Queensland and New South Wales have reminded everyone that there is no love lost between the two states as tensions boiled over during State of Origin II at the MCG.
After the Blues’ blinding start to the game that saw them open up a 34-0 lead at halftime, the Maroons came out with a point to prove.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sparks fly in State of Origin brawl.
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But it was still NSW who were the aggressors, as Stephen Crichton ignited hostilities when he wrapped Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans in a headlock early in the second half.
“He might find himself in a bit of trouble from the match review committee there,” Cameron Smith said.
The two sides came to blows before being separated, at which point referee Ashely Klein stepped in to warn both captains.
But he was effectively helpless when sparks flew just minutes later.
Blues star Liam Martin couldn’t help but antagonise Jaydn Su’A when the Queensland centre dropped the ball in a tackle.
It was never going to take much to set the two teams off again, so when Martin rubbed Su’a’s head after the mistake, it was on again.
Blues players rushed in from their line to remonstrate with the Maroons, who were staunch in their defence of Su’a.
“The tension is boiling over. Martin wanted to make sure Queensland knew all about that error,” Matt Thompson said.
“There’s a decider coming up in Queensland, and the Blues are not going to take a backward step.”
Smith added: “Look at them rush in, the Blues — they know how big a moment that is.”
When the dust settled once again, Klein imposed himself in an attempt to settle hostilities, sending Martin to the sin bin.
But it didn’t impress NRL greats Smith and Andrew Johns, who couldn’t believe Martin was sent to the bin for that, but not for a lifting tackle in the first half.
“So, we’ve seen grapples, we’ve seen (tackles) picking players up and dumping them, we’ve seen Latrell chin someone — but you rub someone’s head…” Johns said before Smith finished his sentence.
“…and you go to the bin for that — come on!” Smith added.
Latrell Mitchell had also been spared for a high hit early in the second half.
Klein then made Pat Carrigan follow Martin to the bin.
But it made no difference to the result, which New South Wales had secured at half time.
Mitchell Moses was the key for the Blues, setting up four tries and tormenting the rudderless Maroons with his long-kicking game.
Prop Payne Haas led NSW from the front with one of his most dominant Origin performances, while Mitchell made an impression by scoring a try in his first Blues appearance since 2021.
Moses, Mitchell and Haas will all be required to find that level once more as NSW dare to dream of winning the July 17 decider in Brisbane.
NSW have not won a decider in Brisbane since 2005 but they will go to Suncorp Stadium brimming with confidence after bullying the Maroons off the park.
Queensland were directionless and looked rattled when the Blues cruised to a 34-0 halftime lead.
Electric fullback Reece Walsh was barely sighted and his inability to inject himself into the game will only increase the focus on the Blues’ tactics to shut him down.
Queensland had threatened early when Su’a burst through on the left edge but was unable to offload the ball to a supporting runner.
NSW breathed a sigh of relief and they drew first blood when they were granted four back-to-back sets.
Moses eventually exploited a tiring Maroons defence to send Liam Martin over for NSW’s first try of the night in the 10th minute.
Queensland needed to be faultless but a shanked kick from winger Murray Taulagi on the last gave the Blues a seven-tackle set.
Stephen Crichton dragged Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow back into the Queensland in-goal on the next set which paved the way for Mitchell to send Brian To’o over in the corner.
Queensland were lost and there was nothing they could do to stop the Blues motoring downfield.
Moses was suffocating the Maroons with his boot and he continued that with a chipped kick for Zac Lomax in the right corner.
Lomax outlept Taulagi to touch down and Moses repeated the play, crabbing round to the left edge and glancing a grubberkick through for To’o to pounce on in the 26th minute.
Moses was dishing it out in defence, too, forcing an error from Tom Dearden that allowed the Blues to charge down the Queensland end through interchange prop Spencer Leniu.
The Sydney Roosters took the baton from Haas, who finished his first stint with an impressive 110m return from 13 powerful carries.
Leniu had one of his trademark cavalier runs which allowed the Blues to further turn the screw with Mitchell and Lomax scoring before halftime.
Lomax kicked five of his six first-half conversion attempts to give the Blues a 34-0 halftime advantage, the biggest lead in Origin history.
It took until the 50th minute for the Maroons to get off the mark, Jeremiah Nanai barging over after Blues forward Liam Martin and Queensland lock Patrick Carrigan had been sinbinned for a push and shove.
Either side of a try for debutant Blues fullback Dylan Edwards, Tabuai-Fidow and Taulagi both crossed for second-half Queensland tries but the Blues had already done the damage.
– With AAP