League: Hagan feels for NSW after golden point loss

BRISBANE - Relieved Queensland coach Michael Hagan, a well-known opponent of golden point extra time, empathised with New South Wales after the Maroons snatched a 24-20 victory in last night's opening State of Origin clash at Suncorp Stadium.

The extra-time victory turned the tables on NSW which triumphed in last year's series-opener courtesy of an 83rd minute field goal to Shaun Timmins.

At the time, Hagan and Queensland officials denounced the newly-introduced rule change which replaced draws in interstate football.

After watching Matt Bowen race away for a match-stealing 40m intercept try in front of a parochial 52,848 Brisbane crowd, the beleaguered coach said his feelings had changed little.

Asked whether he was more of a fan of the rule, he answered: "Given we've won the game, then yes. But you certainly don't want to lose in those circumstances.

"The rules as they stand we know what they are and you try to do your best to work to them.

"Origin takes so much out of everybody."

Hagan was full of praise for his players, particularly his big forwards who paved the way for a dominant first-half performance and debutants Johnathan Thurston and Ty Williams, who scored a controversial try in the 20th minute.

The Blues looked like they would steal the match when they scored four tries in 20 minutes to turn a 19-0 deficit into a 20-19 lead with eight minutes to play.

"We (had) just dropped off on our control of the football which has an influence on how you defend and we were out of shape with a couple of plays," Hagan said.

But Thurston kicked a lucky field goal, which was deflected by a NSW chaser, with two minutes to play to force the match into extra time.

"It was an incredible game of football and it certainly lived up to all the expectation and hype," Hagan said.

"I thought our fightback ... typified what Queensland is all about."

Skipper Darren Lockyer, who put Mick Crocker over in the 50th minute for the 19-point advantage, said the Maroons would have been "devastated" to have lost after such a rampant opening.

Lockyer admitted he couldn't believe his eyes when Bowen latched on to a cutout pass by out-of-sorts halfback Brett Kimmorley.

"I was just expecting a break from NSW and the next minute to see Matty flying down the other end was just great," he said.

"That's definitely a wake-up call we'll definitely take into the second game -- 19-0 up to blow that would have been devastating for us."

Lockyer felt the turning point for the Maroons was Carl Webb's two successive hits on Blues prop Luke Bailey which eventuated in a penalty to the home side.

"It just lifted everyone," he said of Webb's efforts. "I think we found our second wind."

- AAP