A barnstorming Isaah Yeo run in the final play of the State of Origin opener went tantalisingly close to sending the match to golden point, but Queensland ultimately prevailed 16-10 to get Billy Slater‘s venture as coach off to a dream start.
Referee Ashley Klein was laying down the law as Queensland’s Kalyn Ponga, Ben Hunt and Felise Kaufusi wrestled with Yeo just centimetres from the try line in front of the posts, demanding they give the Panthers co-captain a chance to play the ball a final time.
The Maroons trio didn’t overstep the mark, hanging on just long enough to prevent Yeo playing the ball and giving his side a final crack at the visitors, and with that Queensland’s quest to regain the Origin shield began in triumphant fashion.
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The Maroons bolted away in the second half after taking advantage of a controversial moment just after half-time, when captain Daly Cherry-Evans sliced through New South Wales’ defence off a scrum play.
It looked as though Blues prop Junior Paulo had been held back in the scrum, but the try was allowed and a Valentine Holmes conversion extended the Maroons’ lead to 12-4.
“The natives are restless,” said rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns on Nine’s coverage.
“To say the least,” caller Mat Thompson added.
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Queensland extended its lead to 16-4 in the 54th minute when Valentine Holmes crossed on the left edge.
The Cowboys ace started the match at left centre but shifted to the left wing when Xavier Coates hobbled off with an ankle injury in the 28th minute – and the former Shark would have made for a fitting man of the match.
Holmes racked up 156 run metres and a linebreak, and he produced a tremendous effort when he raced to clean up a James Tedesco kick in the 70th minute, denying a potential Nathan Cleary try in the process.
The Blues’ fading hopes received a boost in the 72nd minute when second-rower Cameron Murray burst onto a Jarome Luai short ball and dotted down, NSW reducing the deficit to 16-10.
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But the Maroons held firm as the Blues launched several full-throttle raids in Queensland’s 20-metre zone over the dying minutes of the game.
Eventual man of the match Cameron Munster had an exceptional moment as NSW threatened deep in Queensland territory in the 74th minute, stripping the ball off debutant Stephen Crichton.
NSW will attempt to square the series at 1-1 in Perth on June 26.
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