The Queensland Maroons kept the Ampol State of Origin series alive when the contest shifted west to Perth for Game Two.
After claiming Game One in enemy territory in Brisbane, the Westpac NSW Blues stood on the verge of consecutive series victories after last year's memorable 2-1 triumph.
History was against the Maroons, with the side losing both games played at Optus Stadium, but Billy Slater's new-look team flipped the script in Western Australia to win 26-24 in an epic Origin encounter.
With new halfback Tom Dearden and new skipper Cameron Munster calling the shots the Maroons unsettled a Blues side that was forced to make a change in the halves after Mitch Moses injured his calf at training.
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Maroons v Blues – Game 2, 2025
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Maroons: Game 2
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Blues: Game 2
Maroons v Blues at Optus Stadium
Match: Maroons v Blues
Game 2 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Judiciary
The charges are in and NSW backs Jarome Luai and Zac Lomax have fallen foul of the Match Review Committee over incidents in Wednesday night's 26-24 Origin loss in Perth.
Luai was charged with Grade 2 Contrary Conduct over a gouging incident on Maroons second-rower Reuben Cotter in the 22nd minute of the match and faces a fine worth 13% of his $30,000 match payment ($3900).
Lomax was charged with Grade 1 Dangerous Contact for lashing out at Maroons lock Trent Loiero in a 28th minute tackle with his forearm and faces a fine equating to 7% of his match payment ($2100).
The pair can challenge the charges and would receive heavier fines if they are unsuccessful at the judiciary.
Fulltime wrap
Queensland have survived a stunning second half comeback by NSW to send the 2025 Origin series to a decider at Sydney's Accor Stadium on July 9. The Maroons led 26-6 at halftime but did not score a point in the second half as the Blues went within an ace of the greatest comeback in Origin history. NSW scored five tries to four but Zac Lomax missed three conversions from out wide, including one which hit the upright. The Blues lost the penalty count 10-2 and conceded five six-again calls as poor discipline in the first half proved costly. NSW winger Brian To'o scored a hat-trick and ran a game high 232 metres with the ball as players from both teams struggled in the wet conditions. NSW forwards Payne Haas (145m), Hudson Young (111m) and Isaah Yeo (105m), along with Queensland secondrower Kurt Capwell (107m) and five-eighth Cameron Munster (131m) were the only other players to run more than 100m with the ball. The win was Queensland's first under the captaincy of Munster, who took over after Daly Cherry-Evans was dropped in one of the biggest selection calls in Queensland history, Munster was man-of-the-match and he paid tribute to coach Billy Slater.
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Munster named Player of the Match
79 min: Queensland have survived a desperate NSW onslaught after Capewell forced a knock on by Haas.
77 min: The Maroons have lost a captain's challenge after Ponga knocked on fielding a Cleary kick.
Crowd: 57,023
72 min: Angus Crichton has put the Blues within striking distance of a stunning comeback after racing onto a perfectly placed Luai grubber. Lomax converted. Queensland 26 NSW 24
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Angus Crichton Try
65 min: To'o has got a hat-trick after ducking under the attempted tackles of Ponga and Toia. The try followed a shift by Cleary and Luai before a quick hands from Latrell Mitchell created an overlap. Lomax missed the conversion. Queensland 26 NSW 18
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Brian To'o 3rd Try
64 min: The Blues were pinned at their own end but Tabuai-Fidow fumbled a raking Luai kick to give NSW another scoring chance.
58 min: Superstar centre Stephen Crichton powered his way through the defence of Holmes, Tabuai-Fidow and Ponga to score after Cleary, Luai and Dylan Edwards combined in a right side sweep. Lomax's conversion attempt hit the posts. Queensland 26 NSW 14.
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Stephen Crichton Try
55 min: Another successful captain's challenge by NSW skipper Isaah Yeo after Coates was ruled to have made a mid-air tackle on Lomax. Munster was tackled in goal after a low Cleary kick, giving the Blues field position.
47 min: NSW had to score first in the second half and they have after shifting the ball to To'o on the left wing and he crossed for his second try. Lomax just missed from the sideline. Queensland 26 NSW 10
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Brian To'o 2nd Try
43 min: Cleary has forced a goal line drop out after Coates was trapped in-goal fielding a kick. Ponga was penalised for catching the ball in an offside postion from the short drop out batted forward by Tabuai-Fidow.
42 min: The Blues have conceded a ninth penalty after Luai was ruled to be offside.
Halftime summary
Queensland have dominated every aspect of the game in the opening 40 minutes to take a commanding 26-6 lead at the break. After being outmuscled in Origin I, the Maroons forwards have stood up in Perth, while their outside backs are a constant threat. NSW have completed just 10 of their 17 sets of possession (58 per cent) and conceded eight penalties. With 56 per cent of possession, the Maroons have made 3 linebreaks and 22 tackle breaks.
38 min: Kurt Capewell ensured the Maroons will have a big lead at halftime after backing up to receive a Kurt Mann pass near the line and score. Holmes converted. Queensland 26 NSW 6
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Kurt Capewell Try
37 min: Cleary pushed off Kalyn Ponga in a stepping run to score but the try was disallowed due to an obstruction by Stefano Utoikamanu on Pat Carrigan.
31 min: Queensland are dominating the first half, with Munster putting them further ahead after Grant jumped out of dummy half to create some space for the new Maroons captain. Holmes converted. Queensland 20 NSW 6.
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Cameron Munster Try
29 min: Holmes has extended Queensland's lead with a penalty goal after Lomax was put on report for lashing out with his elbow in a tackle by Trent Loiero. The Maroons lock has gone for a HIA. Queensland 14 Queensland 6
23 min: Both teams have been warned about constant push and shove after each stoppage, with the errors four-apiece and the penalty count 2-2
20 min: It's Hammer time: Tabuai-Fidow has scored his second try after snatching a Dearden cross-field kick from To'o and beating Latrell Mitchell to score. Holmes converted. Queensland 12 NSW 6
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Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2nd Try
13 min: The Maroons hit back through speedster Hamiso Tabuia-Fidow, who is playing on the right wing, with Xavier Coates switching to the left. Halfback Tom Dearden ran the ball to the line to create space outside him for centre Rob Toia and Tabuia-Fidow had too much speed for the NSW defence. Centre Val Holmes converted. NSW 6 Queensland 6
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Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 1st Try
9 min: The band is back together for NSW and the old Panthers halves pairing of Cleary and Luai combined to lay on the first try for winger Brian To'o. Cleary drifted across field with the ball, drawing in defenders before linking with Luai, who grubbered in-goal for the Penrith winger to score. Lomax converted from out wide. NSW 6 Queensland 0
7 min: Isaah Yeo has won a captain's challenge after a stripping penalty against Nathan Cleary was overturned. Replays showed Liam Martin forced the ball loose with a crunching tackle on Tino Fa'asuamaleaui.
5 min: The Blues had great field position and received a six-again call but Queensland survive.
4 min: Another error by Queensland after Kalyn Ponga dropped a Nathan Cleary bomb as he was challenged mid-air by Zac Lomax.
3 min: Maroons captain and five-eighth Cameron Munster has also shown early nerves after kicking the ball dead to give the Blues a seven tackle set.
1 min: Jarome Luai has committed the first error of the match after kicking out on the full at the end of the openings set.
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We're under way in Game 2
The Toss
Queensland have won the toss and elected to kick off. Blues enforcer Spencer Leniu isn't on the field, so if the Maroons don't concede they won't get the chance to kick off to Spencer Leniu.

The final word
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From the sheds: Billy Slater
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From the sheds: Laurie Daley
Wolfmother rocks Origin II
We are getting close to kick-off now with Wolfmother getting the crowd in the mood.
Never write off Queensland
A quick reminder of the last time the Maroons lost three consecutive Origin matches was in 2005-2006 and we all not what happened next.
Critics said that if the Blues won the 2006 series, after triumphing in 2003, 2004 and 2005, the future of Origin would be under threat and with 10 minutes remaining in the decider it appeared Queensland was headed for another defeat.
NSW led 14-4 in Melbourne but Brent Tate scored a try to give the Maroons hope and then Darren Lockyer swooped on a loose pass to snatch victory.
The Maroons went on to win eight series in a row. Here is a reminder of how the dynasty started.
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Relive the final moments of Origin III, 2006
Stats that matter
- Historically after claiming Game One in Brisbane the Blues have gone on to win seven series (1985, 1986, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2014) and lose only three (1982, 1987, 2017).
- Kurt Mann will become the oldest player to debut for the Maroons since Arthur Beetson in 1980.
- New South Wales hold a 2-0 advantage in Origin matches played at Optus Stadium in Perth.
- The Blues are aiming for four consecutive wins for the first time since 1996-97.
- Maroons winger Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored nine tries in eight Origin matches. He scored at least one try in his first six Origin matches.
- Since Origin became a three-game series in 1982, the state that has lost the first game has come back to win the series just 11 times (out of 42).
- Queensland's Cameron Smith holds the record for most Origin games with 42, followed by fellow Maroon Johnathan Thurston on 37.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
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Cleary and Luai back together
Weather report
It's going to be a wet track for tonight's match with the rain setting in ahead of kick-off. Whether this has any effect on either team remains to be seen.
Global event
With millions of fans tuning into Origin around the world, all eyes are on Perth. Here is where you can watch the game.
Late Mail
Maroons: Billy Slater has resisted the urge to start Harry Grant on the bench, with the Maroons to line-up 1-17 as named. Slater made the biggest call of his coaching career by cutting captain Daly Cherry-Evans and replacing him with Tom Dearden at halfback and Cam Munster as skipper. Kurt Capewell has been recalled and will start in the back row, with Jeremiah Nanai shifting to the bench and Beau Fermor dropping out of the squad. Kurt Mann makes his Origin debut in jumper No.14, while Trent Loiero is set to start at lock for the first time. Pat Carrigan has moved to the interchange as a result. Outside backs Val Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow have also traded places, with Holmes shifting to centre and Tabuai-Fidow out to the wing. Ezra Mam is 18th man.
Blues: Jarome Luai will reunite with Nathan Cleary in the NSW halves after Mitchell Moses was ruled out. Luai was called into the Blues camp on Thursday and will play five-eighth alongside Cleary at Perth's Optus Stadium after Moses suffered a calf injury at training. The Wests Tigers star played all three matches of last year's series, partnering Cronulla's Nicho Hynes in the opening game and Moses in Origin II and III as the Blues triumphed 2-1. Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu comes on to the bench, with Max King shifting to the starting side after Mitch Barnett suffered a knee injury. Matt Burton is the 18th man. No late changes before kick-off.