State of Origin II result: Queensland set series alight winning game two in Perth
Queensland have held off a second-half fightback from New South Wales to claim a 26-24 win and force the State of Origin series into a game-three decider.
The under-siege Maroons went into the contest as massive outsiders, after their 18-6 loss in the series opener and having never won an
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
What we learned from perplexing Warriors defeat to depleted Panthers
Hands on hips, as the Warriors try to figure out what went wrong. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Analysis : The Penrith Panthers arrived at Go Media Stadium with a losing record and five State of Origin stars missing, but walked away with an unlikely win over the NZ Warriors and a new spring in their step, as they chased a fifth consecutive NRL crown. They took control of the contest in a 15-minute spell during the second half that produced three consecutive tries, as the high-flying home side struggled to find an answer . The encounter may prove pivotal to the season for both teams - one showed they are ready to shrug off their early-season lethargy, while the other now face some soul-searching, as adversity mounts. Here's what we can take away from the Warriors' 28-18 loss to the Panthers: For the second time this season, the Warriors were unable to pick up the pieces after a bye week. In April, they had resurrected their campaign with three straight wins, but after a week off, they produced their worst half of football this season to fall 36-0 behind Melbourne Storm before the break. This time, they had put together back-to-back wins, including their best half of footy, outscoring Cronulla Sharks 28-0 in the second half, heading into the bye. During the week, Warriors coach Andrew Webster played down the lost opportunity to build on that showing. "We've got a chance to build on it now," he insisted. "It only seems like the other day we played, not like a month ago or six weeks ago." Panthers celebrate Thomas Jenkins' opening try. Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport As they conceded three straight tries to fall 16 points behind, that performance seemed like a long time ago indeed, and maybe we now need to start talking about the curse of the bye. Last season, the Warriors had a bye in the final round, but split their other two post-bye encounters, thumping North Queensland Cowboys 42-12, but falling 20-18 to Canberra Raiders six weeks later. In 2023, when they reached the preliminary finals in Webster's first season, they actually came out ahead of the 'curse', losing 26-22 to Brisbane Broncos, but beating St George Dragons 48-18 and Gold Coast Titans 28-18. Perhaps it's too early for pessimism, and they have a grand opportunity to get one back when they host Wests Tigers in three weeks, after their next bye. The Warriors' fate was not helped by a series of injuries that left them scrambling to regroup at half-time. After just 12 minutes, front-rower Marata Niukore fell victim to a head clash in a tackle, and wasn't sighted again. Afterwards, Webster couldn't report whether he had failed a head check or had a suspected broken nose that curtailed his further involvement. In his absence, Jackson Ford logged 65 minutes off the bench, scoring a try, running for 111 metres and making 42 tackles. Just before the break, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak went down with an ankle injury, and while he was being treated Panthers second-rower Scott Sorensen exploited the hole in the defence to score their second try for the half-time lead. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak writhes in pain with an ankle injury. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ In his 100th NRL game, Te Maire Martin came off the bench and into the centres, alongside promoted reserve-grader Moala Graham-Taufa, with Adam Pompey moving out a spot. In his fourth game, Graham-Taufa would score his first NRL try, but also missed the tackle that let winger Thomas Jenkins in for the game's opening try. Watene-Zelezniak looks likely to miss some time and Taine Tuaupiki was knocked out in reserve grade last week , so Ed Kosi - the last man dropped from the gameday squad against Penrith - may end up on the wing next week. Kurt Capewell will be well clear of Origin duty by then, but Rocco Berry may also have recovered enough from his hamstring niggle to reclaim his midfield position. The other injury concern is halfback Luke Metcalf, who played the second half with a heavy bandage on his left thigh and surrendered goalkicking duties to Pompey. Metcalf has an extensive injury record, but Webster shrugged the complaint off as a 'cork' and played down any risk of him missing time. Webster knew it was coming. "I deadset knew the questions walking over here were going to be did we take them lightly?" he admitted. "Is it concerning they had their best players out and we couldn't beat them? "At the end of the day, when you see complacency, it's when our players turn up and don't try. They tried, they tried so hard and got things so wrong. "If anything, they were probably [trying] too hard." Penrith were missing arguably their five best players , so they were vulnerable. Those are games you must win, but sometimes, that's hard to play against - the replacements have nothing to lose and are often unknown quantities. Only the Warriors players can look inside themselves to answer that dreaded question. "I knew the line of questioning before I got here and the answer is they trained really well, they came here with real intent to work hard for each other and they got it wrong - just didn't execute it," Webster said. Let's leave it at that. The phrase has probably become overused in the context of a season that has seen the Warriors repeatedly pulling from their reserve team to cover key absences. Against the Panthers, they were simply out-next-man-upped. Scott Sorensen scores a try for the Panthers. Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport Penrith have had to deal with more than their share of Origin interruptions over the years and while they have seen a plethora of talent scattered among other clubs - including the Warriors - they always seem to find a way to fill the void. "They are experienced during this period of Origin and they know the next-man mentality," Webster observed. "They probably invented it, to be honest, so we knew what was coming." That makes sense - it's something Webster probably brought with him from his time as Panthers assistant. If there's any comfort for league fans on this side of the Tasman, it's that many of those that stood up for Penrith were Kiwis, starting with Sorensen. "Funny how it works like that," Panthers coach Ivan Cleary mused. "It's cool and we needed them to." Another was prop Moses Leota, who admitted to nerves during the week, as he lined up opposite great mate - and former teammate - James Fisher-Harris for the first time. The Panthers have struggled so far this season, losing five games in a row to land at the bottom of the table. They're now on a three-game winning streak and have entered the top-eight playoff picture, but this is a massive result that could - and should - give them immense self-belief. The Warriors represent easily their biggest scalp since the Sharks in their season-opener, and it comes as they prepare to face top-of-the-table Canterbury Bulldogs next week. The Bulldogs include two of Penrith's biggest-name defections in Matt Burton and Stephen Crichton, so that clash will show whether they have indeed turned a corner on the road to their fifth crown. The Warriors travel across the ditch again next Saturday to face a Brisbane Broncos outfit with their backs to the wall. Given the quality of their roster, the Broncos (6-7) have grossly underperformed this season, but steamrolled bottom-placed Gold Coast Titans in their last outing to give fans some hope, perhaps falsely. We'll know more after they face Cronulla Sharks on Sunday. Coach Michael Maguire has been criticised for being too hard on his players after predecessor Kevie Walters was accused of being too soft which makes you wonder when the players will take some responsibility for their own performance. Maguire's appointment to the role continues to puzzle. Twelve months ago, he masterminded Queensland's Origin downfall - now he has the reins of the state's NRL flagship. Awkward. That said, the Warriors needed a Golden Point penalty to beat them at home in April, so let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, especially after this result. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Warriors v Panthers live updates: Andrew Webster's side host defending NRL champions
Live updates of the NRL clash between the New Zealand Warriors and Penrith Panthers at Go Media Stadium. Kurt Capewell has been left out of the Warriors side to face the Penrith Panthers this weekend as he gets set for his first State of Origin stint of the series. Coach Andrew Webster has opted against including the Queensland second rower for Saturday evening's sold-out clash at Go Media Stadium, citing a long flight back to Auckland after Wednesday night's Origin game 2, played in Perth. Queensland coach Billy Slater last week highlighted Capewell's leadership qualities as a key reason for his recall to the side. 'We just felt Kurt Capewell had been doing really well at club level and his actions had earnt him an opportunity to come into the team,' Slater said. With Rocco Berry and Ali Leiataua still sidelined with injuries, Webster has called on youngster Moala Graham-Taufa to replace Capewell, in what will be his first NRL game of the season after three appearances last year. The 23-year-old has been playing for the club's table-topping New South Cup side, scoring 11 tries in 12 matches. Webster has made only one other change to the starting lineup that thumped the Cronulla Sharks 40-10, with seasoned hooker Wayde Egan returning from a hip injury that ruled him out of the round 14 clash. He comes into the side in place of Sam Healey, who impressed in the Cronulla victory. Prop Tanner Stowers-Smith has been named on the interchange for his third NRL appearance after today re-signing with the Warriors until 2028. The last time the two sides met was back in Magic Round in Brisbane last season, with the Warriors pulling off a major upset against the defending champions 22-20. They come into Saturday evening's game in an unfamiliar position against the Panthers – as heavy favourites. It will also be the first time in six years that Penrith has made the trip to Auckland. After a bye round last week, the Warriors sit in third spot on the NRL ladder and are hunting their 11th win of the season. Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Moala Graham-Taufa, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Luke Metcalf, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Marata Niukore, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark Interchange (from): 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Jackson Ford, 16. Demetric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 18. Sam Healey, 20. Bunty Afoa, 21. Tanah Boyd, 22. Edward Kosi, 23. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Maroons spurred on by jibes
Maroons captain Cameron Munster scores in the tackle of Blues player Jarome Luai in the second State of Origin game in Perth on Wednesday night. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Cameron Munster has revealed how public criticism of Billy Slater galvanised Queensland, admitting he was personally hurt by jabs taken at his coach in the lead-up to their State of Origin II victory. Slater's roller-coaster 42nd birthday ended with a 26-24 win on Wednesday night, 12 hours after he issued a public apology for a comment regarding the late Paul Green. The win has set up a decider in Sydney on July 9, with life breathed back into a series that appeared destined to be won by New South Wales after their dominant game one. Slater has come under fire from all quarters in the past three weeks, with Wednesday night always looming as a referendum on his decision to axe Daly Cherry-Evans. Questions have also circled around Queensland's performances and Slater's own future, with no Maroons coach having ever kept the job after two straight series losses. He was also labelled a "grub" by former NSW forward Aaron Woods, prompting his controversial response on Tuesday at an outdoor press conference in Perth's CBD. The criticism was also enough to spur on the Maroons, with Munster revealing how players wanted to stand up and play for the former Queensland fullback. "When you have someone jabbing at him like that, it really hurts. It hurts me personally," Munster said. "And when someone's having a jab at someone in your own backyard, you stand up on your back and want to get up and fight. "We needed to do that tonight. We were backs against the wall, no-one gave us a chance. "I love him, and I just want to do the best thing for Queensland, and the best thing for him, because he's not doing this for him, he's doing it for Queensland." Munster himself was brilliant, scoring a try and named man of the match after starring in Queensland's 26-6 first half. But the new Queensland captain is well aware the Maroons must be much better in Sydney, after letting NSW back into the game after the break and ending with four tries to their five. Regardless, Munster said the criticism of Slater for the Maroons' 18-6 series-opening loss at Suncorp Stadium last month was unwarranted. "He's our coach, and he's done everything he can to tick the boxes for us, and we didn't perform for him in game one," Munster said. "He got a lot of slack for it, and a lot of stuff in the media, and he didn't deserve it. "He's given us a great game plan, and we didn't execute in game one, and we did it tonight in the first half." — AAP
