Hammer nails third State of Origin try

Torres Strait colours, was shown.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored a try while

Reuben Cotter and David Fifita shone when the Queensland Maroons thrashed NSW 32-6 in game two of the State of Origin Series.

A massive crowd of 52,433 watched the Maroons wrap up the series two games to nil after they had beaten the NSW side 26-18 in the first match at Adelaide.

There was some emotional scenes after the game as the Hammer was congratulated by his mother and other family members on the sideline.

On several occasions during the television broadcast the Hammer’s mouth guard, with its

It was a brutal and physical match with several bone crushing tackles and clashes between players.

Cowboys enforcer Reuben was promoted to the run on side after having been named on the bench.

He was Man of the Match in game one, and continued his fine form with many quality attacking runs and some telling defence.

A genuine workhorse, he topped the Maroons tackle count with 40, testimony of his value to the team.

David again made many metres up the centre of the ruck and did his job well continually running at NSW halfback Mitchell Moses.

At halftime

5 stars all the way!

Queensland led 10-nil and they ran away with the game in the second 40 minutes.

Thousands cheered when Hammer scored his try at the 50th minute.

The gifted back is one of the best players in the NRL, and his try added to his two tries in the first Origin game.

In the final analysis Queensland scored six tries to two.

Centre Valentine Holmes crossed for two four pointers and his Cowboys team mates Murray Taulagi and Jeremiah Nanai along with Melbourne Storm’s Xavier Coates scored singles.

Valentine also booted four goals for a personal points tally of 16.

The series heads back to Sydney for game three, with Queensland safe in the knowledge that the shield is remaining with them and the Blues looking to avoid being on the wrong end of the first series whitewash since 2010.

Ladies Origin in Townsville

A record crowd of 18,275 fans watched the second women’s State of Origin match held in Townsville which was won 18-14 by NSW over the Queensland Maroons.

Even though the Maroons lost, they were still declared champions after the two match series.

Having won the opening game in Sydney 18-10, NSW had to win by eight points or more to claim the title.

There is a strong call for a three match series be played next year. This game ended in controversy.

With 25 seconds to go NSW was down 14-12.

They were awarded a penalty try after Shenae Ciesiolka led with her boot in preventing Yasmin Clydsdale from scoring.

QRL invited two teams from Townsville and Mackay to play a curtain raiser before the women’s game.

The teams enjoyed strong support with signs in the crowd (see below) made up for three girls - Jahnali Levi (Nali), Kaiontae Ross (Tae) and Kiarah Mara (WaWa) who were part of the Qld U16 Girls Rise Silver Team (Townsville Rise Team).

At about the time of the second State of Origin game in Brisbane, ZKJRL Secretary Marita Sagigi (pictured with QRL board member Samantha Bliss) said she enjoyed five-star hotel accommodation, riding in lifts with rugby league greats and watching the captain’s run before the big day, which was all part of picking up the club’s Community Club of the Year trophy for the QRL’s 2023 Volunteer Awards.

“Volunteering with ZKJRL is a reward in itself but this acknowledgment is pretty sweet,” she said.

BELOW