State of Origin: Queensland hold off fast-finishing New South Wales to win game two 26-24 in Perth

Queensland have held off a furious New South Wales fightback to claim a 26-24 win at Optus Stadium and ensure the State of Origin series goes the distance.

Maroon hearts were in mouths for the majority of the second half as NSW threatened to pull off one of the all-time great Origin heists in front of 57,023 fans.

Amid pouring rain, four unanswered tries had given Queensland the early ascendancy and a handsome 26-6 lead at half-time.

But NSW came roaring back with four of their own in the second half as Blues winger Brian To’o finished with a hat-trick.

As errors infiltrated Queensland’s game and penalties began to accumulate, the pressure became a weight around their neck, as Zac Lomax’s 72nd minute try made it just a two-point game.

The Blues had the ball deep in enemy territory late, but the Maroons held firm, camped inside their own 10m, to prevent a famous NSW win.

The difference proved to be the kickers, as Lomax went 2-5 from the tee, while Valentine Holmes converted all four of his conversions and knocked over a penalty.

In doing so, Queensland claimed their first win in three Origin attempts in Perth, and levelled this year’s series at one-apiece, setting up a decisive live rubber in Sydney next month.

Maroons coach Billy Slater had preached the importance of the small details pre-game, urging his side to embrace the pressure which came with being 1-0 down in the series.

But after a dominant first-half when they did the simple things right and played with freedom, they were forced to cling on for dear life down the stretch.

“A good win, a heart-stopper. We didn’t help ourselves in the second-half,” Slater said.

“The courage, character and effort, the spirit in that last 10 minutes to defend our try line from NSW, they were coming to get us — they’re a bloody good team.

“A huge credit to our fellas for turning up and continually turning up, so that’s the pride I feel for our footy team, and I’m sure five and a half million Queenslanders feel that pride right now as well.”

When To’o gave the Blues an early lead, it felt momentarily as if the events of game one, where NSW dominated from the outset, would repeat.

But Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow twice found the try-line inside the next 20 minutes, and after Holmes made it 16-6 with a penalty, Cameron Munster and Kurt Capewell piled on further tries to leave NSW feeling blue.

Jarome Luai found himself in hot water as he was reported for an eye gouge, and then Lomax’s elbow to the head of Trent Loiero saw him draw a similar punishment.

NSW’s stars’ edge was dulled in the first 40, with Nathan Cleary having a try disallowed after the video referee ruled Patrick Carrigan had been obstructed in the build-up.

But To’o’s second try of the game just after the break gave the Blues a lifeline, and when Stephen Crichton shrugged off three tackles to get his side within 12 points, Maroons fans could have been forgiven for feeling hot under the collar.

Queensland had dealt fairly well with NSW’s pressure, but Crichton’s try reduced their lead to 26-14, although Lomax’s tough place-kicking night continued as his conversion clanged off the post.

Suddenly, Queensland were at sixes and sevens and with 16 minutes to play, the Blues’ No.2 got his third try of the evening, finishing off yet another fluid move out wide.

Yet another Lomax missed kick meant the Maroons clung to an eight-point lead, but the winger redeemed himself in the 72nd minute when he collected Luai’s stabbed kick, before holding his nerve and converting to make it 26-24.

When Kalyn Ponga spilled a deep kick with just three minutes to play, it gave the Blues a chance to steal a famous, series-clinching comeback win.

And with the clock kicking down, Queensland’s desperate defence came up trumps, forcing a fatal fumble to level the series.