Blues end eight-year stranglehold

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AFTER eight years of frustration, defeat and heartache, the NSW Blues delivered Queensland a message on behalf of the state: Nobody beats NSW nine times in a row.

Yes, it is over.

The air tastes better. The workday doesn't seem as long. The traffic isn't as bad. We can even eat a banana again without reflected guilt.

MATCH REPORT: FULL GAME DETAILS AND STATS

Paul Gallen and Robbie Farah at full time. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Jarryd Hayne celebrates after running into the crowd at full time. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia

Queensland's eight-year dominance is over after NSW claimed an unassailable 2-0 lead by beating Queensland 6-4 in a dour match at ANZ Stadium, sending the series to a dead rubber in Brisbane in three weeks.

It ends one of the most remarkable winning streaks in modern sport.

Josh Reynolds celebrates victory. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

Dejected Maroons at full time. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Corp Australia

Jarryd Hayne celebrates. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia

But not before the Blues almost made the fatal mistake they promised themselves they would not make: playing not to lose, instead of playing to win.

In the end, it was a surprising show-and-go from halfback Trent Hodkinson in the 72nd minute that broke the drought.

Hodkinson shaped to pass but held the ball and the defence opened up, sending him over to give the Blues their historic win.

Beau Scott chokes Cameron Smith. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Corp Australia

Beau Scott and Cameron Smith face off. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

Cameron Smith and Beau Scott scuffle. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Corp Australia

The win was seen around the world, but nobody would have appreciated it

And it was seen around the world.

As broadcaster Alan Jones sat in the Queensland coaching box, Alex McKinnon left his hospital bed at Royal North Shore to watch from a corporate box, with coach Wayne Bennett and broadcaster Ray Hadley beside him.

Yet the match reached beyond that, going to countries as far away as the USA, Great Britain, France and the Middle East.

Josh Reynolds hammers Johnathan Thurston as he gets a kick away. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

Josh Reynolds lays a late hit on Johnathan Thurston. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Even the home of soccer's World Cup, Brazil, beamed the game in.

And it is only natural to wonder what some of those people in many of those countries, flicking through the channels unable to sleep, unfamiliar with this game called State of Origin, would have made of the game.

It was brutal.

Two sides who for much of the first half didn't really care much for the ball at all.

They simply ran into each other, playing smashmouth football, all through the middle. And then they wrestled and niggled and postured, as if they were about to start a fight ... but then stopping.

Greg Inglis on the charge. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

It was all very strange, the by-product being it failed to match the grand heights of game one.

Early on, the Blues revealed their intention to knock down every Queenslander that kicked a ball.

Robbie Farah knocked down Daly Cherry-Evans with Michael Jennings' assistance.

Another small wrestle took place, Jennings holding his knee on Cherry-Evans to keep him down.

"That knee to the face was pretty poor," Nate Myles told the referees shortly after.

He was only offering help, given a chance after Greg Bird was penalised for an odd tackle where Aidan Guerra's leg was hooked over his back and Bird was unable to shake it.

The penalty gave Queensland a 2-0 lead with Johnathan Thurston's penalty goal.

Niggle continued to dominate.

Greg Inglis during a melee. Source: Getty Images

Later in the half James Tamou crashed down on Myles, dropping his forearm.

Myles then threw a punch - breaking the NRL's no punch edict - but the referees ruled Tamou's forearm justified the retaliation and gave Queensland the penalty.

"Are you going to penalise every tackle now?" asked Paul Gallen.

"The forearm came first," referee Shayne Hayne said.

Sam Thaiday drops the ball over the line. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

While there is little doubt it was intended to apply subtle pressure on the referees, Gallen had a point.

Why rule now?

Thurston's penalty gave Queensland a 4-0 lead but also saw him break Mal Meninga's Origin point scoring record of 161, taking him to 162.

NEW SOUTH WALES 6 (T Hodkinson try T Hodkinson goal) bt QUEENSLAND 4 (J Thurston 2 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Shayne Hayne, Ben Cummins. Crowd: 83,421.

Game 1: NSW 12 bt QLD 8

Game 2: NSW 6 bt QLD 4

Series: NSW take series 2-0, with dead rubber to come

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