State of Origin 2018: Queensland 12-22 New South Wales
- Published
New South Wales debutants such as Josh Addo-Carr (left centre) and James Roberts (right) played a key role
Holden State of Origin: Game one |
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Queensland (6) 12 |
Tries: Holmes, Gagai Goals: Holmes 2 |
New South Wales (8) 22 |
Tries: Tedesco, Mitchell, T. Trbojevic, Addo-Carr Goals: Maloney 3 |
New South Wales began the new era under coach Brad Fittler with victory in game one of the 2018 State of Origin series against Queensland in Melbourne.
James Tedesco and Valentine Holmes scored a try apiece in a nip-and-tuck first half, with James Maloney's penalty goal giving Blues an 8-6 lead.
Dane Gagai scored early after the break to put Queensland ahead but Latrell Mitchell's try wrested the lead back.
Tom Trbojevic and Josh Addo-Carr crossed to make sure for the Blues.
Although there was obvious delight within the Blues camp that their new-look side came away with a winning start, that optimism could be tempered by memories of 2017 when a bright start evaporated in games two and three as Queensland regrouped and responded.
New blood, new era?
Fittler's appointment. having taken over from Laurie Daley, who could only point to one series win in his five years in charge, brought a fresh look to the New South Wales side, with 11 debutants named in the squad.
Those selections paid off, as hooker Damien Cook was a livewire throughout and created the break for the first try by impressive man of the match James Tedesco, while Trbojevic and Addo-Carr tries - on the back of returning half Jimmy Maloney's accurate kicking game and smart passing - secured the win.
Queensland head coach Kevin Walters was without four of the side that had won 11 of the past 12 series, after Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk retired from representative football, while full-back Billy Slater was injured.
Their experience was missed, despite strong performances from in-form scrum-half Ben Hunt, winger Valentine Holmes and the returning Greg Inglis, and the Maroons were unable to shut down the NSW halves and in turn, stop their pacy backline from cutting loose.
The two teams meet again at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on 24 June, with the third and final game at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on 11 July.
Queensland: Morgan; Holmes, Inglis, Chambers, Gagai; Munster, Hunt; Napa, McCullogh, Wallace, Cooper, Kaufusi, McGuire.
Interchange: Milford, Papali, Hess, Arrow.
Extended bench: Ponga.
New South Wales: Tedesco; T. Trbojevic, Mitchell, Roberts, Addo-Carr; Maloney, Cleary; Klemmer, Cook, Campbell-Gillard, Cordner, Frizell, De Belin.
Interchange: Vaughan, J. Trbojevic, Crichton, Peachey.
Extended bench: Sims, Cotric.