State of Origin 2024 Game 2: Madge’s miracle at the MCG is a never-to-be-forgotten Origin story

“One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect,” Stephen Hawking once said. It’s a shame the renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist didn’t live long enough to wear a blue scarf at the MCG on Wednesday night for the first half of Origin II.

The 34-0 explosion in the opening stanza wrenched the series momentum back towards the Blues ahead of next month’s decider in Brisbane. But this evening meant something more.

In a child’s life, a year is momentous, hugely memorable. But as the decades advance, the significance of a single lap around the sun wanes. Time speeds up for a teenager, epiphanies become less frequent. By middle-age, memories of even one’s last birthday seem hazy as life’s great flatline sets in.

So it is with State of Origin, now into its 43rd year. Those first steps, of Artie Beetson in Maroon, Lang Park raining cans, of Steve Mortimer celebrating, of King Wally with that footy with the white ends: visions that endure, formative experiences. Mark Coyne’s try, Matt Bowen’s intercept, Alfie’s return.

As good as modern rugby league is, the moments of mythology in Origin are now fewer and farther between. It takes much more now for a game, a play, a passage to grab the collective memory of State of Origin by the shoulders and shake it to attention.

But Wednesday night’s opening half was worthy. The relentless pressure, the Blues’ execution, a record half-time score, the shock and beauty of it all.

And yet the early stages were an arm wrestle, suggesting the 90,000 in attendance should settle in for the long-haul. At the five minute mark, Stephen Crichton pushed a pass that was deemed a knock on. It would be his side’s only error for the half.

Not long after, a penalty conceded by Lindsay Collins had NSW rolling. Queensland – after giving up two set restarts and a drop-out – could not keep the Blues at bay. And so it began.

First, Mitchell Moses to Liam Martin. Five minutes later, Latrell Mitchell offloading to Brian To’o. Four minutes more, Moses kicking to find a flying Zac Lomax. Not long after, Moses’ grubber for To’o. Then Mitchell in off a Dylan Edwards break. And just before half-time, Crichton puts Lomax in again.

Between the 11th and 39th minutes, the Blues scored at better than a point per minute, like a drumbeat, the pulsing blue coursing around the MCG. And every piercing move delivered with precision and speed.

Queensland coach Billy Slater and his captain Daly Cherry-Evans described the first half as a “snowball” four times in their post-match press conference.

But ask those Victorians enjoying their brief visit to planet rugby league, and it appeared more like the devastating impact of an interstellar object. A 2017 study by a British university explored seven effects associated with asteroid impacts – heat, pressure shock waves, flying debris, tsunamis, wind blasts, seismic shaking and cratering.

Slater seemed to have felt them all by half-time, when interviewed briefly on Channel Nine at the break, uttering: “Yeah, no, there’s not much you can say.”

This from the Blues was about as good a performance as could be conceived. Against a team that has won the shield two years in a row. Against a coach who can seemingly do no wrong. With the Blues’ backs up against the wall, with the series on the line, the coach’s future in jeopardy.

The gambles of NSW coach Michael Maguire all seemed to pay off. Halfback Moses – brought in for Nicho Hynes despite playing just three games in the past three months – was direct and decisive, concocting tries with hand and foot. Latrell Mitchell at centre and Dylan Edwards on debut at fullback were both drafted in, and both were damaging.

Mitchell’s impact in particular was memorable. While Reece Walsh may be emerging as the game’s biggest star, Mitchell has a gravity both on and off the field that is unmatched in rugby league. That the greatest half of Origin brilliance had Mitchell at its centre, after years where criticism clouded his worth, somehow restored balance.

Even Lomax’ kicking was exemplary. Yes he missed one conversion from the sideline, and another in the second half, but his uncanny fades seemed to warp the laws of aerodynamics.

And so, while the focus of the impatient shifts to game three in Brisbane on 17 July, rugby league’s discerning fans are invited to linger on this evening a little more. Recalling Lomax launching himself over Murray Taulagi. At the MCG of all places!

That Crichton intercept, his juggling regather leading up the other end and eventually to the Blues’ sixth score. And what about the moment when Jarome Luai took eternity to put back on his boot. From bizarre to Bizza in seconds, when Moses changed tempo and grubbered for To’o.

Madge’s miracle at the MCG, rugby league’s perfect half, never to be forgotten.