State of Origin game 1: NSW v Qld live blog
Qld have taken advantage of some controversial calls from the referees bunker to win a dour State of Origin opener.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of State of Origin game one, from Sydney’s ANZ Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm, which in NRL time means anything up to 8.30pm.
10.20pm:Skipper praises defensive effort
Queensland captain Cameron Smith praised his players and said his team’s win was built on “defence and playing for each other.”
“The boys were outstanding. We had a few injury issues but tonight was all about effort,” Smith told Channel 9. “It just goes to show what Origin is about, it’s not about the best players or how much talent you have but about how tough you are.”
Halfback Johnathan Thurston described the game as “a dog fight”.
“We had to hang in to the end because they pushed us for the whole 80 minutes,” Thurston said.
“It was extremely tough to keep going but that is what the Queensland spirit is about. We just had to hang in and defend and not let each other down. We were out on our feet in the last 10 minutes.”
10.10pm:NSW bunker breached
Queensland have landed the first crucial blow in the State of Origin series, beating NSW 6-4 in a low scoring, tense opener in front of 80,251 at ANZ Stadium.
Both sides scored a try apiece in a match in which all the points were scored in the opening 40 minutes.
The Blues gave it a great shot, but just fell short in a match that was dominated by defence. They now have a mountain to climb as history shows the side that wins the first match invariably goes on to win the series.
Queensland, who were forced to defend grimly at stages in the second half, showed their true champions quality, repelling everything a desperate NSW could throw at them, especially during a period when the home side had four sets of six tackles at them.
They got some help from the referees bunker, who overruled an on-field decision to award NSW a try and reversed a knock-on call against Queensland on their own line.
In the end, both sets of players were out on their feet. The Maroons will get the chance to make it two series in a row when the second game is played at Suncorp Stadium on June 22.
9.10pm: Half-time wrap
Queensland went into the half time break leading 6-4 after an arm-wrestle of half in which the defences of both sides dominated. It wasn’t an Origin classic by any means - the line breaks were few and far between - but the closeness of the scores kept the capacity crowd on edge.
The Blues were under enormous pressure in the opening 15 minutes or so. They were forced to do a lot of defensive work while any possession they had was restricted largely inside their own half.
Indeed, it took them 20 minutes before they finally got possession inside the Queensland 20. Still, NSW did some great work to keep Queensland out, restricting them to a penalty goal after 15 minutes.
When the tide started to turn, NSW finally took advantage to post the first try of the match on 25 minutes after good work from James Maloney, who ran to the defensive line before sending Boyd Cordner crashing over to make it 4-2.
But, as they have done so often, Queensland struck back - and they did just before half time. Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Turston and Darius Boyd combined to send Dane Gagai over in the corner in the 37th minute after running the ball on the last tackle.
It was a cruel blow for the Blues, who did not deserve to be behind at the break.
8.58pm:Gagai scores for Maroons
Centre Dane Gagai goes over for a four-pointer after Queensland run the ball on the last tackle. Some quick hands from Thurston and Darius Boyd create an overlap and it’s try time. Thurston misses the conversion from out wide.
Queensland 6-4
8.45pm:Cordner crashes over
NSW back-rower Boyd Cordner has crossed in the 26th minute after a lovely short ball from five-eighth James Maloney. It followed sustained pressure on the Queensland tryline. Adam Reynolds misses the conversion.
NSW 4-2
8.36pm: First points
Johnathan Thurston kicks a penalty goal after an infringement by NSW on their own tryline.
Queensland 2 - 0
8.30pm:Colourful show of support
Sydney city will be lighting up #vividsydney blue every time NSW score for the @nrl #origin let's go NSW!#uptheblues pic.twitter.com/rK9HWr0jmr
— Matt Moran (@chefmattmoran) June 1, 2016
8.21pm:Game one underway
Queensland kick off after the national anthem, only 21 minutes after the scheduled start time.
The early exchanges favour the visitors, especially after a horrible knock-on from Josh Morris from a penalty tap restart.
8.10pm:Queenslanders out in force
8pm:Jarrryd Hayne sighting
Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne is at the game, but he will offer no help to the Blues, as he has in the past.
7.50pm:Late change for Blues
North Queensland Cowboys prop James Tamou will start at lock for NSW, with Greg Bird moving to the bench.
NSW will field four rookies in tonight’s game: fullback Matt Moylan, halfback Adam Reynolds, winger Josh Mansour and bench utility Dylan Walker.
Compare that with Queensland captain Cameron Smith, who take the field for his 37th game, an Origin record. Added to the brilliance of Johnathan Thurston, and it might be enough to get the Maroons home in what is expected to be a tight affair on a slippery surface.
Queensland will field two rookies: Corey Oates and Justin O’Neill.
Team line-ups:
NSW: Matt Moylan, Blake Ferguson, Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Josh Mansour, James Maloney, Adam Reynolds, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen (capt), Boyd Cordner, Josh Jackson, Greg Bird. Res: James Tamou, David Klemmer, Andrew Fifita, Dylan Walker.
QLD: Darius Boyd, Corey Oates, Greg Inglis, Justin O’Neill, Dane Gagai, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (capt), Nate Myles, Aidan Guerra, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker. Res: Michael Morgan, Sam Thaiday, Josh Papalii, Josh McGuire.
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