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Queensland have made a successful start to their 2012 State of Origin defence beating NSW 18-10 in Melbourne, with a controversial video referee decision sealing victory for the Maroons.
Relive all the action here in our State of Origin 2012 Game 1 Live blog and commentary.
State of Origin 2012 Game 1: Key moments
Despite going into the game a clear underdog it was the NSW team who started the better, and they drew first blood inside ten minutes after powerhouse winger Akuila Uate latched onto Robbie Farah’s bomb to get the Blues off to a flyer.
Ricky Stuart’s men had clearly started the better and nearly extended their advantage after a Robbie Farah dart from dummy half looked to have breached the Queensland line.
But in typical stoic Maroons fashion they were scrambled sufficiently to hold the Tigers hooker up.
It had been a reserved opening by Queensland standards but after 20 minutes that would all change when an altercation between Matt Scott and Greg Bird sparked an all-in brawl between the two sides.
After sprinting into to join the fracas before throwing several wild haymakers, Michael Jennings was singled out by officials and was sent to the sin-bin.
The Maroons juggernaut were spurred into life and when the new Queensland halves pairing of Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk began to take control they were well and truly in the driving seat.
Two quickfire tries to Darius Boyd in the left-hand corner resulted and as Queensland jogged to the half with a 12-4 lead, it looked as if the Blues were staring at yet another convincing defeat.
But only minutes after the restart the game once again changed when Billy Slater uncharacteristically failed to diffuse the high ball, and Michael Jennings turned from villain to hero as he gleefully raced over to make it 12-8 before Todd Carney added the extras.
Queensland had finished the first half the stronger but the tide had turned and when NSW were awarded a penalty 40m out from goal, a crucial decision for Paul Gallen beckoned.
Much to the chagrin of coach Ricky Stuart, the Blues elected to take the shot at goal but were left empty-handed when Todd Carney missed his second shot at goal for the evening.
NSW continued to push to re-take the lead, but the lack of the genuine matchwinners that Queensland possess in abundance was painfully obvious for Blues fans as their side tried, and failed repeatedly, to land the killer blow.
And the sucker punch would be just around the corner.
After spending the majority of the second stanza in their own half, Queensland ended the contest in highly-contentious circumstances after 72 minutes.
NSW failed to diffuse a dangerous chip into their in-goal and when the ball fell to Greg Inglis, it looked to be all over after he planted the ball down near the uprights.
Replays showed the Inglis had in fact lost the ball over the line after coming into contact with the leg of Farah, but when replay after replay continued to screen Blues fans had that sinking feeling once again, and when the green ‘TRY’ sign flashed up, it was game over.
It was a gallant performance by NSW but the failure to apply the finishing touch meant they would walk away empty handed.
Queensland now head north to Sydney for game 2 with the best possible start and will now be heavy favourites to seal a seventh-consecutive series victory.
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