New South Wales took Australia’s State of Origin rugby league series to a decider with a 26-18 win over Queensland.

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The Blues took a big step towards keeping the trophy they took off Queensland last year with a big-hearted effort before a record Origin crowd of 91,513 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

NSW scored four tries to three, with scrum-half Trent Hodkinson kicking five goals, after leading 14-10 at half-time. The series goes to Brisbane’s Lang Park for the decider on July 8.

There were frequent skirmishes in a typically fierce encounter between the two protagonists, with NSW getting the edge after a bulldozing try by prop Aaron Woods midway through the second half.

The game turned on a couple of controversial decisions, with NSW having a try by Mitchell Pearce recalled for a line-ball forward pass. 

Minutes later Greg Inglis raced away for a 90-metre try for Queensland, only to have it disallowed by the video referee for fractional knock-on back down the field.

 

 

Queensland won the opening game 11-10 in Sydney last month thanks to a Cooper Cronk drop goal with six minutes left, after the Blues had led 10-6 at halftime.

NSW again led at half-time but the difference this time was the control of their halves Hodkinson and Pearce in the final stages to protect their team’s lead.

Skipper Paul Gallen, who played an influential role in NSW’s breakthrough 2014 series win after eight years of Queensland Origin domination, returned after injury but needed painkilling needles for a rib cartilage injury to see out the game.

“We stuck to our plan, we hung in and scored some good tries,” Gallen said. “Nate Myles got me early in the back and I felt something pop, so we got it needled up and I lasted the game and I’ll see how I pull up tomorrow.”

Queensland stand-off Jonathan Thurston said he was looking forward to getting back to Brisbane for the home series decider. Thurston said it would have been good to have wrapped up the series Wednesday. “But full credit to the Blues, they were just too good for us tonight.”