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.
Christian
Guest
Bill Harrigan has stated that Inglis scored a fair try within the rules of the game. Without the try Qld still win by 2. NSW scored both tries off kicks and didn't look like coming close other than Farah in the first half (admitted by Phil Gould). NSW penalty goal decision was a mistake, failing to find touch with a penalty by Carney and Farah kicking out on the full looking for a 40/20- all crucial errors that cost them. I think NSW dominated in the forwards, but you need a backline that can finish. When QLD lose they complain, when NSW lose they complain, that will never change.. That's Origin.
scuba steve
Guest
even that fat geriatric phil gould said he didnt know where hayne was running when he was "sheparded". as for inglis cheating - he'd be stupid not to force it in that situation and leave the rest to the referee.. i love how blues supporters come up with these accusations of paying off the referee and referee bias, you have to stop it though, its just above puns as the lowest form of comedy!!
scuba steve
Guest
I though the NSW fans boycotted state of origin every year just by consistantly failing to sell-out their home games??
PLANKO
Guest
Mick they made is easy to blame them.
Sayth
Guest
It's a shame a referee can ruin the game for all so easily. When you receive texts from QLD fans saying no gloating about that win the refs were paid or incompetent you know something's wrong. Losing is okay you go to work take a ribbing a get on with it. With such poor ref calls its wrecked it for everyone . The winners aren't happy they know they didn't win. Really if the NRL were serious the game should be voided and replayed.
QLDalltheway
Guest
Tate should have got man of the match. Slater had a shocker
Big john
Guest
The difference is that we won....... you lost. And a good night to you all .
Mick QUEENSLANDER
Guest
Easy to blame the ref.
Mick QUEENSLANDER
Guest
Even with our 'fat lazy forward pack' we still managed to have more line breaks and skill in the backs to beat your week Blues'
QLDalltheway
Guest
Couldn't agree more
johnb747b
Guest
Slater had the ball knocked out of his hands in that second half catch. He made 2 tries for Q'ld. His pass for the first one was as good a pass as I've ever seen. It was sublime. I thought Tate did enough to be Man of the Match.
QLDalltheway
Guest
I'm a queenslander but your defence of THAT try is embarrassing. Knock on, no try. Can't stand Inglis and wish he was playing for NSW. We have much better to choose from than him. Send him back
Gleeso
Guest
f it was called play on Inglis propelled the ball forward after the ball was dislodged. ..It could only have been penalty try. Which was not the call = simply an error by the ref.
Ceebow
Guest
Swilli - Your right mate we can handle losing seeing we have plenty of them lately but to lose to a cheating QLD is infuriating, they slowed the ball down all game and stewart does it once and gets penalised, A chasing Hayne gets taken out without a penalty for qld to score off the back of it with a false try is just crazy. Pearce as usual was useless and destroyed our momentum time and time again and we were riddled with errors but qld could only win with a ref allowing them to cheat is funny.Qld your reign is over, your forwards are old fat and lazy and cant handle the pace of origin anymore while our boys are young with the best yet to come. Stuart must sort out this ref issue cause its destroying our bread winning origin matches and no origin no big deals.
rahhh
Guest
'controversial' sin bin??? LOL umm sorry but last time i checked running in from nowhere to cheap shot a guy being held down meant straight to the sin bin ...
Jiggles
Roar Guru
If NSW players concentrated on the game rather than being tough men in the bif, then perhaps that sin bin would not have happened.
AGO74
Guest
Don't forget the try coming off the penalty for the Greg bird tackle on half time.
rahhh
Guest
first of all - it wasnt that try that won the game, with or without that try NSW was still down on points, coz they suck... now lets get to the try - you cant kick a ball out of someones hands - Robbie used his foot to kick the ball out of inglis's hands it was deemed play on because he played at the ball... any other game, any other time the call stands... so whats the next excuse???
swilli
Guest
Should have had the Victorian Minister of Sport reffing the game. 'Paul Callen' lost against the 'New Zealanders' in 'the state of the origin'... Absolute joke. We lost 6 series in a row, we can handle losing, as long as the game is still fair. What a team - QLD and their refs.
vaguely
Roar Pro
Never looked like losing it, until the Inglis 'try'...