Tonight we take a look at State of Origin Game II, where the Blues had all the running in the first half, before the Maroons restored some pride after the break.
Read on as we take a look back over some of the biggest hits and misses.
HIT
Moses magic for first and seventh tries
One of the keys to turning things around for Game II was always going to be the performance of halfback Mitchell Moses. The Eels star didn't disappoint, his kicking game was near perfect and his organisational skills on song throughout. Two tries that he set up really stood out.
Early in the first half, the Blues were awarded a penalty just inside the Maroons half for a high shot on Angus Crichton. From there they attacked the Queensland line and were given back-to-back tackle count restarts by Ashley Klein for offside and ruck infringements, but the Maroons held.
It wasn't until their next possession that they lined out to the right. The ball found Moses and he had Stephen Crichton, Dylan Edwards and Zac Lomax lined up outside Liam Martin, who was surely on a decoy run. With the slightest slight of hand Moses threw a short flat pass to Martin who straightened his run to tear through a gap in the Maroon wall.
With 19 minutes remaining, the Blues were on the attack again and Moses was screaming for the ball and directing his outside men. This time Martin was a decoy, as was Latrell Mitchell and Stephen Crichton, as Moses threw the perfect pass to Dylan Edwards who beat the battered shoulder of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to put the Blues ahead 38-12.
Moses was named man-of-the-match and will once again be vital to the Blues' chances of winning the decider in Brisbane.
MISS
Hammer injury robs Maroons and the crowd
There is no better sight in the game than Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in full flight. So it was disappointing to all rugby league fans to see him leave the field with a shoulder injury early in the first half. Running the ball out from his line he was met by three Blues defenders who manhandled him back into the in-goal area. He left the field for treatment, but the bad news filtered through that he was gone for the game.
But this is Origin, and as the players lined up for the second half, there he was, wearing a set of shoulder pads and no doubt enjoying the short term benefits of a pain killer. He even managed to score a try, chasing through on a kick to score under the posts, but he wasn't at his best. Dolphins fans will anxiously await further news on the severity of the injury.
HIT
Maroons chase showed they never give it away
Just before halftime Queensland were enjoying one of their few attacking opportunities for the night. Jadyn Su'A tried to pop a pass out the back and Stephen Crichton saw it coming, stuck out his arm and somehow managed to regather after tapping it into the air.
He took off downfield with 90 metres ahead of him. The most impressive thing was the number of Maroons jerseys in pursuit and they finally caught up with him as his legs began to give way. The chase was so good that the Queensland defensive line was able to reform quicker than the Blues could exploit Crichton's work.
It showed that despite being completely hammered on the scoreboard, the Maroons were still committed to each other and the cause.
MISS
Ballroom dancing takes off in the second half.
Firstly Daly Cherry-Evans was not happy with full head lock from Stephen Crichton, he jumped up and shoved Crichton to the ground. Players came from everywhere to push and shove, punches of course being long banned. Referee Ashley Klein warned everyone that any similar incidents would see instigators sent to the sin bin.
It didn't take long, this time a big hit by Spencer Leniu saw Queensland's Jaydn Su'A spill the ball. As the Blues players celebrated, Liam Martin rushed in to rub the head of Su'A, in appreciation of his error. Players came from everywhere again with Patrick Carrigan taking Martin as his dancing partner. When the smoke had settled, Klein sent Martin to the bin for rubbing Su'A's head and Carrigan soon joined him for running in for a dance.
The extra space on the ground seemed to suit the Maroons who scored the next try to take the score to 34-6, once converted.
HIT
Lomax backs up his debut performance
One of the Blues better players in Game I was Zac Lomax and he continued that form at the MCG. He was strong on the yardage work and his goal kicking was almost flawless.
But the highlight of the night came in the 25th minute when Mitchell Moses found himself with the ball on the last tackle, looked to his right and saw Lomax on his own near the sideline with his hand in the air. Moses put up the perfectly placed high ball and Lomax soared for the mark over Murray Taulagi.
He scored another try before the break, on the end of a Stephen Crichton flick pass.
MISS
Burning wire state names impress no one
The pyrotechnics were on show before the game at the MCG with flames shot into the air, explosions and smoke everywhere. Somewhat less impressive were the two burning state abbreviations. NSW and QLD, sat atop two large boxes, the wired outlines of the two burning like a ring you'd expect a stunt man to drive a motorbike through. At least the national anthem was a more traditional rendition, and the 90,084 fans roared their approval.
HIT
Opening exchanges didn't disappoint
You can tell a lot about any game by watching the opening exchanges, possibly even moreso with a State of Origin. The Blues kicked off and the deep ball found Daly Cherry Evans who handed it off to prop Lindsay Collins almost on his own line. Collins was hit in a typical three-man tackle, but it was the perfect timing of Jake Trbojevic's effort below the ribs that buckled the Roosters front rower and saw him driven back to almost where he began. Still the Maroons muscled up and by the last tackle had worked their way to their 40 metre-line, allowing a a decent clearing kick.
It wasn't long before breaks were being made as both sides probed for weaknesses.
Just before the five-minute mark we saw telling runs from both Blues centres. First up it was Latrell Mitchell on the left-hand side, breaking tackles and proving a complete handful with his first touch of the game. It was then spread to the right where Stephen Crichton had his turn, churning through defenders who wound up wrapped around his legs. He was visibly disappointed with the pass he tried to force at the end of his run.
Not long after, the Maroons made a break down the middle of the field, before Dylan Edwards passed his first Origin defensive test, cutting down Jaydn Su'a in full flight. It was exactly the exciting brand of football the big crowd were crying out for at the MCG.