June 24, 2009

Queensland have defied a horrific injury and illness toll to claim a 24-14 victory over New South Wales and secure a record fourth straight State of Origin series win at ANZ Stadium.

With five players plagued by a stomach virus in the past 24 hours and four more injured during the game, the Maroons gallantly held on to claim a memorable win in front of 80,459 fans.

The Maroons led 18-0 after 24 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.

Maroons hooker Cameron 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 in the series and their fourth straight series title - the longest winning streak in the 30-year history of Origin football.

It came about from the bravest performance in Origin history.

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 while Ashley Harrison (ribs), Ben Hannant (knee) and Sam Thaiday (knee) battled bravely despite collecting injuries.

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

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.

But Queensland suffered a major injury with centre Inglis unlikely to return in the second half after he was concussed by a swinging arm from Blues five-eighth Trent Barrett when he was on the ground in the 22nd minute.

NSW 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.

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