State of Origin 2019, NSW v Queensland at Suncorp Stadium

NSW have it all to do when they get to Perth. Queensland came back from eight points down to put in a searing second half performance at Suncorp Stadium and claim Game One 18-14.

• Player ratings: Crucial foul that changed the game
• Courageous Klemmer can’t cover cracks in Blue wall
• Origin Buzz: Punter’s incredible Morris gamble

JUST when we had our foot on their throats.

Queensland, beautiful one day, comeback kings the next.

In a heartbreaking loss that will gut the state, NSW surrendered an 8-0 lead to lose the State of Origin opener 18-14-to Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.

The Blues dominated the first half and appeared headed for a one-nil series lead before a disastrous middle period in the final 40 minutes handed the game to the Maroons.

NSW coach Brad Fittler admitted his side “panicked” in the second half, ensuring “more sleepless nights. But we’ll be alright.”

This was one of the great Origin games. Momentum swings, gruelling defence, gripping finish and a Queensland comeback.

NSW must now regroup for Origin II in Perth on June 23 to keep the series alive, or else face the embarrassment of a dead rubber third game in Sydney on July 10.

With the match level at 8-all and the Blues clinging on after losing Latrell Mitchell to the sin bin, Maroons tryscoring machine Dane Gagai swooped, intercepting a pass from NSW utility Jack Wighton to run 95 metres to score.

Man-of-the-match Gagai crossed again three minutes later to put the game out of reach for the Blues.

He ran for a cool 256 metres and has now scored 11 tries in his past 11 Origin games.

Hostilities renewed for another year. Image: AAP Image/Darren England

THE SQUAD

After a 2-0 start to last year’s series, Fittler has some soul searching to do.

Will his stick solid for Perth or look at changes? You would have to think Fittler would make some cosmetic alterations.

Debutant five-eighth Cody Walker was quiet until he was benched in the second half, only to return late in the match.

Halfback Nathan Cleary had a positive first half, but was missing during key phases in the second 40 minutes when the Blues lost their way.

It was almost as if NSW needed James Maloney out there marshalling the troops.

Josh Morris got NSW off to the right start. Image: Jono Searle/Getty Images

QUEENSLAND SPIRIT

The greats like Thurston, Cronk, Smith, Inglis and Slater may have left but the famous Queensland spirit lives on.

“We were out on our feet,” five-eighth Cameron Munster said.

Queensland looked off the pace during the first half, unable to cope with NSW’s speed. But they hung tough, played tough and won tough.

And it could have been worse for NSW after Queensland bombed four first-half tries.

The Blues pushed for a dramatic win inside the final two minutes but a Cleary dropped ball ended the dream.

It was a frustrating opening half for Queensland. Image: Annette Dew

FREDDY’S DISTRESS

Fittler offered up several reasons for his side’s second-half demise.

“We never quite got our edges working together like we would have liked to,” he said. “I felt uneasy from early right to the end in defence.

“(Our edges) missed the occasion, lacked communication, had a bit of panic there, we didn’t see much of that last year.

“We had some good players asking questions but they weren’t asking good enough questions and shouldn’t have panicked like we did, that was disappointing.

“Queensland nailed the first 10 to 15 minutes of the second half and took a lot energy out of us. But it wasn’t like they broke us all over the field.”

Corey Oates finally breaks through the Blues defence. Image: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

BIG KLEM

NSW completed their sets at 95 per cent in the first half and scrambled well in defence, missing just 11 tackles.

Prop David Klemmer went on a first-half rampage. He ran for 100 metres in the opening 20 minutes, didn’t take a break and made 24 tackles.

“He didn’t give us any reason to bring him off,” Fittler said.

Blues hooker Cook was dynamite out of dummy half all match, and fullback James Tedesco was stunning again, particularly in the first half, setting up NSW’s first try to right centre Josh Morris, his sixth in Origin.

Tedesco ran for 140 metres in the first half.

Latrell Mitchell just wasn’t in the game. Image: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

CODY’S PAIN

Walker was replaced after 57 minutes for Wighton. Hauling one of your playmakers from the field uninjured with 23 minutes remaining was a massive call.

Walker went back on near full-time for Boyd Cordner but he would be disappointed with his performance.

He wasn’t terrible, he just lacked involvement. He only made four runs.

“I just felt they had won a big chunk of the second half and Cody was struggling to get into the game,” Fittler said.

Jake Trbojevic‘s effort was too little too late. Image: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

SIN BIN

Mitchell was banished to the sin bin midway through the second half for an off-the-ball tackle on Queensland’s Mat Gillett.

Gillett had followed a Cherry-Evans grubber and appeared set to score when Mitchell took him out.

The bunker denied a penalty try but the ensuing penalty goal levelled the scores at 8-all.

“It was most probably a sin bin,” Fittler said. “They did a good job defending his (Mitchell) side.”

It was then left to the Maroons, with all the momentum, to storm over the Blues and now be just 80 minutes away from regaining the interstate shield and denying NSW the chance to win back-to-back series for the first time since 2005.