NSW takes out Game 1 of Men's State of Origin
Daly Cherry Evans stepped onto the field and became the oldest person to play State of Origin (36 years of age, a spring chicken). Issah Yeo captained the NSW Blues for the first time.
Queensland kicked off to get things going in front of the capacity crowd of 52,483. In the early stages, Queensland’s ill-discipline saw NSW take the early advantage with Nathan Cleary kicking a penalty goal in front to make the score 2-0, 10 mins gone.
With neither side taking full advantage, NSW became the first to stamp their authority in the game through some quick & fast runs through the halves with Mitch Moses getting over halfway.
A quick play the ball allowed NSW to run on the last tackle, Cleary spun it to Payne Haas (that’s right a prop on the last tackle), Cleary got the ball back spun it out wide to the right side where Stephen Crichton attracted 3 Queenslander defenders before passing the ball to Zac Lomax who opened the try scoring account for NSW - Blues up 6-0 after 25 mins.
Queensland continued to have poor discipline and gave NSW more opportunities deep within Queensland’s half. This time it was the left side for NSW that showed their flair. Cleary & Moses combined, Moses fired a ball to Latrell Mitchell who caught & passed all in the same motion to his winger Brian To’o and To’o dove in the corner.
The class from Mitchell to catch and pass is the reason why he is so threatening in the Origin arena. Unfortunately, Cleary wasn’t having his greatest night in the goal-kicking department. NSW 10-0 after 30 mins.
With 5 minutes to go in the half, the penalty count was all in NSW favour 6-1, NSW had to capitalise on the penalty count. On the right side, Cleary had the ball in his hands and looked threatening close to the line. Cleary combined with Dylan Edwards with Queensland rushing their defence line up to shut down Crichton & Edwards, Edwards got the ball out wide to Lomax who had a clean run to the line and he bagged himself a double. NSW 14-0 after 38 mins.
But in typical Queensland fashion, one play and they had NSW back in defensive mode on their line. Cherry Evans put a nicely placed kick in for 6’ 4” winger Xaiver Coates who got himself up over his opposite number Brian To’o. Coates dropped the ball over the line, but To’o was deemed to have tackled Coates without the ball, hence a professional foul was called against To’o. To’o was sent to the sin bin and NSW would start the second half with 12 men for the first 10 mins. Queensland were able to salvage a penalty goal and we ended the first half 14-2.
The 2nd half begins and Queensland are applying all the pressure on the 12 Blues players. The Blues made some changes, Mitchell changed sides of the field to be alongside Lomax and Crichton teamed up with Moses to cover the hole that To’o would normally fill.
Queensland had a golden opportunity from scrum-based play 10 metres out from NSW line, but Crichton showed his strength and held Valentine Holmes up in the air and waited for the NSW troops to arrive and push Holmes over the sideline in a huge momentum shift. But the next play, Jeremiah Nanai put a huge tackle on Latrell Mitchell and the ball was dislodged and Queensland got the ball out to Coates who scored Queensland’s first try. NSW 14-6, 35 mins to go.
With neither side unable to continue on, it was the bench players who would come on & have the most impact. In particular, Connor Watson - No.14 from NSW who came on for Reece Robson and created more speed from dummy half & sped up NSW’s play the balls. NSW pressed on Queensland’s line and with 7 mins to go, the Queensland wall broke.
On 5th tackle, Cleary caught Queensland off guard placing a chip kick for Lomax who was able to fight off the Queensland defenders and pop the ball back to Watson. Watson showed his strength, fighting off 4 defenders and offloaded to Dylan Edwards who was perfectly placed and planted the ball on the try line. After Cleary’s failed attempts, Lomax took over kicking duties but also missed an easier conversion from just to the right of the posts. NSW 18-6 with 6 mins to go.
Cleary even attempted a field goal to increase the lead by more than 2 converted tries. Queensland rolled the dice one last time and Tom Dearden who had the most impact for the Maroons, threw a floating long ball out to Valetine Holmes, only for the ball to travel forward and that was the game.
NSW took out Game 1. Final score 18-6.
NSW Blues - Tries (Lomax - 2, Edwards, To’o)
Queensland - Tries (Coates)
Man of the Match: Payne Haas, NSW Prop with 18 hit ups, 156 metres, 3 tackle breaks, 3 offloads and 30 tackles.
Game 2 will be in Perth on Wednesday, 18th June. NSW will look to wrap up the series and Queensland will be fighting to keep it alive.
