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After being bullied through seven-straight State of Origin series defeats, NSW skipper Paul Gallen felt the time was right to fight back.
It was the defining moment of the Blues’ gritty 14-6 game one victory over Queensland, and one rookie coach Laurie Daley described as his skipper making a stand.
Gallen had watched his side execute brilliantly in the first half, racking up a 14-point lead moments shy of the break, before he snapped at Queensland enforcer Nate Myles.
He lashed out and caught the Gold Coast prop with a swinging arm – then followed it up with a one-two combination, both of which landed on Myles’ chin.
Gallen now faces a one-week ban for his involvement in the scuffle, after being slugged with a grade two striking charge.
The Blues had earlier protested that Myles led with the head when making a tackle on fullback Jarryd Hayne.
It followed similar complaints during last year’s series when Robbie Farah was knocked out from a head clash with Myles.
“I don’t have to tell you some of the things he’s done to our players,” Gallen said.
“He’s been very dominant. We didn’t want to be pushed around. That’s all there was to it.
“It’s Origin. He plays the game very tough.
“We’ve just had enough of being bullied.”
Daley said after the spiteful win, which puts NSW on the verge of ending the Maroons’ seven-year Origin dominance, that his skipper was simply taking a stand.
“One hundred per cent,” Daley said.
“That’s a great Origin moment as far as I’m concerned.”
An early guilty plea will rule Gallen out of Sunday’s clash with Melbourne, while he risks a two-game ban if he loses at the judiciary.
Maroons coach Mal Meninga saw nothing wrong with the on-field punishment dished out to Gallen – which saw him put on report, but not sin-binned.
The Blues got the jump on their northern rivals, crossing after just five minutes through Jarryd Hayne – before his effort was shading by a brilliant try to centre Michael Jennings just before halftime.
Their tries were sandwiched by a penalty to debutant five-eighth James Maloney, who kicked three from four as the Blues made the most of their early advantage.
“We just got beaten to the punch, with our start,” Meninga said.
“They won the ruck, won the play the ball pretty well. That’s where they got their points from.
“(Poor starts) is something we’ve talked about. It’s something we need to address.”
Queensland threatened to produce one of their trademark Origin comebacks when winger Darius Boyd crossed with 19 minutes remaining – forcing the record crowd of 80,380 to hold their collective breath.
But the Blues, inspired by a monster performance from man of the match Luke Lewis, bravely clung on for a courageous victory.
Lewis laid on the opening try to Hayne and finished the game with 172 metres – second only to Gallen (187) for forwards.
“Luke’s a player that I’ve always admired,” Daley said.
“He was outstanding for us tonight.”
Maroons five-eighth Johnathan Thurston, in doubt for the clash after picking up a virus in camp, struggled to make an impact as he also battled with an adductor injury.
Meninga said it had been a team decision to play the Test star, but admitted Thurston had been well below his lofty best.
Blues hooker Farah shaded his Queensland rival Cameron Smith, making 50 tackles to Smith’s 49 while his kicking game also proved decisive.
Smith also had a try disallowed at the beginning of the second half for a double movement.
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