The Queensland Maroons showcased their resilience and determination by defeating the NSW Blues 26-18 in a gripping State of Origin I match at Adelaide Oval. The Maroons, despite facing significant challenges, managed to secure a 1-0 series lead in front of 48,613 spectators.
At one point, the Maroons were trailing 18-16 with just seven minutes remaining and were reduced to 12 players after Thomas Flegler was sin-binned for a high tackle on Tom Trbojevic, who later failed a Head Injury Assessment (HIA). The Maroons seemed exhausted, but they refused to surrender. Late tries by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, converted by Valentine Holmes, and Cameron Munster, enabled them to claw back and claim victory.
The Maroons led 10-6 at half-time but had to play much of the game without back-rower Tom Gilbert, who suffered a dislocated right shoulder in the 19th minute. Further adversity struck in the second half with Flegler’s sin-bin and the injury of two-try hero Selwyn Cobbo. Nevertheless, the Maroons found a way to prevail once more.
Reuben Cotter, playing in just his second State of Origin match, was a standout performer, earning the player-of-the-match title with a leading tackle count of 48 for the night.
The teams will face off again at Brisbane’s Lang Park on June 21, with the Maroons now in a strong position to retain the series trophy.
In the early exchanges, tensions ran high, but it was the Maroons who first made an impact on the scoreboard. Deep in Blues territory, they moved the ball to the left, finding Munster who executed a well-timed grubber kick into the in-goal area. Tabuai-Fidow raced through to score the first try in the seventh minute, with Holmes adding the conversion.
The Maroons quickly extended their lead to 10-0 only three minutes later with a try from Cobbo in the right-hand corner. The Blues had an opportunity to respond in the 20th minute, but the Maroons’ staunch defense held up Blues captain James Tedesco over the line. The Maroons denied the Blues another try shortly after, with the bunker ruling out Tyson Frizell’s attempt.
The Blues finally got on the scoreboard in the 32nd minute with a converted try by Liam Martin, who capitalized on a well-orchestrated play involving Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai. Cleary’s conversion reduced the Maroons’ lead to four points. Despite the Blues’ continued pressure, the Maroons held on to their advantage at half-time.
The Blues took the lead early in the second half when Api Koroisau capitalized on a loose ball 15 meters from the line, with Cleary’s conversion making it 12-10 in their favor. However, the Maroons did not lose their composure. They regained the lead with Cobbo’s second try, following a sweeping movement to the right edge and a precise cut-out pass from debutant Reece Walsh. Holmes’s conversion brought the score to 16-12.
The Blues reclaimed the lead in the 67th minute with a try by Stephen Crichton, converted by Cleary. The momentum seemed to be shifting in favor of the Blues, particularly with Flegler’s sin-bin shortly after. Yet, the Maroons responded with remarkable resolve. Tabuai-Fidow and Munster both scored crucial tries within three minutes, sealing another memorable victory for the Maroons.
