State of Origin 2020: Queensland stuns NSW in historic Adelaide victory

Queensland has scored one of its greatest victories in 40 years, stunning the shortest priced favourites in Origin history to claim victory in Adelaide. RE-LIVE THE ACTION HERE.

Brenko Lee looks to have injured a calf during training and leaves the field as the Queensland Origin team hold their Captains run at Cbus Stadium ahead of game one in Adelaide. Pics Adam Head

In Wayne we trust.

Courageous Queensland produced the greatest boilover in 25 years as coach Wayne Bennett's Babes stunned NSW 18-14 to conjure an Origin miracle in the City of Churches.

Before 25,218 fans in Origin's first game at Adelaide Oval, the injury-ravaged Maroons overcame game-day drama, a dismal first-half and a 10-0 deficit to draw first blood in the series opener.

Reeling at halftime, the underdog Maroons sensationally hit back after the break, with three tries in 16 minutes to AJ Brimson, Xavier Coates and Cameron Munster sealing an epic Blues upset.

"I'm not sure what category you put that in but it's pretty special," Bennett said.

Brimson scored Queensland's opening try.

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"They put that Queensland jumper on and know the expectation that comes with it.

"I didn't think self-belief would let them down."

This was meant to be a Blues bloodbath. The Maroons were so depleted they were forced to blood eight debutants as coach Bennett turned to a ban

d of youngbloods to uphold Queensland's Origin legacy.

But just as he did in 2001, when Bennett debuted 10 players in Queensland's famous series win, the super coach dusted off a two-decades old playbook riven with Maroon spirit, belief and courage.

The Maroons were awful in the first half as the Blues bolted to a 10-0 lead, but Bennett's Babes - version 2.0 - showed nerves of steel to clinch another famous Queensland fightback.

If the Maroons can beat the Blues in Game Two in Sydney next Wednesday night to deny NSW a third straight series win, it will re-affirm Bennett as the super coach.

maroons celebrate a try in Adelaide.

YOUNG TALENT TIME

Queensland's first-timers Brimson, Coates, Kurt Capewell, Phillip Sami, Jake Friend, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Lindsay Collins and Jaydn Su'A were superb in the Origin cauldron.

Not one debutant failed to handle the heat. Makeshift centre Capewell was outstanding, producing a superb bust and chip kick for Brimson's 50th-minute try to ignite Queensland's second-half fightback. Battling a groin injury, Capewell was on one leg for the final 25 minutes.

Collins charged with his usual gusto, Sami ran for 115 metres from the wing, Brimson was busy, Big Tino was all heart and 19-year-old winger Coates was magnificent.

"The rookies were outstanding," Bennett said. "Capewell hurt his groin, he could hardly move at the end."

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SPEED KILLS

The Maroons were blown off the park by NSW's up-tempo style in the first half. The Blues were as quick and slick as a Ferrari. Queensland were as cumbersome as a Sherman tank.

Both of NSW's tries were a by-product of the Maroons' inability to handle Cook's sizzling incursions and the quick shifts ignited by Nathan Cleary, Luke Keary, James Tedesco and Clint Gutherson.

"I wasn't happy at 10-0," Bennett said. "But we won the game in the first half, we didn't concede any soft tries and that was important."

BRENKO'S HEARTBREAK

Queensland's injury-plagued build-up suffered another blow on game day when a shattered Brenko Lee was forced to withdraw in the warm-up.

Having strained his calf at training 24 hours earlier, Lee was given the green light to play by Maroons medicos, only for his right leg to tighten up again following the flight to Adelaide.

Lee was sensationally ordered to do a fitness test just hours before kick-off. He could barely take off. Game over. With Lee's dream debut in tatters, the Maroons issued an SOS for fellow rookie Sami.

Brenko Lee was forced out an hour before kick off.

DYNAMIC DUO

Dane Gagai and Jake Friend were inspirational. Gagai amassed 118 metres, three tackle busts, a try assist and defended superbly at right centre, while Friend was heroic. The veteran hooker made 52 tackles, more than double the next Maroons teammate.

Friend's Origin debut was 12 years in the making. His courage personified the never-say-die spirit of Bennett's Maroons.

"Letting people down isn't in Jake's DNA," Bennett said. "He was outstanding, he was right in the thick of it all."

Originally published as State of Origin 2020: Queensland stuns NSW in historic Adelaide victory

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