IT’S the record Origin wasn’t ready for and one that will never be broken.

It explains just why Queensland have been so dominant, an output that’s been killing NSW.

It was the difference for the Maroons in Wednesday’s 18-16 victory at ANZ Stadium.

It’s more than a record. It’s a man. A special man.

Possibly the greatest ever. Two letters — JT.

Johnathan Thurston has produced an astounding 47.75 per cent of Queensland’s points scored since his Origin debut in the 2005 series opener.

According to the Fox Sports Lab, Thurston has scored and assisted 340 points of the Maroons’ 712 points during his time as an Origin representative. Nearly half.

It’s a record he not only holds but he owns.

No one is close to him.

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Johnathan Thurston of the Maroons kicks a goal. Source: Getty Images

With a personal haul of 220 points, JT is 59 points clear of the next best point-scorer in Mal Meninga (161) and a whopping 91 points ahead of the Blues’ all-time leading scorer Michael O’Connor (129).

He is also Origin’s all-time leader for try assists, with 30 to second-placed Darren Lockyer, while NSW leader Brad Fittler (19) is way behind.

“He went through hell tonight to play out 80 minutes for the team but that’s what the great players do,” Maroons skipper Cameron Smith said of Thurston’s Origin II effort.

Thurston has been directly responsible for 18.58 per cent of the Maroons’ all-time Origin points (340 of 1830) dating back to 1980. He’s also responsible for 9.82 per cent of the total Origin points in history (340 of 3498) and has directly contributed 26.34 per cent of the total points scored by both teams (340 of 1291) since his ’05 debut.

JT averages around 10 points a game. Only Ryan Girdler has averaged more points per game in an Origin career (minimum five games) but he played just eight games and Thurston has made an incredible 37 appearances.

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While there’s some doubts over the health of his shoulder ahead of the series decider in game three, if Thurston can take the field for his swan song Origin performance before hanging up the rep boots, he’ll add to his impressive tally.

“He’s got nearly every joint in this body strapped up. He’s a warrior,” Smith said.

“Some of the things he’s gone through in his career and still to be able to play at this level is remarkable.

“He took a couple of wacks during training this week. I don’t know how he gets up for these matches most of the time. For him to be able to play the way he does is unbelievable.”

Here’s the Highs, Lows and Big Blows from game two!

HIGHS

The series is alive

Never count out a champion … or a champion team for that matter.

Almost everyone had written the Queenslanders off. Almost.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man and once again Johnathan Thurston showed just why he’s a future immortal of the game.

Johnathan Thurston and Will Chambers of the Maroons celebrate the victory. Source: Getty Images

Having made mass changes to their side from Origin I, the Maroons are back.

Billy Slater was at his exciting best, Dylan Napa fired up in the middle, Gavin Cooper churned through a mountain of work defensively and Dane Gagai consumed metres.

Now it’s all locked up and we head to Brisbane for the decider on July 12. Game on!

Blues D muscles up

Two try savers in 10 seconds.

It was an incredible defensive effort from the blues on the edge of halftime.

First it was Cooper Cronk who made a dash for the line.

But Jake Trbojevic showed defensive nous beyond his years.

The following play Michael Morgan crashed over but Josh Dugan saved the day after Morgan swung out of a tackle by Blake Ferguson.

They were two massive plays.

LOWS

The grubby off the ball tactics

How often do you see a blocker prevent a player from smashing a winger in a bid to protect him as he takes a catch?

We see it all the time. The ruling is, providing the defender doesn’t change his line, he’s allowed to stand his ground.

But you can’t tackle a bloke without the ball.

Somehow Darius Body got away with tackling Josh Dugan off the ball as he chased a bomb not long after the break which allowed Valentine Holmes to catch the ball ingoal and gifted the Maroons a seven tackle set.

Then later in the half Cameron Smith changes his line as he takes out a NSW defender as he protects the kicker.

Jarryd Hayne is shouldered off the ball. Source: Channel 9

The image above shows Will chambers and Cooper Cronk sandwich Jarryd Hayne to provide cover for Dane Gagai as he takes a bomb.

It was a tactic the Maroons exploited and owned.

By the time the Blues joined the party, taking Billy Slater off the ball as he chased a chip kick in the 68th minute, it was too late.

The momentum had been swung. Well played Queensland.

BIG BLOWS

JT the GOAT

There’s a great debate among league fans around who is the greatest to ever play the game.

Often the likes of Andrew Johns feature on the list but the answer is clear … it’s the great ‘JT’.

Johnathan Thurston, with his shoulder strapped tighter than an embalmed Mummy, took plenty of knocks in Origin two but each time he dusted himself off and kept going.

When Michael Morgan produced a special flick pass inside for Dane Gagai to score the equaliser for Queensland in the 76th minute, there was no doubts from anyone in the Maroons camp that Thurston would nail the kick from the sideline.

And that’s what he did. In a clutch moment, it takes a clutch player to deliver.

But with fresh concerns over the health of his shoulder, will Thurston be ready for the decider in a few weeks’ time?

“It’s too early to call,” Thurston said.

“I tryst the medical staff we’ve got. They know my body better than anyone. If they give me the green light, then I’m ready to roll.”

Chambers KO’s himself

It was another strong Origin performance from centre Will Chambers but it’s unlikely he’ll remember it.

With the game in the balance and the Maroons in need of a big play, Chambers stood up.

The 29-year-old charged out of the line, attempting to line up Blake Ferguson as he carried a ball out of trouble for the Blues.

Instead of producing a big hit on Ferguson, his chin caught the side of the winger’s head and it was lights out.