The Queensland Maroons have set up a series decider after humiliating the NSW Blues in Melbourne.
So, what needs to change for the Blues and what did the Maroons do different to spark such a stunning turnaround?
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Here, foxsports.com.au looks at some of the biggest talking points from Game 2!
BLUES ICON URGES DALEY TO MAKE MASS CHANGES
The New South Wales Blues led Queensland 12-10 at the half-time break, but a dramatic second-half collapse has seen an Origin legend call for mass changes to be made.
Conceding six tries in the second 40 minutes, the Blues were completely outplayed in the second half as they fell to the Maroons and will now head into enemy territory for a must-win clash.
Speaking on Nine’s commentary post-match, NSW icon Andrew Johns urged coach Laurie Daley to make several changes to his side if he has any chance of leading his state to victory.
The first change Johns wants to see happen is for Cameron Murray to start.
In the build-up, there were whispers that skipper Isaah Yeo may have transitioned to the front-row which would have allowed the Rabbitohs star to start at lock.
However, this didn’t eventuate – despite many calls from pundits and former players of the game, such as Braith Anasta, who has been a vocal critic of the move.
“One (change) is Cam Murray just has to start,” Johns said.
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Another selection call that caught Johns eye was back-up hooker Apisai Koroisau being unused during the contest despite being on the six-man interchange bench.
Koroisau could have easily added an immediate spark to Game II but was instead overlooked with Reece Robson playing the entire 80 minutes.
“I think there was no real dummy-half threat with Reece Robson,” Johns added.
“Whether Blayke Brailey’s back or Api Koroisau. One of those two has to come on the bench.
“It’s got to be a run threat or a point of difference from dummy-half.”
“We need to look at our attack. We need to break out of structured ball. We need to offload the ball, we need to attack out of dummy-half.
“It’s the simplest way to attack, but it’s the most dangerous, so we really need to change our attack because in Game I, we didn’t score a point until Kalyn got sent off.”
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QLD Maroons force Suncorp decider! | 06:29
Meanwhile, Daley has a tough couple of weeks on his hands as he prepares to finalise his squad for the series-decider at Suncorp Stadium on July 8.
Haumole Olakaua’tu is set to come under consideration after being axed following the series opener, while Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs) and Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles) will be available for selection after long injury lay-offs.
Speaking about the duo, Johns stated that Mitchell has to be an automatic selection if fit.
“Latrell has the aura and when he walks into camp, they go, the big dog is back,” Johns said.
“I’d like to know how much running he’s done with that back (because) he’s been out for about six weeks, but when he gets the ball, all eyes are on him
“We know he’s done it (before). The bigger the occasion, the better he’d go. A big conversation has to happen between Laurie and Latrell.”
Dylan Edwards, Bradman Best, Stephen Crichton, Josh Addo-Carr, and Matt Burton are other former Origin backs who could be called up as they prepare to impress Daley over the next few weeks.
While Connor Watson, Jacob Saifiti, Keaon Koloamatangi, Liam Martin, Spencer Leniu and Stefano Utoikamanu are also likely to be considered for a role in the forward pack.
“I think you’ve just got to analyse the game first and foremost and then sort of see how the players play over the next couple of weeks and see who’s playing,” Blues head coach Laurie Daley said.
“It is what it and we’ll assess and look at the game and see where we can go and do better.”
DALEY’S ‘SHOCKING’ SELECTION CALL BACKFIRES
It was always going to be the decision that was going to land Laurie Daley in hot water if it didn’t pay off and it’s safe to say Haumole Olakau’atu would only feel even more hard done by after Wednesday night.
Dylan Lucas, while in sensational form at club land and more than deserving of his Origin debut, had an underwhelming first performance in Blues colours.
Lucas is one of the best line runners in the competition but had a limited impact in attack with just seven runs for 39 metres.
He did get through plenty of work in defence, making 44 tackles with just one miss. That miss, however, was a particularly bad one that saw Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow make a linebreak to set up a try.
Still, you have to give Lucas credit for his high workrate without the ball, but you also have to question whether the Blues used him effectively.
Lucas isn’t necessarily the type of second rower who goes after the ball. As mentioned, he is an excellent line runner who needs his halves to work with him, especially in attacking territory.
But he just wasn’t a focal point in attacking shapes, and instead was reduced to a tackling bag.
And when the Blues were crying out for a game-breaker down the stretch as the contest quickly got out of hand, Daley didn’t have a destructive forward like Olakau’atu to turn to off the bench.
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Instead, he went to Addin Fonua-Blake but quickly had to take him off when Kotoni Staggs was sin-binned given he didn’t need a big body on the field when the Blues were down a man.
Ethan Strange, meanwhile, also saw limited playing time and was only brought on when the game was almost out of hand.
It was a decision that no one expected and it meant Daley would only come under more scrutiny if it didn’t work and for former Blues coach Phil Gould, the decision to play Lucas away from his preferred side of the field was “grossly unfair”.
“I cannot understand the Haumole decision,” Gould said on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus before Game 2.
“He’s the best right back-rower in the game. I don’t understand it and I particularly don’t understand replacing him with a left-sided player.
“It’s just not as easy to pick a kid on debut. I don’t understand it, to be honest.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love Dylan Lucas as a player and he’s certainly Origin-class and potential and he will get the chance to prove himself in this game, but I think it would be grossly unfair to play him on the right side.
“I’m not sure about the balance of the team and I cannot understand how Haumole Olakau’atu isn’t in the best 13 players for NSW … it shocks me greatly.”
The result on Wednesday, on the other hand, was hardly shocking.
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Billy on impressive 2nd half thrashing | 11:37
TOUGHEST CALL OF SLATER’S COACHING CAREER
Billy Slater has achieved everything there is to offer in State of Origin as a player and a coach.
However, he will now face the toughest decision of his coaching career.
Does he opt to keep Sam Walker in the No.7 jersey, or does he choose to replace him with the reigning Wally Lewis Medallist, Tom Dearden?
After a stunning performance in the series-opener, where he showed that he was made for the Origin arena, Walker backed it up in Game II at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Walker’s halves partner Cameron Munster said post-match, “He’s going good. He’s going outstanding. Queensland’s in good hands.”
“It’s pretty nice seeing Munny, Sammy and Harry really go to work. It’s a good feeling.” Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga added.
Controlling the attack with his excellent composure, passing and kicking game, the Roosters star helped spark a miraculous second-half comeback to not only defeat the Blues but also claim Player of the Match honours.
“It looks like he’s played 20 Origins, former Queensland skipper Cameron Smith said on Nine commentary.
The Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns added, “He’s one of those players who the bigger the game, the better he goes.”
However, unlike the two previous matches in the series, Tom Dearden will be available for selection and is set to make his return to the field from a syndesmosis injury next week against the Panthers.
While Walker is the frontrunner, a fit and healthy Dearden gives the Maroons coach a selection headache as the Cowboys star has never failed to deliver at Origin level.
Before suffering the setback, Dearden had been in electric form, carrying on from a career-best season in 2025, which ended with him earning a Test jumper for the Australian Kangaroos.
While Slater didn’t provide any hints on who will be accompanying Cameron Munster in the halves, Cameron Smith backed Walker to perform in the series decider at Suncorp Stadium.
“I was really impressed with the way he handled the situation. The football side was under immense pressure to come in tonight and perform,” Cameron Smith said post-match.
“Usually, off the back of any type of performance, the first person that they look at and critique is the guy in the number seven jersey, and he was outstanding.
“He steered the team around the park. I thought he did a pretty good job, too, when Munster was off the field for 15 minutes with his HIA.
“He just kept the team rolling forward, he kept kicking long, and some of the efforts that he came up with tonight – (such as) his short kicking game – were spectacular.
“His ability to link with Cam Munster (was great and) I thought they really dominated the other halves’ pairing of Mitch Moses and Nathan Cleary.
“I said in commentary to Joey that it’s like he’s played 20 Origins, not two.
“Going back to Game I, he was the best player on the field until Kalyn Ponga leaves (the field after being sent off) and New South Wales started their comeback.
“He could easily have two Man of the Match performances in his first two games.”
QLD execute picture perfect scrum play | 00:32
A FIRST HALF DEBUT TO REMEMBER
Mark Nawaqanitawase never expected to play in Game II.
Sidelined for the series-opener with injury, Nawaqanitawase was only called into the extended squad after Stephen Crichton was a late omission due to an ongoing shoulder issue.
Less than three hours after arriving at camp, he told reporters, “If they need me, I’ll do the job”, but he never really expected he was going to play.
Then, four days later, a quad injury to Casey McLean saw the Olympian called up to the starting side.
In the opening half, Nawaqanitawase produced arguably one of the best 40 minutes of football by an Origin debutant in the showpiece’s history.
Providing a try assist to Kotoni Staggs in one of his first touches, he then went on to produce 105 metres, two tackle busts and even crossed for a try of his own.
And he would’ve had another try if he had a couple more inches of room to keep the ball in the field of play.
“He doesn’t need much open air, Marky Mark,” former NSW Blues utility Wade Graham said on Triple M.
Not only did his stats in the opening half speak for themselves, but his inclusion provided the Blues with something that they lacked in Game I – an aerial threat.
“He was great. He had some really nice touches. A couple of opportunities. He was good.” NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley said.
Unfortunately, it was a tale of two halves for the cross-code star, who had limited opportunities to make an impact in the second half.
While he did cross over for another try, Nawaqanitawase was only able to make a further six running metres and two tackle breaks.
However, his inclusion took away the Maroons’ ability to kick to his edge of the field
Cleary puts Marky over on debut! | 00:30
COBBO’S REMARKABLE SURGE ROLLS ON
Selwyn Cobbo is enjoying arguably his career-best form, with an Origin hattrick showcasing just how damaging the gun winger can be.
The 24-year-old has been one of Queensland’s best in 2026, and has been equally impressive for his new club side, having made the move to the Dolphins.
Slater heaped praise on the gun winger in his post-match press conference — explaining how Cobbo is in a “good space” off the field, which is translating on it.
“You get what you deserve in our game and Selwyn’s getting what he deserves at the moment,” Slater said.
“He’s worked really hard, he’s nice and fit, he’s happy, he’s got a big smile on his face, he’s in a great space Selwyn and his footy is reflecting that.
“I think the start of our second half he really triggered us, that carry from the backfield across the field and broke the line and that really kickstarted us.
“Some of his carries, not just this game, this series. He was great in Game I as well so he’s in a good space Selwyn.”
But Cobbo’s form highlights a bigger, more confusing, decision. Why did the Broncos let him go?
Yes, the Brisbane club have one of the trickiest salary caps to juggle, boasting a host of the game’s highest-profile players, and Cobbo was deemed to not fit in their cap.
But right now, Cobbo is exactly what Michael Maguire’s side needs. He provides X-factor, flare and an innate ability to produce points from almost anywhere on the field.
Cobbo made the decision to join the Dolphins on a one-year deal, backing himself to earn a big payday elsewhere, before signing a one-year extension until the end of 2027.
So November 1 shapes as a huge date circled on Cobbo’s calendar, especially when you consider which team joins the competition in 2028 — the PNG Chiefs.
Staggs high shot on Ponga leads to try | 00:27
The Chiefs are armed with a huge salary cap, when you consider their tax exemption, when they enter the NRL and Cobbo could be a player they target.
His utility value, with the ability to play in the centres, on the wing and at fullback, proving to be valuable for powerbrokers attempting to build out their rosters.
Cobbo could be in line for a huge contract on his next deal — and if he continues to improve at this rate, it could make the Broncos rue their decision.
AERIAL ASSAULT LOOMS FOR BLUES
Much was made of Queensland’s aerial assault during the 2025 series.
“It looked like he was jumping over a building – that’s what he does best,” To’o said to the SMH when asked about Xavier Coates’ aerial heroics.
Yes, the Maroons won the series that year – but To’o stood up against his opposite man and was clearly up to the task.
But on Wednesday, Jojo Fifita showed him up with a staggering effort to reel in a Cameron Munster kick which left the Blues superstar wanting.
And in the process, it exposed what could be a key attacking outlet for Queensland at Suncorp Stadium in what shapes as a mouth-watering decider.
There’s no doubting To’o is an elite winger, and he’s even in the conversation as the greatest in the position of all time. But his one major flaw is his height – something he can’t change.
QLD target To’o with high ball | 00:30
The Panthers gun is 182 centimetres tall, while Fifita stands at only 183 centimetres according to the NRL website.
While there’s only a centimetre difference between the pair, it certainly felt like more when Fifita wound up and soared over To’o to score.
It’s certainly harder to leap while backtracking, and Fifita had the momentum coming forward in that situation but it highlighted a clear issue for the Blues backline.
Given the fact the Maroons scored from several kicks, more could come To’o’s way in the decider and that idea of an ‘aerial assault’ could materialise 12 months before it became a story.
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