Cameron Munster's X-rated victory speech as Queensland rock NSW in State of Origin Game 2 classic
Queensland has narrowly survived what would have been the biggest comeback in Origin history to tie the series up at 1-1 after an all-time classic.
The Maroons strolled into halftime leading 26-6, but in appalling conditions, the Blues scored four second-half tries to make the score 26-24 with six minutes remaining.
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But they were left to rue some missed shots on goal as they weren't able to add any more points to their total, with the Maroons sending the series to a decider in Sydney.
After an unusually subdued build-up to Game 1, which NSW claimed 18-6 in Brisbane, a feud between Maroons coach Billy Slater and former Blue Aaron Woods dominated talk ahead of Game 2 in Perth.
Woods called Slater a 'grub' last week, with the former fullback responding in an extraordinary press conference on Tuesday when he referenced mental health concerns and the death of former Queensland coach Paul Green.
Slater, 41, then fronted another press conference on game day to apologise for those remarks in a saga that has quickly been labelled 'Grubgate'.
It all created a slightly uncomfortable air ahead of Game 2, but it was all forgotten once they match got underway.
After Brian To'o's sixth-minute try for the Blues, the Queenslanders caught fire, scoring four tries in 24 minutes to turn the match around.
Laurie Daley's side had a mountain to climb in the second half and nearly pulled it off before falling just short in one of the better Origins in recent memory.
And speaking after the match Queensland captain Cameron Munster said the whole team wanted to get the win for their coach.
'With all the pressure and criticism that Billy Slater has been getting, we're just glad we played for him tonight,' Munster said on Channel 9.
'He deserves everything, he loves Queensland and he loves this group.
'There's been a lot of speculation in the media, we needed to turn up for our coach tonight and we f-----g did.'
After Game 1 was rubbished by many for lacking the usual Origin intensity, Game 2 hit all the right notes and we're now set for a huge finale as the Blues chase consecutive series wins.
Recap how the night unfolded with our live updates below.
Originally published as State of Origin Game 2: Maroons hang on in a classic
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