Queensland on brink as Blues storm Suncorp Stadium in State of Origin series opener
Pressure is building on Billy Slater, who was left feeling “pretty flat” after he watched Queensland crash to consecutive defeats against the Blues at Suncorp Stadium for the first time in 27 years.
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Queensland are staring down the barrel of back-to-back series defeats after Blues duo Payne Haas and Zac Lomax delivered a one-two punch to sink the “flat” Maroons 18-6 in the Origin opener on Wednesday night.
Pressure is building on Queensland coach Billy Slater after he watched the impotent Maroons crash to consecutive defeats against the Blues at Suncorp Stadium for the first time in 27 years.
Not since last century has the Maroons’ Fortress morphed into a playground for the Blues, who last won back-to-back contests at the home of Queensland rugby league in 1997-98.
But before 52,483, the unnerving reality for Queensland is that a sky-blue dynasty beckons unless the Maroons, trailing 1-0, can save the series in the return bout at Perth’s Optus Stadium on June 18.
On a disappointing night for the listless Maroons, the Blues led from start to finish, charging to a 14-2 half-time lead before a 73rd-minute Dylan Edwards try nailed the Queensland coffin shut in a triumphant return for NSW coach Laurie Daley.
“I feel pretty flat about our performance,” Slater lamented.
“We didn’t see the best of this Queensland team and that’s what I’m disappointed about.
“You have to make it happen and we weren’t prepared to make it happen.”
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MIDFIELD MAULING
The narrative of the 2025 Origin opener was savagely simplistic. Queensland were outmuscled and outhustled.
Origin matches are all about yardage and battles of inches and the Maroons gave away too many too early.
Outgunned in terms of scoring power, Queensland’s best hope was sticking it to NSW in midfield but the Maroons lacked line speed, intent and energy as the Blues stormed the rucks.
It was Blue Murder in the middle third. Blues enforcer Haas (140m) surged like a Sherman tank and he found rampaging allies in skipper Isaah Yeo and monstrous Mitch Barnett, who made some bruising charges.
By half-time, the Blues’ forwards had 11 tackle busts to Queensland’s zero. Maroons engine-room enforcers, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Mo Fotuaika, had just one run apiece in an insipid opening quarter.
Back-rower Jeremiah Nanai lifted the Maroons in the second half with some thumping shots on Latrell Mitchell, but Queensland gave away too many cheap metres.
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HALF THE BATTLE
It was the monster duel of the night. The scrumbase showdown. Queensland’s Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster versus new Blues halves Mitchell Moses and Nathan Cleary.
Cherry-Evans became Origin’s oldest player at 36 years and 97 days but the Maroons skipper and Munster, returning from injury, never found their mojo as Moses and Cleary kicked NSW home.
Moses and Cleary weren’t truly supreme but it was the latter’s cross kick for a flying Lomax which put Edwards over for the late try that broke the Maroons.
D-GRADE DISCIPLINE
No arena punishes ill-discipline like State of Origin. Every unforced error turns the screws and breaks spirits. The Maroons learnt the hard way.
After the traditional early arm wrestle, the Blues ripped Queensland apart with three tries in an 11-minute blitz, two to winger Lomax, and it was a by-product of Queensland shooting themselves in the foot.
The Maroons badly lost control — and their nerve — in the opening stanza. They missed 27 tackles to NSW’s 11, conceded six penalties and hooker Harry Grant personified the Maroons’ ineptitude with some erratic last-play options. Grant inexplicably losing the ball with an ill-conceived run out of dummy half was salt to the wound.
“They had a great attitude, but our discipline wasn’t good,” Slater said.
“Too many leg-ups and too many penalties.
“We were close enough on the scoreboard but not the way we were playing.”
TOUGH-AS-NAILS TOIA
Queensland blooded three debutants in Beau Fermor, Trent Loiero and Robert Toia and the latter more than held his own marking NSW superstar Latrell Mitchell.
The 20-year-old Roosters young gun stayed cool in the biggest game of his career. Toia let nobody down in the Queensland centres and while Loiero was busy with 26 tackles, Fermor would have craved more game time after coming on in the 64th minute.
“He was really good,” Slater said.
“I expected him to play like that, he is a great young man, really humble and respectful.”
POP-GUN MAROONS
The Maroons’ attack is a real problem. Coach Slater needs to get some pop and crackle in his side’s offence.
The Canetoads went tryless in last year’s 14-4 loss in the series decider at Suncorp and once again, the home side managed just one four-pointer to Xavier Coates in the 46th minute as the Blues dictated terms.
If NSW’s attack was potent, the Maroons’ lacked polish. Queensland’s Big Three of Cherry-Evans, Munster and fullback Kalyn Ponga rarely hit top gear as the pumped-up Blues left the Maroons walking the tightrope.
“When you are ill-disciplined, you put yourself under scoreboard pressure,” Cherry-Evans said. “Starting next game, a bit of discipline will help us.”
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