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Sport Nation
NSW State of Origin domination marks beginning of a new era
Sam Kosack • May 29th, 2025 1:50 am
The NSW Blues have taken a 1-0 lead in the 2025 State of Origin series with a dominant 18-6 victory in front of 52,000 enemy fans.
Much of the fallout of Game I will come from the Maroons with several players' positions now under threat, while the Blues will revel in the form of Zac Lomax, Payne Haas, Isaah Yeo, and several other stars.
Lomax scored the first and third tries for the Blues, before playing a major role in Dylan Edwards' match-sealer, while his centre Stephen Crichton locked down that edge defensively while Lomax switched sides to cover To'o's sin bin.
Here are SEN's big talking points out of Game I:
Zac Lomax is the best winger in the game
To think this man didn’t want to be a winger. In the game’s biggest showcase of our best players, Zac Lomax strolls into the Oval Office of wingers. Lomax had a massive two tries, two line breaks, 210 metres, 75 post contact metres, and a high-flying leap that set up Dylan Edwards match-sealing try. Lomax dominated his opposition winger in Valentine Holmes, and his transition to the wing has revolutionised his career. What's the scariest part? He’ll only grow better with more time in the role. It’s easier to forget he’s only been doing this for a season and came into this game with just one game back from injury.
Queensland’s shine is long gone
Tonight’s NSW victory may have done more than just set the Blues up for a second straight series win, it removed a lot of the shine from Queensland’s eight-year dynasty and subsequent series wins. Without stalwart guns like Matt Scott, Cooper Cronk, Jonathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, and many more, Queensland’s dominance has faded into an arm wrestle, and now potentially flipped the other way. A NSW series win may officially close the chapter on that period of Origin history, and by becoming the first side since 1997-98 to win back-to-back games at Suncorp Stadium, the Blues have set themselves up to be able to do just that with Games II and III in Perth and Sydney.
Controversial To’o sin bin
The Blues complete dominance of the first half was soured only by a controversial Brian To’o sin bin right on the stroke of half-time. To’o was ruled to have tackled Xavier Coates, who stands 12 centimetres taller than the Blues left winger, in mid-air. However, debate emerged over the decision, with To’o seemingly grabbing Coates because the Storm winger simply out jumped him by such a degree. The sin bin saw To’o miss the first 10 minutes of the second half, with Queensland capitalising on his absence, stripping the Blues for numbers to score their first try.
Welcome back Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
It only took the first 20 minutes for Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to demonstrate how much the Maroons needed him in the last series. His aggression set the tone for the Maroons forwards, proving a rock for the Maroons defence, with the Blues scoring their first three tries in the time Tino was off the field. His pure desire on the field shows why he is so important to the Maroons and Titans’ packs.
Daly Cherry-Evans becomes the oldest Origin player; how long can he go?
As Daly Cherry-Evans took the field tonight, he became the oldest player in State of Origin history, but you wouldn’t know it watching him. The Maroons’ 36-year-old skipper was zipping and zagging all night, scheming for ways to break the NSW defence. While DCE certainly didn’t play poorly tonight, he was stuck behind a struggling forward pack and had his trademark long-kicking game largely nullified by an outstanding Blues’ back three. He’ll play out the season, barring catastrophic results in Perth, but the debate of DCE’s longevity will no doubt be raised again next year if Queensland can’t conjure a series win.
NSW will look to complete a men's and women's double series win in Game II on June 18.
