to cause the Blues any problems with the ball.
Rating: 6
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Came back from an early collarbone injury to maintain his remarkable record of scoring in every Origin he has played. Queensland’s most dangerous man.
Rating: 7
5. Murray Taulagi
Given a lesson by Lomax and Stephen Crichton out wide in the first half – but showed some nice touches in the second.
Rating: 5
6. Tom Dearden
Well down on his best, missing three tackles, one of which led to the opening try, and making two errors. Could struggle to hold his spot.
Rating: 4
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
Led the inevitable Maroons comeback in the second half with two try assists and had a solid kicking game.
Rating: 7
8. Reuben Cotter
Worked hard up front but couldn’t get the Maroons going forward against the Blues pack, who were men on a mission.
Rating: 6
9. Ben Hunt
Great in game one, he was a major disappointment – one run for six metres not good enough at this level.
Rating: 3
10. Lindsay Collins
After a fiery display in game one, was surprisingly quiet, running for just 57 metres and having little impact in defence.
Rating: 5.5
11. Jaydn Su’a
Tried hard on the edge but like many of his team-mates, was starved of the ball in dangerous positions.
Rating: 6
12. Jeremiah Nanai
Topped the Maroons’ tackle count and scored a try to earn his pay packet – one of the few Maroons forwards who could hold his head up.
Rating: 7
13. Patrick Carrigan
Made more running metres than any Maroon forward despite spending 10 minutes in the sin bin and carted the ball up strongly.
Rating: 7
14. Harry Grant
His one-two punch with Ben Hunt destroyed the Blues in game one but like Hunt, he was closely marked and ineffective this time.
Rating: 4
15. Moeaki Fotuaika
Brought some aggression onto the field when he got his chance from the bench but by then, the Blues were well on top.
Rating: 6
16. Felise Kaufusi
Probably should have got more than his 11 minutes of game time given his ability to do damage – managed just three runs for 30 metres.
Rating: 3.5
17. Kurt Capewell
Another player who has troubled the Blues consistently in the past who was down on his game, but like his fellow bench players had a tough task as the game was gone when he got his chance.
Rating: 4