State of Origin Game 1: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii send-off costs NSW Blues as Maroons win 38-10

The Michael Maguire era started catastrophically for NSW, with the Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii send-off highlighting a selection blunder.

The ugly Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i tackle on Reece Walsh that saw the Blues star sent off. Picture: NRL Photos

Different Blues. Same old New South Wales. The Michael Maguire era started catastrophically for NSW who walked away from Accor Stadium 38-10 losers in Origin I. NSW were reduced to 12 men after just eight minutes when debutant Joseph Suaalii was sent from the field for a sickening high shot on Queensland superstar fullback Reece Walsh.

NSW were gallant in the second half before the scoreline raced away from them late. But the match was as good as done when Suaalii rushed out of the defensive line to put a heavy shot on Walsh in front of 77,214 people.

Walsh played no further part in the game with the Blues’ failing to adjust to the defensive shortfall. Now NSW must win twice away from home to reclaim the Origin shield which has eluded them since Billy Slater took over as Queensland coach in 2022. They head to the MCG on June 26.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been sent off after just seven minutes, the quickest send off in Origin history. Picture: Getty Images

Suaalii became just the sixth player in Origin history to be sent from the field – joining Walsh and teammate Jarome Luai who were sent from the field in Origin II last year.

The shoulder contact to the head left referee Ashley Klein with little option.

“Very dangerous action” Klein said. “Direct contact to the head with the shoulder. You’re off.”

The Blues were left badly exposed on the right side of the field in Suaalii’s absence.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored twice in six minutes – before finishing the match with a treble – to help the Maroons to a 20-6 halftime lead.

The Blues tried hard. Liam Martin wanted to spark his side defensively and came up with the biggest hit of the game against Maroons debutant J’maine Hopgood but the player deficit just became too big of an obstacle to overcome.

Zac Lomax and bench forward Spencer Leniu were the most impressive of the debutants for the Blues while Reece Robson toiled hard throughout the game.

Reece Walsh of the Maroons is attended to by medical staff after been tackled by Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i. Picture: Getty Images

SLOW ADJUSTMENT

Maguire had been criticised for not picking a back on the bench. When you’re down to 12 you’re going to be caught short regardless of the make-up of your bench. But the failure to adjust quickly hurt the Blues. Eventually Stephen Crichton moved from the left side of the field to the right but by then the damage had been done. Slater was quick to act to pass on words of encouragement to Tabuai-Fidow who had to fill-in to replace Walsh. Slater rushed from the coach’s box down to the sidelines to personally deliver a message to Tabuai-Fidow before returning to his grandstand seat on the 40 metre line. Whatever Slater said worked. Because not only was Tabuai-Fidow outstanding with ball in hand he stopped a crucial try be holding up a rampaging Blues replacement forward Leniu over the try line in a remarkable show of strength.

While the Blues had no outside back on the bench, Billy Slater’s decision to pick Selwyn Cobbo (left) proved to be a masterstroke. Picture: Getty Images

KICK FOR POINTS

The two NSW tries – either side of halftime came off the boot of the respective halves. Jarome Luai laid on the Blues’ opening try in the 14th minute when the recalled James Tedesco scored. Hynes’ cross-field kick gave the NSW faithful some hope in the second half when he produced a pinpoint kick to winger Lomax to have the Blues trailing by 10.

Hynes’ kicking game was not always accurate. His first off the boot led to a seven talk set. That enabled Queensland to march up the field with Daly Cherry-Evans stepping out of dummy half to put Ben Hunt after just four minutes.

Cherry-Evans produced a second half 40/20 and another try assist to be arguably the best player on the field and clearly outclass his opposite No.7.

SPINE QUESTIONS

Debate will continue regarding what the NSW spine combination will be for game two. Tedesco had an unhappy night while Hynes also failed to leave his mark with Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses waiting in the wings. Luai was solid with limited chances while Robson did enough to keep his spot. Robson denied what looked to be a try from Jeremiah Nanai in the second half with a last-ditch effort to knock the ball free.

WHERE’S THE SKIPPER?

Jake Trbojevic led NSW onto the field. He tried to argue Klein’s potential send-off of Sualaii but was hardly seen again. In front the prop played just the opening 25 minutes and did not return until the final four minutes.

Jake Trbojevic rode the pine for most of the game, finishing up with just 25 minutes of gametime. Picture: Getty Images

RELIVE OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF ORIGIN GAME ONE BELOW

FULL-TIME – MAROONS CLAIM SERIES LEAD

The Queensland Maroons have one eye on a third-straight State of Origin series win, after claiming victory in Game one on NSW home turf. The Blues now face the monumental task of trying to keep the series alive in Game II in Melbourne, before heading to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane for Game III.

Wilson Smith signing off now on our live coverage, I’ll be back for Origin II.

79TH MINUTE – CHERRY ON TOP FOR QLD

And just to rub salt in the wounds for NSW, the Maroons are over for one last try of the game, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow securing his hat-trick, after five-eighth Tom Dearden broke through the NSW defensive line. That’s all she wrote folks.

70TH MINUTE – NAIL IN THE COFFIN FOR NSW

And that's just about done and dusted for Origin 1, with the Maroons going over yet again, after Daly Cherry-Evans intercepted a wayward pass from Isaah Yeo, before sprinting down the field and putting in a kick for Xavier Coates to score.

INTERCEPT 🙌#Originpic.twitter.com/ZgvrpdCEVQ

— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2024

66TH MINUTE – MAROONS FINALLY CRASH OVER

It took around 40 minutes, but the Maroons have finally added to the scoreboard again, with Ben Hunt having an immediate impact in his second stint on the field. Hunt produced a stunning solo try, ducking and weaving through the NSW defence and running 50 metres to score. The Blues have been far more composed in the second half despite being down a man, but they could only hold out the Maroons onslaught for so long. While the Blues threatened a comeback at one point, hope is beginning to fade as they trail by 16 points with just over 12 minutes to go.

Ben Hunt races away! 🏎#Originpic.twitter.com/FT6Vb5GN0J

— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2024

63RD MINUTE – MAROONS BLOW ANOTHER

Queensland have bombed another try, with Xavier Coates knocking the ball on in a contest with Brian To’o. But alarmingly for NSW, the Maroons are gaining metres easily and putting the Blues under all sorts of pressure.

58TH MINUTE – MAROONS BLOW ONE

Maroons star Jeremiah Nanai has gone close to extending the Maroons lead, appearing to crash over James Tedesco to score, however a bunker review showed he lost it short of the line. Queensland lead by 10 points with just 20 minutes to go now.

In some good news for NSW, Spencer Leniu has passed his HIA.

48TH MINUTE – INJURY UPDATE

The Blues attempted comeback has suffered a blow, with Spencer Leniu forced off the field for a HIA. The Roosters star put in a mountain of work in the first half, coming onto the field ahead of schedule after the Suaalii send-off.

44TH MINUTE – BLUES STRIKE FIRST IN THE SECOND HALF

The NSW have had a perfect start to the second half, opening the scoring through debutant Zac Lomax, soaring through the air and outleaping Selwyn Cobbo to pounce on a kick from Nicho Hynes to score. Hynes misses the conversion and the Blues trail by 10 points.

AIR LOMAX ⬆#Originpic.twitter.com/6ha6jMs0dc

— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2024

41ST MINUTE – WE’RE BACK

And play is back underway at Accor Stadium, with the NSW Blues facing a monumental task of chasing down a 14-point deficit while down a man for the remainder of the game.

HALF-TIME – GUS SLAMS NSW RESPONSE TO SEND-OFF

It’s halftime and boy do the Blues need a break to regroup after a disastrous first half that saw Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii sent-off just seven minutes into his NSW debut for a shocking tackle on Reece Walsh, the fastest send-off in Origin history.

Michael Maguire’s decision to select the Rugby Union bound Suaalii will now come under the microscope, while Billy Slater has been vindicated for his decision to carry outside back Selwyn Cobbo on his interchange.

Surprisingly, former Maroons skipper Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin believes Sualii should not have been sent-off for the ugly tackle.

While NSW were able to cross the line after losing Suaalii, it didn’t take long for the cracks to show, with Maroons surging ahead on the back of some magic from Cobbo and replacement fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow down the Blues right edge.

Stephen Crichton was shifted from left centre to the right to help stem the bleeding, but the damage may already be done.

It would take an Origin miracle from NSW to bounce back from here, with the Maroons holding a commanding lead and a one-man advantage for the rest of the game.

Phil Gould was critical at halftime with how NSW handled the sin bin, adamant that they should have responded quicker.

“The send-off is unfortunate but I thought New South Wales reacted poorly to it. Probably didn’t make the change they needed to make.

“They came into this game without a replacement for the backs, the replacement for a centre going down was Hudson playing on the left and Crichton on the right. They should have done that and instigated it straight away.”

30TH MINUTE – BLUES DENIED BY THE BUNKER

NSW have gone within centimetres of scoring their second try of the game, after Spencer Leniu barged over courtesy of a Nicho Hynes pass, but was somehow held up by replacement fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

And in an injury update for Reece Walsh, the Maroons fullback somehow actually PASSED his HIA, but remains ruled out for the game since the independent doctor ruled it as a category 1 concussion. Definitely the right call given he was clearly knocked out.

23RD MINUTE – AM I SEEING DOUBLE? HAMMER OVER AGAIN

The Maroons are over yet again in almost an exact repeat of their last try... Selwyn Cobbo puts Murray Tualagi through for a line break, who passes back to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who goes over untouched again. Things are getting very, very ugly for the Blues now.

Back-to-back tries for Tabuai-Fidow! 💥#Origin Thanks to @goodyearpic.twitter.com/64z7LYE3xb

— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2024

18TH MINUTE – MAROONS EXPOSE UNDERMANNED BLUES

The one man advantage is starting to show, with the Maroons easily scoring their second try of the night through replacement fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Filling in at centre, Selwyn Cobbo put Murray Tualagi through, before he passed back to the Hammer to go over untouched.

Another Origin try for the Hammer! 🔨#Originpic.twitter.com/wIlBnnOOlA

— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2024

14TH MINUTE – BLUES STRIKE BACK

They may be down a man for the rest of the game, but the Blues have managed to hit back with James Tedesco pouncing on a kick from Jarome Luai. Nicho Hynes converts to take the game to 6-all.

Unsurprisingly, Reece Walsh has been ruled out for the remainder of the game.

8TH MINUTE – WALSH KO’D, BLUE SENT OFF ON DEBUT

Absolute carnage! Maroons fullback Reece Walsh has been forced off the field just 7 minutes into the game, after a shocking tackle from NSW debutant Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. The Blues star was sent-off for the shocking tackle. Luckily for Queensland they have a ready made replacement in Selwyn Cobbo moving to centre and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow shifting to fullback. It will take a miracle for NSW to come back from here.

Reece Walsh won’t return tonight after suffering a concussion in this collision, direct contact to the head in clear mechanism.

Will enter the NRL’s concussion protocol with associated 11 day stand down period. Hope he’s OK #Originpic.twitter.com/TQdYWOX277

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 5, 2024

5TH MINUTE – MAROONS DRAW FIRST BLOOD

The Maroons have struck early, with Ben Hunt going over courtesy of a sneaky Daly Cherry-Evans raid out of dummy half on the last tackle of a seven tackle set. The Blues first attacking raid ended poorly, with a kick from Nicho Hynes going dead to give Queensland good field position. Valentine Holmes converts to give the Maroons a 6-0 lead.

3RD MINUTE – PENALTY NSW

An early victory for NSW with the Blues being awarded the first penalty of the game after a dangerous tackle on James Tedesco.

The Blues may have gotten away with one early, with some contact on Maroons fullback Reece Walsh after kicking at the end of the first set.

1ST MINUTE – KICK-OFF

And we’re underway at in State of Origin Game 1, with the Blues kicking off at Accor Stadium... and at 8:08, only three minutes late! Lets go NSW.

7:55PM – MARY FOWLER IN THE HOUSE

Just 10 minute to go now until kick-off, and Matildas star Mary Fowler has arrived at Accor Stadium ahead of State of Origin Game 1.

SPOTTED! Matildas star Mary Fowler is in the house.

7:50PM – SLATER KEEPS FANS GUESSING OVER COBBO ROLE

Just 15-minutes left now until kick-off and Maroons coach Billy Slater has remained tight-lipped over how he plans to use Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo off the bench.

“We’ve got a bit of a plan around Selwyn. But Selwyn can play many positions, so he covers a lot. He’ll be out there at some stage,” said Slater.

7:40PM – TURBO ON THE TOOLS

Don’t say he didn’t put in any work tonight! Injured NSW star Tom Trbojevic may be out of Origin I with a hamstring injury, but he was still on the tools for the Blues, instead picking up a camera.

SPOTTED! Injured NSW Blues star Tom Trbojevic stepping up his media duties. Picture: NRL Imagery

7:20PM – MATE VS MATE AS BLUES WIN COIN TOSS

The NSW Blues have won the coin toss and elected to kick-off. For the first time in 24 years, two players from the same mate will captain the Blues and Maroons, with the Sea Eagles’ Jake Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans lead their respective states into battle.

Mate vs Mate. Manly stars Jake Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans shake hands before the coin toss. Picture: NRL Imagery

7:05PM – LATE MAIL AND WEATHER UPDATE

The final teams are in and as expected there are no late changes in the one-hour team updates.

Matt Burton is the 18th man for NSW, with Mitch Barnett dropping out of the side, while Felise Kaufusi remains 18th man for Queensland, with Ezra Mam dropping out.

The only change to the initial teams named is James Tedesco coming into fullback in place of the injured Dylan Edwards.

Bad news in terms of the weather, with a 40% chance of rain predicted at Accor Stadium tonight from 8pm

6:40PM – MADGE REVEALS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY PLAN

Michael Maguire confirmed Blues bench forward Hudson Young will be used as cover should NSW suffer an injury to an outside back.

This masthead revealed Maguire’s backline contingency plan after the rookie blues coach selected a four-man bench for Origin I.

“I am happy to say it. Hudson Young will jump in the centres,” Maguire said on SEN 1170.

“He will find himself there at some stage. I’ve done a lot of work with Ricky Stuart down there in Canberra.

“He’s trained and done some work in the centres and I’m confident that he will do a good job if need be.

“’Huddo’ (Young) has done a lot of training throughout these last few days and he’s been really good.

“I’m really confident in what we need to do if something like that happens.”

Michael Maguire has revealed Hudson Young will be used in the backline should injury strike for NSW. Picture: Getty Images

While Maguire was happy to reveal his plans around Young, the coach was tight-lipped when asked about cover should Nicho Hynes, who battled a calf injury in the lead-up, be forced from the field.

“We definitely have plans around that,” Maguire added. “I certainly won’t be giving those away though.”

Unlike NSW, the Maroons are carrying a specialist outside back on their bench in Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo.

6:30PM – TRANSPORT NSW’S BRUTAL MAROONS SLEDGE

Transport for NSW didn’t hold back ahead of Origin I, offering all Blues fans a complimentary service as they make their way to Accor Stadium.

6:15PM – HELLO THERE

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of State of Origin Game 1 in Sydney. Wilson Smith here logging on for blogging duties, be sure to stay tuned for all the late team changes, pre-match entertainment news and of course our in-game analysis.

We have just under two hours to go now until kick-off and the NSW Blues have begun their walk to Accor Stadium, flocked by fans and a police escort.

Who will come out on top? Can the Maroons continue their Game 1 dominance at Accor Stadium or will the new-era Blues draw first blood under rookie Origin coach Michael Maguire?

I’m backing the NSW Blues in a tight battle, with Payne Haas man of the match. Scroll down to see all our expert tips.

The calm before the storm … Accor Stadium ahead of State of Origin Game 1. Picture: Getty Images

5:00PM – STATE PREMIERS GO HEAD TO HEAD

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has accepted a bet from his NSW counterpart Chris Minns over the 2024 State of Origin series, ahead of Game 1 on Wednesday night.

Donned in a NSW Blues scarf, Minns threw down the gauntlet on Tuesday, issuing the bet in a press conference.

“I’m throwing a big, bold open offer to the Queensland Premier that when New South Wales wins the State of Origin, he has to wear a Blues jersey for a whole day.”

When asked what would happen if the Blues lost, Minns was adamant it wouldn’t come to that.

“What does it matter? We’ve got this locked up.”

Bet's on.

Let's get it done blues. pic.twitter.com/MtPlVxYwAe

— Chris Minns (@ChrisMinnsMP) June 4, 2024

Miles started off his Wednesday morning, wishing a “Good morning to everyone except Blues supporters” before accepting Minns’ challenge.

“I’ve bet NSW Premier Chris Minns that we’re gonna win.”

“If we win the series he’ll wear a Queensland jersey for the day. If we lose, I’ll have to a Blues one.

“Just another great reason for our Queensland team to fight hard and beat them.”

The bet’s on.

Maroon will look good on you, @ChrisMinnsMP. pic.twitter.com/38mdX6ZsAy

— Steven Miles (@StevenJMiles) June 5, 2024

Getting ready for tonight. pic.twitter.com/AgQ58puO73

— Chris Minns (@ChrisMinnsMP) June 5, 2024

Queensland Maroons Game 1 team.

NSW Blues Game 1 team.