A dominant first half secured victory for New South Wales in the State of Origin opener 18-6, leaving the Maroons with a huge task to claim the shield as the series shifts away from Queensland.
The Maroons have now lost two games in a row at Suncorp Stadium for the first time since 1997, having also lost last year’s decider. Indeed, the margin of victory for the favourites should have been greater were it not for struggles by Blues’ kickers Nathan Cleary and Zac Lomax, who went one from five.
