The Queensland Maroons produced a dominant performance in State of Origin 2026 Game 2, defeating the New South Wales Blues 44-24 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday night. The convincing victory levels the series and sets up a thrilling decider later in the campaign.
According to the final result, Queensland outscored New South Wales by 20 points, crossing for seven tries compared to the Blues’ four. The Maroons showcased their attacking power throughout the second half, turning a closely contested encounter into a memorable win in front of a large Melbourne crowd.
State of Origin 2026 Game 2 Final Score
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| NSW Blues | 24 |
| QLD Maroons | 44 |
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Competition: State of Origin Series 2026
Kick-off Time (AEST): 8:05 PM
Kick-off Time (NZT): 10:10 PM
First Half Recap
The match began with Queensland opening the scoring through a penalty goal from Sam Walker in the fifth minute. NSW quickly responded when Kotoni Staggs crossed for the first try of the night in the sixth minute, with Nathan Cleary adding the conversion.
The Blues extended their lead when Mark Nawaqanitawase scored in the 20th minute, giving the visitors momentum. However, Queensland fought back through Trent Loiero’s try in the 26th minute before Sam Walker converted.
At halftime, NSW held a narrow 12-8 advantage, but Queensland looked increasingly dangerous as the match progressed.
Queensland Dominates the Second Half
The second half belonged to the Maroons. Selwyn Cobbo became one of the standout performers of the match, scoring a remarkable hat-trick of tries in the 46th, 51st, and 71st minutes.
Queensland continued to pile on points through Jojo Fifita, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and Lindsay Collins as the Blues struggled to contain the relentless attacking pressure.
Although Mark Nawaqanitawase scored his second try and Mitchell Barnett crossed late for NSW, the Maroons maintained complete control and comfortably secured the victory.
State of Origin Game 2 Try Scorers
NSW Blues Tries
- Kotoni Staggs (6′)
- Mark Nawaqanitawase (20′)
- Mark Nawaqanitawase (59′)
- Mitchell Barnett (77′)
Queensland Maroons Tries
- Trent Loiero (26′)
- Selwyn Cobbo (46′)
- Selwyn Cobbo (51′)
- Jojo Fifita (55′)
- Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (62′)
- Lindsay Collins (65′)
- Selwyn Cobbo (71′)
Goal Kickers and Conversions
Queensland delivered a flawless kicking performance.
NSW Blues
Conversions: 4/4
- Nathan Cleary (8′)
- Nathan Cleary (22′)
- Nathan Cleary (60′)
- Nathan Cleary (77′)
Queensland Maroons
Conversions: 7/7
- Sam Walker (27′)
- Sam Walker (47′)
- Sam Walker (53′)
- Sam Walker (57′)
- Sam Walker (63′)
- Sam Walker (66′)
- Sam Walker (72′)
Penalty Goals
Queensland: 1/1
- Sam Walker (5′)
Key Match Statistics
| Statistic | NSW Blues | QLD Maroons |
|---|---|---|
| Tries | 4 | 7 |
| Conversions | 4/4 | 7/7 |
| Penalty Goals | 0 | 1/1 |
| Sin Bins | 1 | 0 |
| Half-Time Score | 12 | 8 |
| Full-Time Score | 24 | 44 |
Turning Point of the Match
One of the key moments came in the 63rd minute when NSW’s Kotoni Staggs was sent to the sin bin. Queensland capitalized on the numerical advantage and continued to add points through Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Lindsay Collins, effectively putting the contest beyond reach.
What This Result Means
Queensland’s 44-24 victory keeps the State of Origin 2026 series alive and demonstrates the Maroons’ ability to respond under pressure. With Selwyn Cobbo’s hat-trick, Sam Walker’s perfect kicking display, and a dominant second-half effort, Queensland heads into the series decider with renewed confidence.
For the Blues, despite strong performances from Mark Nawaqanitawase and Nathan Cleary, defensive lapses in the second half proved costly. NSW will now need to regroup quickly as both teams prepare for what promises to be an exciting deciding match in the 2026 State of Origin series.