State of Origin 2026 game 2 LIVE scores: NSW Blues vs QLD Maroons updates, results, highlights and latest news; Gorden Tallis fires up over Laurie Daley leak

Queensland forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is set to play tonight just three days after his father Fereti died following a battle with cancer.

The Titans prop flew from Queensland to Melbourne to reunite with the team on Monday, and assistant coach Matt Ballin says the entire group is rallying around him.

“Tino is a great man, he’s a real loyal, honest, caring fella,” Ballin says.

“So I think the team knows he deserves that back from us.”

Former NSW coach Brad Fittler was as confused as any of us when Laurie Daley was asked how he planned to use Ethan Strange in tonight’s game.

The young Raiders five-eighth has been named on an extended bench, and Daley said he plans to bring him on “in the back row” at the MCG tonight.

That would suggest either Dylan Lucas or Hudson Young will be benched. And with Cameron Murray and Victor Radley also on the bench - who can also play on an edge if needed - it seems an odd tactic from Daley.

It would be a big ask to get Strange to defend on an edge and essentially have to protect one of the other halves - Nathan Cleary or Mitchell Moses - as is the job of a second rower.

Fittler reckons - or hopes - Daley was playing mind games.

“Well he said in the back row,” Fittler tells Nine’s Today.

“The one thing I know Laurie likes is backrowers that play 80 minutes, so whether that means getting him on at lock at some stage, he is that type of player, he loves running the ball.

“It will be interesting if he does come on, and where.

“But backrow, I thought that was... whether Loz was trying to throw (people) off, or be a bit cheeky, or he has given us an insight into the future of Ethan Strange.”

Former Queensland player Christian Welch is hoping the Maroons can replicate the famous 2006 victory in Melbourne with a win at the MCG tonight.

Darren Lockyer’s intercept try sealed the deal 20 years ago at Marvel Stadium (then Telstra Dome).

Since then the Maroons haven’t exactly enjoyed a winning record in Melbourne, despite several Maroons players becoming Storm legends.

“Victoria turns maroons,” Welch tells Nine’s Today.

“But we haven’t had a great record here to be honest, so hopefully the ghosts of 2006 come back and we get a famous victory at the ’G and go to a decider at Suncorp.”

Queensland Origin legend Gorden Tallis has lashed out over a NSW leak that’s tarnished Blues coach Laurie Daley.

The Courier Mail reported this week that Daley’s pre-game speeches had been “putting the Blues to sleep”.

The report said “multiple sources” had confirmed NSW players were concerned about Daley’s addresses and coaching throughout the camp leading into game one.

Tallis fired up on Fox League’s NRL 360 last night, declaring the players or player responsible for the leak “should never play again”.

It must be noted, however, that it may not have been a case of The Courier Mail speaking directly with a player or players.

Rather, the News Corp publication may have received that feedback from secondary or third sources, such as a coach, head of football, physio or media manager at clubland with loose lips.

Tallis also hit out over talk of Origin players needing a rev-up to be motivated.

“I’ve played a long time in that arena. I had to be told to wait for the game ... You get emotional, you’ve got your family, you’ve got your friends,” said Tallis, who played 17 Origin games for Queensland across the 1990s and 2000s.

“You should not need to be motivated to play for this state or anybody. We are so privileged to run out in any jersey in rugby league, and if you need to be motivated to run out in any jersey in our game, go play another game.

“No coach ever had to tell me the game is at 7.30pm and you have to get ready to go into battle.”

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