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Live sport on SN this weekendMaroons dominated in all areas by ruthless Blues
Joel Gould, AAP • May 29th, 2025 8:00 am
Photo: AAP
Queensland have been dominated in the middle, outclassed in the backs and beaten between the ears on a tough night at Suncorp Stadium.
The so-called "18th player", the hostile Brisbane crowd, was silenced by a Blues side that had run for 877m to 543m by halftime to hold a 14-2 lead.
The Maroons were better in the second half of the State of Origin series opener but the damage had been done.
Queensland have never won the last two games of a series away from home after losing the opening match in Brisbane. That is what they now must do after their 18-6 loss on Wednesday night.
There will be the temptation to make changes, notably in the pack where the fire and brimstone of Canberra prop Corey Horsburgh would add starch to a forward pack that was on the back foot for most of the match.
Patrick Carrigan's despair encapsulated the disappointment felt by the Maroons and their fans. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)
The Maroons missed 48 tackles compared to just 21 by NSW in a glaring example of the difference between the two teams.
Queensland also have a miserable record in Perth, beaten 38-6 and 44-12 in their only two outings at Optus Stadium since it first hosted Origin in 2022.
But if the Maroons need inspiration they need look no further than NSW last year, who were flogged in Origin I at home before winning in Melbourne and Brisbane.
In order to replicate that, Slater's men will need to be significantly better after handing NSW the ascendancy early on Wednesday and never really taking it back.
"Probably some decisions ... about the discipline side of the game (have to be better)," Slater said.
"And I'll look at my preparation as well. I'm not out of this. It's not just the players, it's everyone, and we'll all look at ourselves.
"I know there's so much more in this footy team.
"It's a best of three. You've only got to win two games, and that's still alive."
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The issue for Queensland is that while NSW had obvious answers last year when they were 1-0 down, questions loom for the Maroons.
NSW went down to 12 men early in last year's series opener, and still dominated territory in that match while lacking polish.
Queensland, in contrast, have now been thoroughly outplayed in the past three Origin matches dating back to game two last year at the MCG.
The Blues also had Mitch Moses return from injury to play in the final two Origins of last year, while Queensland do not have any players to come back in key positions.
Instead, crucial decisions must be made around the future of the Maroons' halves, with pressure growing on captain Daly Cherry-Evans and his No.7 jersey.
So far ahead were NSW on Wednesday night, former Blues coach Phil Gould remarked in that they had "shattered" Queensland. and left them with no answers.
There are also signs that NSW will also only improve, with Moses and Nathan Cleary having got through their first game together in the halves, impressing in the process.
"I thought they were great," Blues coach Laurie Daley said.
"First time they've played together. It's difficult when you bring new people together. But I thought they were terrific.
"I thought Nate really threatened with the ball. Mitch was good. Defensively they were both strong."
