The NSW Blues will aim to wrap the 2026 State of Origin series up in straight sets on Wednesday evening when the Melbourne Cricket Ground hosts Game 2 against the Queensland Maroons.
You can follow all the action from the famous ground live with Zero Tackle's live scores and blog.
Both teams had their issues in the series opener, played three weeks ago at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney.
The Blues started awfully, but managed to close down a 14-point gap in the final 20 minutes after Kalyn Ponga was sent off.
Both teams have made changes for Game 2 of the series, some forced and some not, but will fancy their chances in the Victorian capital, with a potential decider three weeks away in Brisbane.
Kick-off in Melbourne is set for 8:05pm (AEST), but Zero Tackle will be live from 6:30pm (AEST) with commentary, updates, news and scores from Origin 1.
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Click here to access detailed live scores and statistics, or scroll on for our commentary
6' - NSW 0 - QLD 2 - PENALTY GOAL QUEENSLAND, SAM WALKER
No mitake from Sam Walker. Knocks it over, and the Maroons are on the board first.
5' - NSW 0 - QLD 0
Queensland look to have numbers everywhere here. They almost score on the left through Capewell, then there is a penalty out of the ruck as a Grant pass is knocked down by Cleary, who was playing at the arm.
Maroons will take a shot at penalty goal to get the scoreboard ticking.
4' - NSW 0 - QLD 0
Dangerous for the Blues. They shift left out of their own end and Cobbo gets into space. He is eventually tackled 30 out, then on the last a kick is played at, goes back to the Maroons and it's six more tackles for the Maroons in a dangerous spot.
4' - NSW 0 - QLD 0
That shallowish kick from the Maroons means the Blues can get this set back to a good position. Tedesco a run to the left, then they are overhalfway on the left as Koula goes close to touch. Moses kicks this time after Cleary handled the first one, with Ponga to bring this back out of the corner.
3' - NSW 0 - QLD 0
A good first set for the Blues and they turn it over in the corner, but Queensland with a better set. Back to halfway, a bomb to Nawaqanitawase from halfway and he passes the test this time.
1' - NSW 0 - QLD 0
And away we go in Game 1! The Blues kick-off down to the corner, and it's Flegler with the first run of the contest. Good defence through this set from the Blues with Walker to kick from inside 40, and it'll be Nawaqanitawase with his first Origin touch, slipping over bringing it back.
8:08pm (AEST)
It's go time in Melbourne. Blues to kick-off.
8:04pm (AEST)
Welcome to country, national anthems, and then go time in Melbourne.
8:03pm (AEST)
Teams are on their way out. Big, big crowd in. Queensland clearly have the better of the crowd support.
7:45pm (AEST)
Cathy Freeman delivering the match ball ahead of kick-off.
Teams are about 15 minutes away.
One big watch tonight is going to be exactly how the game is officiated. There were only three six-agains in the first hour of Game 1, directly flying in the face of the rest of the regular season.
More of the same tonight?
7:43pm (AEST)
Lights out and fireworks at the MCG as we head towards kick-off.
Crowd building!
7:35pm (AEST)
One of the other big watches tonight is going to be through the middle third. The Blues only had one prop on the bench for Game 1 and didn't use him. It's hard to see the same fate accompanying Addin Fonua-Blake tonight, who drops back with Payne Haas starting. Cameron Murray will also come from the bench despite plenty of calls for him to start.
7:15pm (AEST)
Crowd building nicely in Melbourne about 45 minutes out from kick-off.
Plenty of storylines tonight, but maybe one of the big watches will be the bench use.
Both coaches were criticised in Game 1 for the way they went about it, but with Reece Walsh on the pine for Queensland, and Ethan Strange there for the Blues, whether they get into the game, the roles they are used in, and the spark they create could be game-changing for either state.
6:55pm (AEST)
The final teams have been confirmed - No changes for either, apart from those made on Saturday by NSW, with Tolutau Koula to centre, Mark Nawaqanitawase the wing and Jack Bostock onto the bench after Casey McLean was ruled out.
6:45pm (AEST)
As it stands it's 18 degrees and overcast in Melbourne. Next to no chance of rain, so we should have a dry weather game.
6:35pm (AEST)
We are just waiting on the final teams out of the MCG. An intriguing contest ahead of us though with the Maroons up against it.
In its simplest form, you could very well look at this as both teams needing to improve. The Maroons can't rely on the Blues dropping the ball as much as they did in Game 1, and the Blues, quite clearly, can't rely on Kalyn Ponga being sent off again.
6:30pm (AEST)
Good evening and welcome to Zero Tackle's live coverage of the 2026 State of Origin series, with Game 2 to kick-off in just over 90 minutes from the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Will it be NSW taking out the series, or QLD forcing a decider?
