Live updates: State of Origin II - New South Wales v Queensland at Perth's Optus Stadium

NSW  44  QUEENSLAND  12

FULLTIME

80min - Tedesco beats about five Queensland players before finally going down, he's been incredible this game. Queensland have one final crack but the hooter sounds and that's fulltime. An emphatic win for the Blues.

78min - Another penalty goes against NSW and Cherry-Evans finds the sideline for the Maroons tap on the Blues 20m. Probably their last chance to get anything from this game.

76min - NSW look good to break the half-century mark as the quickly march their way inside the Maroons' half before Cleary kicks high. Tupou looks to challenge but is penalised for being offside.

74min - NSW TRY ANGUS CRICHTON

Paulo does well to strip another ball free for the Blues as To'o puts the head down and is stopped just a metre out from the try line. Stephen Crichton bounces out of a tackle, finds an unmarked Angus Crichton and he strolls over for the try. Far too easy.

72min - Tupou beats a couple of would-be-tacklers as he returns the Maroons kick. Ponga has gone off for an HIA after that Cleary hit, who has been placed on report for the shot.

70min - Cleary makes a great ball and all hit on Ponga before Paulo does well so strip the ball back for NSW. All going right for the Blues this half, Queensland have no answer.

68min - NSW TRY CLEARY

NSW already right on the Queensland try line as the Maroons defence look out on their feet. Cleary attacks the defence, shows the ball, decides to hold on and sells the dummy before going in untouched for his second try in as many minutes.

66min - NSW TRY CLEARY

Burton in the thick of it again and steals the ball back from the Blues! Cleary gets the ball, puts the step on to beat a slipping Hunt and Ponga to reach and score the try. That should put the game beyond doubt now.

64min - The Blues are unsuccessful in their captain's challenge after Cleary lost the ball in contact. Talakai has also made his way onto the field for his Origin debut.

62min - NSW defence fronting up now too, putting huge pressure on Queensland with some solid hits in contact. The Maroons can't get out of their own 30m and kick long.

60min - NSW TRY LUAI

Luai gets the ball from a dead start, puts the step on and beats Nanai! He's only got Gagai to beat and he rounds the diving centre to score a try from absolutely nothing. Queensland with it all to do now.

58min - Cleary this time kicks for space on the Maroons left wing on the the fourth tackle, Ponga allows the ball to bounce before taking it in and Crichton is there to tackle him in-goal and force the line dropout.

56min - Burton beats Munster, beats Kaufusi before finally being tackled. He's had a great debut for the Blues. Clearly switches direction with the kick and ALMOST gets the 40/20 but Cobbo does well to keep it in play.

54min - Hunt makes a nice run from dummy half but seems to have picked up an injury in the process. Queensland kick and kick long before Tedesco makes yet another great surge to take NSW well inside the Maroons half.

52min - NSW TRY TUPOU

Yeo makes a powerful run, shrugging off Arrow to have the Blues just 15m out. Cleary sees an open Tupou on the wing, throws the long, looping cutout pass and the winger strolls in for the easy score. 

50min - Munster produces a piece of magic to clean up a NSW grubber and find a support player in the same movement to keep the Blues out. Kaufusi is welcomed back to the field with a huge hit by Paulo.

48min - An unchallenged Tupou somehow overshoots his pass to Tedesco but the fullback does well to dive on the loose ball and prevent a Queensland counter.

46min - Tupou goes so close to scoring but for a great last-ditch tackle to prevent him from reaching out. Crichton tries to link up with a rampaging Paulo but the ref adjudges the pass to be forward. 

44min - Ponga almost does so well to take in his own grubber but for an unlucky bounce. Cook beats one or two from dummy off before Tedesco sets off on another enterprising surge.

42min - We're back underway! NSW can't get out of their own half with their opening set but a Burton spiral causes the Queensland players all kinds of problems before they finally gather it in, and then win the penalty.

HALFTIME

40min - NSW TRY TO'O

NSW look to attack the Queensland right side, they put the ball through the hands before Burton finds To'o with a beautifully weighted pass and the winger dives over in the corner for the try! The former Panthers teammates linking up well.

38min - Blues want more than two and take the tap. Paulo bumps off Ponga and is just half a metre out from the try line! Kaufusi is sin binned after a series of penalties!

36min - Queensland can't field the NSW kick and the Blues get it back with a scrum. NSW have a fresh set and are just 10m out! Tupou does well to scoop a poor pass off the deck. Queensland are penalised for obstruction.

34min - Tupou fields the Queensland kick unchallenged as both teams ring the changes from the bench. NSW look to attack the Maroons' right side but they do well to number up.

32min - QUEENSLAND TRY MUNSTER

Ponga tries to go around Crichton, puts the foot down and he's away! He finds Holmes on his inside and it's a simple pass to a speeding Munster and he goes over for the try! Queensland hit right back. Momentum changes again!

30min - Blues guilty of being too eager on defence now and concede the penalty. Queensland will start their set just outside their own 30m.

28min - Paulo makes another strong run, this time from the kickoff, he's been good since coming on. Blues seem to be playing with their tails up now as they surge into Queensland half with ease before Clearly kicks long.

26min - NSW TRY BURTON

NSW looking a bit fired up here as Paulo makes a powerful run since coming onto the field. Blues happy to throw the ball around here, as Clearly stops dead in his tracks, puts in the grubber kick, Burton shows beautiful hands to pick up, beat one and score on his debut!

24min - QUEENSLAND TRY KAUFUSI

Ponga attacks the gain line, shows the ball, before somehow finding a surging Kaufusi on his outside and he steps out of one tackle before reaching over and scoring the try! NSW are blowing up at the officials for Ponga's pass perhaps being forward but their protests are ignored.

22min - Tedesco makes another good run, bouncing out of another would-be-tackler. Burton now tasked with the kick and goes long for Ponga to return. Cobbo has a run and is dumped by Trbojevic and he is penalised.

20min - Queensland's forwards have the Maroons just 15m out from the try line but Burton does well to make a tricky Cherry-Evans bomb look easy with a well-timed leap and grab.

18min - Cherry-Evans puts the gruber through right on the NSW try line, To'o looks to have it covered but he overruns the bounce! Cobbo just has to get a hand on it but can only bounce it and misses a glorious opportunity to score.

16min - Another charged down kick by NSW but it falls favourably to Ponga this time and he's almost in a hole! Blues scrambling on defence and concede the penalty. First bit of niggle between the two sides but nothing comes of it.

14min - Yeo makes a powerful run before a Cleary bomb is taken in well by a falling Ponga with NSW chasers right on him. Queensland forced to start their set right on their own try line.

12min - NSW PENALTY GOAL

Another penalty against the Maroons for stripping the ball and Cleary will line-up the penalty goal. It's about 30m out and he nails it to open the scoring.

10min - Burton makes his first run in a Blues jersey as NSW work their way towards halfway through Murray and Haas. Martin cuts back inside but loses the ball in contact. Tedesco challenges it however, arguing it was stripped, and the bunker agrees!

8min - Munster showing great feet, moves right to link up with Gagai and he finds a surging Cobbo who does his best to dive in the corner but To'o does well to tackle him into touch.

6min - Tedesco somehow gets away from a Maroons defender and he's away! He's in open field but the ref calls them back after Haas was deemed to be in an offside position.

4min - Munster lookes to kick but Cleary is right there to charge done and re-gather just 10m out from the try line! NSW go left but a wayward pass can't find a support runner and the ball rolls into touch.

2min - Blues kick-off and it's the Maroons who will get the first crack on attack. They work their way upto about halfway before Cherry-Evans kicks long. 

9:52pm - In a very rare occassion, the game looks set to kick-off right on time! It's a sold out 60,000 Optus Stadium, conditions look perfect, should be a cracker.

9:50pm - Welcome and thank you for tuning in! The players have made their way onto the pitch and we're just about ready for the welcome and national anthem.

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Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of State of Origin II between New South Wales and Queensland at Perth's Optum Stadium.

NSW will be looking to keep the series alive after their surprise 16-10 defeat in game one at Sydney, while Queensland could claim the State honours with a win tonight.

Blues coach Brad Fittler has rung with changes with a couple of familiar faces being recalled and debuts to Matt Burton and Siosifa Talakai.

Jake Trbojevic and Angus Crichton have returned to the team, but they are without Jack Wighton, who is unavailable due to COVID-19 protocols. 

Queensland have been forced into a couple of changes after Rueben Cotter went down with a hamstring injury, and Xavier Coates suffering an ankle injury in the Maroons' game one win.

Cowboys winger Murray Tuilagi comes into the starting side from the extended squad, while Jae Arrow returns to interchange. Warriors star Reece Walsh also joins the wider squad.

TAB odds: NSW $1.63, Queensland $2.25

NSW: 1. James Tedesco (c) 2. Brian To’o 3. Matt Burton 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Daniel Tupou 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Payne Haas 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Jake Trbojevic 11. Cameron Murray 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 

Interchange: 14. Damien Cook 15. Angus Crichton 16. Junior Paulo 17. Siosifa Talakai 18. Nicholas Hynes 19. Joseph Suaalii 20. Jordan McLean 21. Clinton Gutherson 22. Victor Radley

Queensland: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Dane Gagai 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Cameron Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c) 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Ben Hunt 10. Josh Papalii 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Felise Kaufusi 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 

Interchange: 14. Harry Grant 15. Jai Arrow 16. Patrick Carrigan 17. Jeremiah Nanai 18. Tom Dearden 19. Thomas Flegler 20. Beau Fermor 21. Corey Oates 22. Reece Walsh