State of Origin Game 1 is in the books for 2019, with Queensland coming from behind to stun the Blues – and most pundits – with an 18-14 victory.
If you’d only watched the first half, however, you could be forgiven for rubbing your eyes at the final score.
While the Maroons were far from poor in the first half, they looked to be massively under the pump down 8-0 at the half with the Blues all over them.
But the second half was a totally different story, with Queensland dominating the visitors to walk out of Lang Park four-point victors.
How did they turn it around?
We got Roar NRL expert AJ Mithen on the Game of Codes podcast to explore just what turned things around for the Maroons last night.
Listen to the discussion:
The Blues entered Game 1 – and this whole series – as warm favourites, but will now have to do it the hard way if they want to win consecutive series for the first time since 2005.
Game 2 takes place on Sunday, June 23 at Perth’s Optus Stadium, while Game 3 will be on Wednesday, July 10 at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
Visit our Game of Codes hub to catch the full episode and be sure to subscribe and review on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever else you’re listening.
Griffo
Guest
I remeber Maloney scored one in Game 2 2016 but Gagai did in the same game. Holmes scored one last year. Before those ones I have to go back to Matty Bowen's golden point intercept in game 1, 2005. At least I can't remember any in between, unless you count Jarryd Hayne in 2007 blocking a kick on halfway at halftime, not technically an intercept though.
Graham
Guest
Would love to know the stats on intercepts over the last 15 years I reckon QLD get nearly 1 a series and blues probably only a couple over the last decade or 2
parkhacker
Roar Rookie
NSW were terrible in the 2nd half they hardly got over the half way line for the entire 40 minutes.When they did for a brief foray they scored a try.But of course it was all too late at that stage.As far as I know when you pass the ball make sure the receiver is in sight than pass the ball not pass the ball than hope the receiver is near you.That intercept pass cost us the game it has happened before and will probably occur again. Good luck to the Maroons they were clearly the better team on the night and showed a lot of that Qld fighting spirit right to the end. I think changes need to be made Crearly was hardly sighted all game.Mitchell Pearce is in great form at the moment and could be given another chance to be in a winning Blues team.Also,James Maloney also offers the experience and creativity we lacked in last nights game. I would like to know from the coach Fittler why David Klemmer ,our best forward, was left on the bench for most of the second half, I suspect he may have a niggling injury.