Maroons create Origin history

Queensland's players celebrate Cameron Smith's try against New South Wales in game two of the State of Origin rugby league series in Sydney.

AAP

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Is the current Maroons side the best ever?

This poll ended on 31 December 2009.

Yes

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14%

They're certainly up there.

46%

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QUEENSLAND have claimed the greatest winning streak in State of Origin history with one of the bravest performances the game has seen.

With five players struck down by a stomach virus in the past 24 hours and four players injured throughout the match, including match-winning star Greg Inglis, the Maroons fought on to claim a 24-14 win over NSW at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night to secure a record fourth straight series.

And for the fourth year in a row, the never-say-die Maroons secured the trophy in foreign territory.

"Tonight is a night we will never forget," said hooker Cameron Smith.

The Maroons led 18-0 after 23 minutes thanks to several NSW mistakes, then held tight as the Blues regained composure to fight their way back into the contest.

The Blues reduced the deficit to 18-14 with a David Williams try in the 62nd minute, but NSW couldn't deliver a killer punch.

Smith eventually sealed the win and series with 109 seconds left on the clock by collecting Luke O'Donnell's tryline fumble to score beneath the posts.

It gives the Maroons an unbeatable 2-0 lead and the longest series winning streak in the 30-year history of Origin football.

"We have to celebrate this. We have got the series and we made history so we've got to make the most of it," said elated captain Darren Lockyer.

Lock Dallas Johnson played despite being on a drip all day for a violent stomach bug while four other players were reportedly ill also.

The Maroons lost star centre Greg Inglis (concussion) to foul play in the 22nd minute from a Trent Barrett swinging arm while Ashley Harrison (ribs), Ben Hannant (knee) and Sam Thaiday (knee) battled bravely despite collecting injuries.

"I have never seen a better Queensland performance than what I saw tonight," said legendary former Maroons coach Paul Vautin.

Queensland led 6-0 after as many minutes when Origin I hero Inglis barged over from a Johnathan Thurston.

Folau made fools of Robbie Farah and Justin Poore, busting through their feeble defence after a Williams mistake to score beneath the posts in the 17th minute for a 12-0 lead.

Farah compounded his error six minutes later when his pass from dummy half only found grass 5m out from his own tryline as skipper Darren Lockyer pounced to score the simplest of tries.

Thurston nailed the conversion for an 18-0 lead.

It was a comedy of errors by the NSW side, as their poor handling, terrible defence and sheer nerves cost them dearly for the second time in a row.

The Maroons lost centre Inglis when he was concussed by a swinging arm from Barrett in the 22nd minute.

But despite taking out the Maroons best player, NSW couldn't get on top.

They looked lost until the 28th minute when winger Jarryd Hayne raced 92m after snatching an intercept from a Billy Slater pass.

With half-time approaching, Hayne struck again by pushing his way over from dummy half to claim a benefit of the doubt decision and reduce the half time deficit to 18-10.

Hayne's brilliance got the Blues back into the game, but the rest of his teammates couldn't follow his lead.

A second half try to Williams was all the Blues had to show for their fightback and they now go down in history as being on the end of Origin's longest series winning streak.

"I don't know what to say ... I'm shattered," said NSW captain Kurt Gidley.

MATCH SUMMARY

Second Half

78 min Cameron Smith has sealed Queensland's place in history by scoring under the posts. Converted by Thurston.

52 min David Williams has scored for NSW


First Half

6th min Greg Inglis has showed his magic touch just six minutes into the game,charging onto a pass from Jonathan Thurston to score Qld's first try.Converted by Thurston.

17 min  Israel Folau has sliced through some soft NSW defence to score Qld's second try. Converted by Thurston.

21 min  Greg Inglis has left the field injured after a high shot from Trent Barrett. Replaced by Karmichael Hunt.

24 min  Darren Lockyer has picked up a woeful pass from NSW and dived over the line to score for Qld. Converted by Thurston.

28 min Jarryd Hayne has intercepted a Qld pass and run 90 metres to score the Blues first try. Converted by Gidley.

30 min Greg Inglis appears to be out for the game with a broken jaw, inflicted by a high tackle from Trent Barrett.

34 min A good old fashioned Origin fight has erupted, but the ref choses not to use the sin bin.

38 min Jarryd Hayne has scored his second try for the Blues, fighting his way past some try-line defence.

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