State of Origin Game 2 Review: Queensland Force Decider Against NSW

Queensland dominated Game 2 at the MCG to level the 2026 State of Origin series, setting up a thrilling decider at Suncorp Stadium. Selwyn Cobbo starred with a hat-trick while Sam Walker delivered a match-winning performance, leaving NSW with big selection calls ahead of Game 3.

Review

The 2026 series moves to a decider at Suncorp Stadium after Selwyn Cobbo and Sam Walker led Queensland to a win at the MCG.

Aside from Kalyn Ponga’s send off in Game 1, the Maroons have had the better of the first two games. While Ponga was on the wrong end of a Kotoni Staggs high tackle in the 63rd minute, Queensland led 32-18 by then, so it didn’t have the same drastic momentum shift as Ponga’s send off.

Infront of over 91,000 fans, Cobbo scored a second-half hat-trick as Queensland erased NSW’s 12-8 half-time lead. Walker built on his promising Origin debut in Sydney with a man of the match performance in Melbourne (including eight goals from eight attempts). NSW debutant Mark Nawaqanitawase (a late call up for Casey McLean) scored a double and nearly had a hat-trick: he continues to make the most of his NRL experience before he returns to rugby union.

Cobbo’s hat-trick was a reward for his improved form since moving to the Dolphins. He’s played 11 out of 13 games for the Dolphins and scored eight tries. His back five combination with clubmate Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was a big part of the Maroons’ cohesion, laying on a nice grubber for the Hammer to score, while Cobbo’s second try came off a wonderful scrum set piece (with Ponga feeding the scrum and looping around to give Cobbo the final pass). Cobbo joined Tabuai-Fidow as an Origin hat-trick scorer, with the Hammer scoring three in 2024. Jojo Fifita also scored his first Origin try, outleaping Brian To’o.

Queensland’s 92% completion rate (39/42) included 18/20 in the second half, while NSW finished with 78% (32/41). Queensland broke a four-game losing streak at the MCG (1997, 2015, 2018, 2024), and it was their first win in Melbourne since 1995.

It was a reality check for NSW and Coach Laurie Daley has a lot to consider ahead of Game 3: will Haumole Olakau’atu return; does Ethan Strange replace an underdone Mitch Moses (Strange only playing 16 minutes after being one of the key players in Sydney); will Cameron Murray, Victor Radley, and Addin Fonua-Blake stay on the bench; is Apisai Koroisau needed as a back up hooker?

Though NSW won the last Brisbane decider in 2024, a settled and confident Queensland line up will likely enter the game as favourites.

Results

Blues vs Maroons

Full Time: Blues 24 – 44 Maroons
Blues 24 (Tries: Kotoni Staggs 6′; Mark Nawaqanitawase 20′, 59′; Mitchell Barnett 77′. Goals: Nathan Cleary 8′, 22′, 60′, 77′)
Maroons 44 (Tries: Trent Loiero 26′; Selwyn Cobbo 46′, 51′, 71′; Jojo Fifita 55′; Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 62′; Lindsay Collins 65′. Goals: Sam Walker 27′, 47′, 53′, 57′, 63′, 66′, 72′. Penalty Goals: Sam Walker 5′)

Half-Time Score: Blues 12 – 8 Maroons
Date: Wednesday 17th June 2026
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Blues Team

Number	Player	Position	Tries	Goals	Penalty Goals	Points
1	James Tedesco	Fullback	0	0	0	0
5	Mark Nawaqanitawase	Winger	2	0	0	8
3	Kotoni Staggs	Centre	1	0	0	4
4	Robert Toia	Centre	0	0	0	0
2	Billy Smith	Winger	0	0	0	0
6	Daly Cherry-Evans	Five-Eighth	0	0	0	0
7	Nathan Cleary	Halfback	0	4	0	8
8	Naufahu Whyte	Prop	0	0	0	0
9	Reece Robson	Hooker	0	0	0	0
10	Lindsay Collins	Prop	0	0	0	0
11	Angus Crichton	2nd Row	0	0	0	0
12	Siua Wong	2nd Row	0	0	0	0
13	Victor Radley	Lock	0	0	0	0
14	Connor Watson	Interchange	0	0	0	0
15	Spencer Leniu	Interchange	0	0	0	0
16	Nat Butcher	Interchange	0	0	0	0
Team Total			4	4	0	24

Maroons Team

Number	Player	Position	Tries	Goals	Penalty Goals	Points
1	Kalyn Ponga	Fullback	0	0	0	0
2	Selwyn Cobbo	Winger	3	0	0	12
3	Robert Toia	Centre	0	0	0	0
4	Jojo Fifita	Centre	1	0	0	4
5	Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow	Winger	1	0	0	4
6	Cameron Munster	Five-Eighth	0	0	0	0
7	Sam Walker	Halfback	0	7	1	17
8	Thomas Flegler	Prop	0	0	0	0
9	Harry Grant	Hooker	0	0	0	0
10	Tino Fa’asuamaleaui	Prop	0	0	0	0
11	Reuben Cotter	2nd Row	0	0	0	0
12	Kurt Capewell	2nd Row	0	0	0	0
13	Patrick Carrigan	Lock	0	0	0	0
14	Trent Loiero	Interchange	1	0	0	4
15	Lindsay Collins	Interchange	1	0	0	4
16	Max Plath	Interchange	0	0	0	0
Team Total			7	7	1	44

Match Review Committee Charges

Player	Team	Minute	Incident	Grade	Early Plea	Panel	Victim
Victor Radley	NSW	31st	Dangerous Contact	1	7% Match Fee	10% Match Fee	Trent Loiero
Kotoni Staggs	NSW	63rd	Careless High Tackle	2	13% Match Fee	20% Match Fee	Kalyn Ponga