Nathan Cleary stars as NSW rout Queensland to level State of Origin series

Outfoxed by a rookie coach, widely criticised for his team selection and ultimately ambushed and humiliated in front of a record crowd at home, Brad Fittler had both feet in the furnace. But the Blues coach held his nerve all week and now has his mojo back as NSW dominated their old foes to level the State of Origin series with a thumping 44-12 Game 2 victory.

In Sydney Billy Slater pulled a card from the Cameron Smith playbook and slowed the ruck. The Blue cogs got sticky, sending Cleary off his kicking game. Without their talisman – and a Plan B by Fittler – it all unravelled. Fittler swung the axe, picked a running side with a majority-Penrith spine and put starch back in the defensive line.

Origin is NRL football in overdrive. Both teams were rushing in, Queensland smelling blood, NSW desperate to save the series. Both teams went close to scoring early but were foiled late. Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo charged down a Cameron Munster kick and regathered but the ball beat them over the sideline. A Munster kick to Selwyn Cobbo was diffused on the goal line minutes later.

Two Queensland strips in two tackles gifted NSW the opening two points. By inches or miles, NSW were determined to win this battle, if for no other reason than they needed to. But the soft points backfired. With breath back in their lungs, Ben Hunt stabbed a pass to Harry Grant who found Kalyn Ponga. The rubberman fullback skipped a beat, bent into the defence and spat the pip into the arms of Felise Kaufusi who jinked in-out and harbour bridged an arm over the stripe.

There was renewed starch in the Blue wall. Recalled renaissance hitman Jake Trbojevic made an immediate impact, mixing brutality with class, as he upended Cobbo into the turf and