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Opinion
Queensland has one hand on the State of Origin shield after scoring a major upset win over New South Wales by 16-10 in the first match played at Accor Stadium.
After a disastrous 2021 series for the state, in which they suffered their worst ever defeat (50-6) and were held scoreless on their home turf (26-0) for the first time, coach Paul Green was relieved of his duties and replaced by rookie Billy Slater, in his first official coaching role.
He could not have asked for a better start to his coaching career as he oversaw an upset win masterminded by his former Melbourne Storm teammate Cameron Munster, with whom he shared the playing field for five years (though Slater missed all but one match of the 2016 season due to injury).
However, it was the Blues who struck first, with centre Jack Wighton scoring in the corner after 15 minutes of play, with the unsuccessful conversion from Nathan Cleary leaving the scoreline at 4-0.
Jack Wighton of the Blues scores a try. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
James Tedesco then appeared to score the Blues’ second try in the opposite corner less than ten minutes before half-time, only for it to be pegged back for a forward pass, shortly after which Dane Gagai scored the Maroons’ first following a clever kick by Selwyn Cobbo from the touchline.
The Blues were denied again when Junior Paulo was initially awarded the try near the posts, only for the bunker to pick up an obstruction offence against Cameron Murray on Patrick Carrigan, thus cancelling out the try.
Thus, instead of what could’ve been a 10-6 half-time lead, the Blues went into the sheds trailing by 4-6, though the match was still anyone’s to win.
Two quick tries to Daly Cherry-Evans and Valentine Holmes following the resumption saw the northerners extend their lead to 16-4, and at that point the Blues faced an uphill battle if they were to win the match, let alone level the scores.
After several missed opportunities, they would hit back through Murray, with the successful conversion from Cleary leaving the score at 16-10 with less than ten minutes to play.
Brad Fittler’s side pushed hard to send the match to extra time, but the full-time siren would sound just after Isaah Yeo was tackled half a metre short of the tryline, leaving the Blues’ comeback effort to fall short as the Maroons celebrated their first win in Sydney since 2017.
The northerners are now in the box seat to reclaim the shield for just the second time since then, with Games II and III to be played at Optus Stadium in Perth and Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane respectively.
Recent history favours both sides, the Blues having won all three Sunday night Origin matches since the format was revamped in 2018 and the Maroons having won every deciding match at Suncorp this century, with the exception of 2005.
If this trend continues, then Queensland fans would have every right to be confident that their side can win back the shield from the Blues this year.
Since the turn of the century, with respect to their home record they have won six deciders (2001, 11, 12, 15, 17 and 20) and lost one (2005), and won three dead rubbers (2003, 14 and 18) and lost two (2007, 09).
Winning a series on home soil would be the perfect start to Billy Slater’s coaching career, and could potentially set him up to become a successful NRL coach in the future when the opportunity arises.
But that’s a matter for later, and the focus now turns to the second game in Perth where both sides will be contemplating changes to their starting sides, not least Brad Fittler and the team selectors who attracted criticism over the controversial omission of Josh Addo-Carr.
The Bulldogs winger must surely come into consideration for a recall, with the lack of speed having been exposed in the Blues’ defeat.
Still, wingers Daniel Tupou and Brian To’o justified their selections in the side running over 400 metres while captain James Tedesco was their best player.
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(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Halfback Nathan Cleary said during the post-match that the Blues failed to respond when Queensland went on their scoring spree early in the second half, while the ruck was a major issue according to coach Fittler.
All up it was a disappointing return to Sydney for the southerners, who were forced to play the entire series north of the Tweed after Game III last year, in which they had the opportunity to complete a clean sweep at home, was shifted to the Gold Coast.
The crowd of 80,512 was the highest for any sporting event in the Harbour City since the 2019 Grand Final, with crowd restrictions, lockouts and the like having been in effect during the primary stage of the pandemic which is ongoing.
With Origin I in the books, and Queensland holding a 1-0 series lead, focus now turns to the next two NRL rounds, in which several players will look to redeem themselves for selection or press their case for a recall before the second game at Optus Stadium in Perth on June 26.
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