CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
The explosive second match of the State Of Origin has resuscitated the 2025 series, with Queensland dominating the NSW Blues in a 80 minutes of high-impact wet weather footy.
The Maroons put on a clinic in the first half, and just managed to stifle a Blues comeback in the second.
There’s unfinished business for both sides in the lead up to a high octane game 3 decider in Sydney next month. But nobody will be more fixated on this final match up than Maroons hardman Tino Fa’asuamaleau.
What appears to be a lifelong rivalry emerged last night, as Blues enforcer Liam Martin forced two embarrassing errors from Big Tino, after jamming him with back-to-back big hits.
The Queensland forward was unable to hold onto the ball after being shotted by Martin in the pissing rain. The second time it happened, Liam Martin took great pleasure in giving Fa’asuamaleaui a face-to-face earful of sledges that will likely make State Of Origin highlight reels until the sun burns out.
As the one player that Queenslander’s expect to deliver the intimidation factor at Origin level, Big Tino was well and truly put on skates by the mangy white boy from Bellingen.
With his reputation and pride on the line, it is expected that Fa’asuamaleaui will now spend the next fortnight fantasising about driving his shoulder into Liam Martin’s rib cage at great speed with zero impediment.
His violent daydreams also feature far more illict conduct, including closed firsts, head high tackles and hip drops.
While NRL fans have no doubt that the raw-boned Liam Martin will also rise to the occasion, this escalating feud has the potential to explode into a no holds barred one-on-one fistfight, reminiscent of other famous rivalries like that of Spudd Carroll and Chief Harragon.
Maroons coach Billy Slater has placed the Gympie gun-slinger on a complete media ban, out of fear that he will say something extremely non-family-friendly – as his blood continues to boil in the lead up to July 9th.
