After a slow start, Queensland has shot to a 12-4 lead over NSW in the opening game of State of Origin 2012 in Melbourne.
NSW began the better of the two sides and their early dominance was rewarded in the sixth minute, when Akuila Uate was first to react after a Robbie Farah crossfield bomb.
After the ball initially bounced in the air following a contest between Uate and Knights teammate Darius Boyd, it was Uate who grabbed the rebound and planted the ball over the line. Video referee Sean Hampstead took a long look before awarding the try to make it 4-0, with new Blues five-eighth Todd Carney missing the extras.
It gave the Blues the onus and they continued to assert their dominance and they looked to have extended their lead after Farah, who led the Blues admirably throughout the half, looked to have darted over from dummy-half before being correctly ruled held up.
Despite maintaining field position throughout the opening 20 minutes the Blues could manage only four points for their efforts and soon after, the complexion of the half changed completely.
Following an altercation between Greg Bird and Matt Scott, both sides descended into an all-in brawl and after racing in with punches flying over the top, Michael Jennings was sent to the sin-bin for his involvement.
It flicked the switch for the Queenslanders and the much-vaunted halves pairing of Thurston and Cronk began to control the game, and shortly before the half hour scores were level when Boyd crossed in the left-hand corner.
Queensland continued to attack NSW’s right-hand defence and it looked only a matter of time before the Maroons slick backline would once again cross.
One minute before half time, Boyd was once again in in the corner and Thurston once again nailed the sideline conversion to make it 12-4.
It could prove to be a hammer blow for the Blues, who had started the brighter and would have been satisfied with their start, but now find themselves trailing Queensland by eight at the half.
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