10:00pm

Thanks for following along, and Zero Tackle will see you back for Game 3 of the State of Origin series in Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on July 17.

Here is some other news from around the NRL.

• Wests Tigers make big call on Stefano Utoikamanu's future
• Burgess signs with Sydney club
• QUIZ: The ultimate Benji Marshall quiz

FULL TIME

NSW Blues 38 (Tries: Zac Lomax 2, Brian To'o, Liam Martin, Dylan Edwards, Latrell Mitchell Goals: Zac Lomax 5) def QLD Maroons 18 (Tries: Jeremiah Nanai, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Murray Taulagi Goals: Valentine Holmes 3)

The NSW Blues have emerged victorious and enacted their vengeance on the QLD Maroons with a dominant first-half performance that saw them go into the break with an amazing lead.

The QLD Maroons tried to fightback in the second half but the margin proved to big and the Blues would finished with a 20-point victory.

68' QLD 38-18

TRY - Daly Cherry-Evans throws a magnificent past to Murray Tauagi, who crosses the line for a try as they try to clinch a potential comeback. There was a potential obstruction but the try stood.

Valentine Holmes converts successfully.

62' NSW 38-12

TRY - Dylan Edwards scores. After missing Game One due to injury, Edwards' fairytale Origin debut continues crossing the line for a try and put an end to any potential comeback from the Maroons.

Mitchell Moses throws an absolute gem of a pass to Dylan Edwards who finds room between Tabuai-Fidow and Taulagi to put the ball down.

Zac Lomax misses the goal.

59' NSW 34-12

TRY - Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's scoring streak in Origin continues. QLD decided to go down the short side on the left-hand side before Murray Taulagi managed a banana kick to bring it back in-field, which was regathered by 'The Hammer'.

Valentine Holmes converts from in front to make it 34-12.

54' NSW 34-6

TRY - Jeremiah Nanai scores to get the first points for the Maroons. He is able to isolate Jarome Luai in defence and runs over the top of him to cross the line.

Valentine Holmes converts the goals to make it 34-6.

52' NSW 34-0

DROP OUT - QLD finally shows some light and energy in attack as they are able to force a drop-out from a Daly Cherry-Evans kick. However, they missed a try-scoring opportunity if they were able to run to the other side of the field.

51' NSW 34-0

SIN BIN - Jadyn Su'A drops the ball on the first tackle from the penalty after a great tackle from Spencer Leniu.

The Blues surround him as Liam Martin gets sent to the sin-bin for rubbing Su'A's head. Patrick Carrigan follows him to the bin for attempting to escalate the situation.

50' NSW 34-0

PENALTY - Stephen Crichton pulls a grapple on Daly Cherry-Evans, who decides to take it into his own hands and pushes Crichton to the ground. Spencer Leniu runs in as tempers flare.

41' NSW 34-0

KICK OFF - QLD kicks off to the NSW - running left to right - with Zac Lomax taking the first run of the half. After being taken off the field due to a shoulder complaint, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow returns to the field.

HALF-TIME

New South Wales 34 (Tries: Brian To'o 2, Zac Lomax 2, Liam Martin, Latrell Mitchell Goals: Zac Lomax 5) are defeating Queensland 0.

39' NSW 34-0

TRY - Zac Lomax crosses for a double. The Blues create a pitch-perfect overlap on the right-hand side of the field and goes through the hands of Moses and Crichton before ending with Lomax scoring.

Lomax has no trouble converting the goal to make it 34-0 heading into half-time.

37' NSW 28-0

INTERCEPT/DROP OUT - Stephen Crichton produces a magnificent intercept and runs 80 metres before he is taken down by the QLD defenders. The Blues looked like scoring once again but had to settle for another drop-out.

36' NSW 28-0

REPORT - Liam Martin is placed on report for a dangerous tackle on Reuben Cotter and sensationally remains on the field. The tackle was a replicate of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck last weekend where the Warriors centre was sent to the sin-bin.

35' NSW 28-0

LINE BREAK - Spencer Leniu has made an immediate impact after coming onto the field. In his second run of the match, he breaks through a Grant-Cotter tackle to run 30 metres.

33' NSW 28-0

TRY - Latrell Mitchell scores in his NSW Blues return. A short ball from Luai finds Angus Crichton, who manages to get an arm free and deliver a flick pass to Dylan Edwards.

The Origin debutant then finds Latrell Mitchell, who crosses over the line for a four-pointer.

Zac Lomax has no problems with the conversion and makes it 28-0.

27' NSW 22-0

TRY - The NSW Blues are running rampant on the Queenslanders. Once again, a Mitchell Moses kick (grubber) finds Brian To'o on the wing as he crosses for a double.

To'o had all the time in the world with no Maroons players in sight, while Latrell Mitchell and Angus Crichton could also have been on the receiving end of the kick.

Zac Lomax scores the conversion.

25' NSW 16-0

QUEENSLAND ARE HAVING A SHOCKER! After conceding three tries and 16 points, the Maroons have kicked the ball out on the full.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has also left the field and entered the dressing rooms with a shoulder injury.

24' NSW 16-0

TRY - WHAT A TRY! Renowned for his aerial ability, Zac Lomax has lept over Xavier Coates and held onto the ball to cross for the Blues' third try of the match after a brilliantly timed kicked from Mitchell Moses. Queensland's struggles continue.

Unfortunately, Lomax is unable to finalise the conversion, and the score remains 16-0.

18' NSW 12-0

TRY - Jarome Luai throws a perfect cut-out pass to Latrell Mitchel, who runs into the hole and passes it on to Brian To'o for the Blues' second try.

Zac Lomax converts the goal from the sidelines to make it 12-0 swinging the ball from left to right.

17' NSW 6-0

DROP OUT - After catching the ball, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is dragged over the line by Stephen Crichton for another drop-out. Jarome Luai's kicking game is on point tonight. Tabua-Fidow looks like he could have picked up an injury here as he is seen struggling with a right shoulder complaint.

15' NSW 6-0

DOUBLE BIG SHOTS - The Blues are all over the Maroons to begin the contest. Angus Crichton delivers a massive shot on Xavier Coates which is followed by a dominant tackle by Payne Haas on his Broncos teammate Reece Walsh.

11' NSW 6-0

TRY - Liam Martin scores. Scoring off a nice set piece - that started with Jarome Luai - and a pass from Mitchell Moses, Martin broke through three Queensland defenders to cross the line for the first try of the night.

It was a great bit of work from the two Blues halves that ended with Martin changing his line to make it past the defence. Yet to play with each other in the Origin arena, Luai and Moses have illustrated that they have a good combination with each other.

Zac Lomax kicks the ball straight through the post to make it 6-0.

10' 0-0

DROP OUT - The NSW Blues failed to score after QLD gave away two set restarts on their line but managed to force a drop-out from a Jarome Luai grubber. The Maroons are showing some great defence under pressure.

6' 0-0

LINE-BREAK - Jaydn Su'A breaks through the Blues defensive line but couldn't surpass Dylan Edwards as the last line of defence. The Blues gain a penalty in the next set as they enter QLD's 20-metre line.

1' 0-0

KICK OFF - The match have officially begun. The Blues are kicking off and are running from left to right. Lindsay Collins takes the first hit-up of the match and is met with a barrage of NSW defenders.

8:05pm

The NSW Blues and QLD Maroons have run out onto the Melbourne Cricket Ground and we are now just minutes away from the opening kick-off.

7:40pm

The match has yet to begin, but the QLD Maroons have suffered a big injury loss for Game 3. Injured Maroons forward J'maine Hopgood has revealed that he will likely be out for the remainder of the 2024 NRL season.

7:15pm

Mitchell Moses has confirmed on Nine's broadcast that he won't be the Blues goalkicker tonight. Zac Lomax is being considered the frontrunner to take over the duties, while Latrell Mitchell is also an option.

Lomax is kicking at 78.8 per cent in 2024, having kicked 41 from 52 attempts this season.

Stephen Crichton and Dylan Edwards have also kicked goals for their respective club teams but aren't seen as first-choice options.

7:10pm

The 2024 State of Origin series opening-game is now less than 60 minutes from kick-off! As you get ready to watch the game live at Accor Stadium, from the couch or at the pub, take a look at these feature stories from earlier in the week.

• 'I wish I could do that': To'o in awe of Zac Lomax
• Dylan Edwards 'very excited' to make delayed State of Origin debut
• What the Blues must do to win Game 2

7:05pm

The official team lists have been confirmed, with the NSW Blues and QLD Maroons making no late changes.

6:45pm

It is now 30 minutes until team lists are confirmed for both teams.

Earlier today, Ivan Cleary confirmed that Nathan Cleary would be ruled out for a potential miracle return in Game 3. Many Blues fans were hopeful that the star halfback could have returned from injury earlier if needed, but he won't return until Round 20 against The Dolphins.

6:30pm

Who do you think will win? In a social media post from the Sydney Roosters, NSW Blues hopeful Terrell May has tipped rivals Queensland to win tonight.

Considered an Origin bolter for the Blues due to his impact from the interchange bench, May's prediction is surprising.

However, this isn't the first time a Blues player has shown love for the other team. Haumole Olakau'atu once shared on his social media that he was a big fan of the QLD Maroons.

6:15pm

As the countdown begins to the team lists being confirmed for Game 2 of the 2024 State of Origin series, Zero Tackle has you covered with a preview of the match, our crystal ball predictions and the ultimate guide to what will be taking place in the lead-up to the game.

• Betting Preview
• Crystal Ball Predictions
• State of Origin Game 2: Full Preview and Prediction
• The Ultimate Guide to State of Origin Game 2

6pm
Hello, Good evening and welcome to Zero Tackle's live coverage of Game 2 in this year's State of Origin series! It's all on the line tonight for the NSW Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the QLD Maroons looking to lock up their third straight series victory.

Join us throughout the evening for all the big moments and plays. We will have the final teams for you at 7:05pm (AEST), an hour before kick-off.

Previous 5 Games

NSW

DATE	OPP	RESULT
5/6/24	QLD	L 10 - 38
12/7/23	QLD	W 24 - 10
21/6/23	QLD	L 32 - 6
31/5/23	QLD	L 26 - 18
13/7/22	QLD	L 22 - 12

QLD

DATE	OPP	RESULT
5/6/24	NSW	W 10 - 38
12/7/23	NSW	L 24 - 10
21/6/23	NSW	W 32 - 6
31/5/23	NSW	W 26 - 18
13/7/22	NSW	W 22 - 12