BBC SPORT | RUGBY LEAGUE | NSW set up Origin decider

New South Wales ensured the State of Origin series went to the third and final game by defeating Queensland 26-8 at Stadium Australia.

Beaten 34-16 in the first clash at Suncorp Metway Stadium, the Blues rattled in five tries to ensure the deciding game at the ANZ Stadium on 1 July will be a tense affair.

Brad Fittler had a night to remember, scoring two tries and breaking Andrew Ettinghausen's record of 27 Origin appearances.

NSW's Mark O'Meley
Mark O'Meley gets a helping hand

Queensland took the lead when Darren Lockyer landed a penalty, but NSW went into the break 6-2 ahead thanks to a try from lock Luke Ricketson and the first of three goals from Ryan Girdler.

Jamie Ainscough, man-of-the-match Trent Barrett and Fittler added further tries after the interval before the Maroons hit back with a four-pointer from Chris Walker.

Fittler than rounded off a memorable night for both himself and his team by scoring NSW's fifth and final try in the 74th minute.

"We played the team we thought we would have played in Brisbane," said Queensland coach Wayne Bennett. "We got handed a bit of a lesson."


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