Key events
When the squads for Origin 2 landed they contained the bombshell that Slater had dropped his captain from the opening round, Daly Cherry-Evans, preferring Tom Dearden at scrum-half.
The call to leave Cherry-Evans remains one of the most seismic in recent memory from either state. He has been the Maroons’ first-choice No 7 and captain since 2019, taking Queensland to three series wins, including their incredible 2020 effort.
Jack Snape sets the scene ahead of a defining Origin clash for Billy Slater.
So it’s concern for camp Queensland, and confidence among the Blues: the State of Origin status quo. Apart from the period of the Maroons’ dominance in the 2000s and 2010s, the Queenslanders have spent much of the Origin era as outsiders. They may be preparing for this crucial clash in AFL-loving Western Australia, but spiritually the Maroons are in their natural habitat.
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of State of Origin Game 2. Kick-off between Queensland and New South Wales at Optus Stadium is scheduled for 8:05pm AEST (6.05pm AWST).
After selling the peerless quality of Origin footy in the preamble to game one I had the rug pulled from under me during a tepid 80 minutes of representative rugby league. The showpiece was undermined by a desperately poor performance from Queensland who were flattered by the 6-18 scoreline.
NSW deserve enormous credit for their control in all facets of the game at Suncorp Stadium, and they look set for a long period of ascendancy with Payne Haas dominating up front, Nathan Cleary dictating terms in the halves, and Zac Lomax demonstrating that precious ability to elevate his performance to the size of the occasion.
It is going to require an incredible turnaround for Queensland as the Origin caravan decamps in the west, and coach Billy Slater is already in the crosshairs following last year’s limp title defence. Slater has made a statement by putting Daly Cherry-Evans out to pasture, but he has more to worry about than simply who plays first receiver.
After four defeats in their past five outings perhaps the famed Queensland underdog spirit will come to the fore and keep the 2025 series alive? Or maybe it will simply be further confirmation that we are in a golden age of NSW rugby league.
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