Game 2 of the State of Origin series has set the stage for a decider, following a decisive 44-24 victory for the Queensland Maroons over the NSW Blues.
The first 40 minutes revealed NSW's potential to clinch the series, as they led by four points at halftime, exhibiting confidence and capability.
With James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses, and Nathan Cleary leading the charge, the Blues dominated the first half and appeared more composed than their rivals.
However, Queensland's resurgence post-break caught NSW off guard, leaving them with few solutions and a lack of inspiration.
As mistakes piled up and discipline waned, many players vanished when the contest was still within reach.
Here's how each player was rated.
Promising in the first half with strong carries and secure positioning, but errors in the second half, including a crucial missed tackle on Ponga, proved detrimental. Overall, his performance was average, worsened by a failed kickoff.
He executed some smart defensive plays and made a few runs, yet his impact on the attack was minimal, making it a tough night against Queensland's aerial game. While he didn't perform at his usual level, he wasn't fully utilized either.
He worked diligently whenever he received the ball and defended well in critical moments. Although he didn't dominate the game, he managed to handle the pressures of the Origin arena reasonably effectively.