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Queensland produced one of their finest comebacks to claim a 25-18 victory over New South Wales in the opening State of Origin rugby league match at Suncorp Stadium tonight to take a 1-nil lead in the best of three series.
Led by captain Darren Lockyer and halfback Johnathan Thurston, the Maroons over-ran the 'Baby Blues' outfit to claim a four tries to three victory in front of 52,498 fans - the largest crowd at the redeveloped Suncorp Stadium.
With five rookies in their side NSW looked headed towards an upset victory when leading 18-6 at halftime, but the Maroons scored three tries in 11 minutes early in the second half to claim a 24-18 lead by the 61st minute and kept the visitors scoreless.
NSW teenager Jarryd Hayne experienced the extreme highs and lows on his Origin debut with a classic try after the halftime siren had sounded before an all-time gaffe which handed Lockyer a match-winner in the 61st minute reminiscent of his try to win the series in Melbourne last year.
Hayne, 19, scored an amazing try on the siren when he charged down Brent Tate's last gasp attempt to kick ahead on halfway, then beat the tackle of Justin Hodges, chipped ahead of the cover defence and picked up the ball on the fly to runaway and score to silence the Queensland crowd.
But his dream debut turned horrendous on the hour when he threw a ridiculous pass back to fullback Anthony Minichiello when fielding a curling Cameron Smith kick for touch. The pass missed his teammate altogether and bounced straight to Lockyer who ran freely beneath the posts.
It was the only mistake in an otherwise flawless debut for Hayne, while Minichiello was close to best on the ground with a superb return to Origin football after missing last year with a back injury.
Queensland winger Greg Inglis was another standout with two tries, his first in the third minute from a Thurston kick and then another in the 50th from a Lockyer-inspired backline move to start the comeback.
Prop Steve Price barged over in the 58th minute to put the Blues under immense pressure, the forward celebrating in style after being denied in the first half for a forward pass.
In fact, the Maroons had two tries disallowed for forward passes and another butchered by centre Steve Bell who coughed it up over the line.
Meanwhile the Blues can consider Nathan Hindmarsh's first-ever Origin try in the 10th minute to open their account a little lucky considering video replays didn't show him grounding the ball although referee Paul Simpkins said he spotted the ball touch grass.
Queensland workhorse Petero Civoniceva credited the work by Price for helping spark his side's revival.
"They just showed so much courage and so much spirit and that's something that we talk about," said Civoniceva.
"Steve (Price) was inspirational out there. They talk about us being old and that's true but there's six or seven young guys there that help lift us."
NSW halfback Jarrod Mullen, 20, showed glimpses of his Origin future with a solid game and helped set up Matt Cooper for an easy first half try that gave the Blues a 12-6 lead.
Fellow Blues debutants Kurt Gidley and Brett White were left a little sore and sorry from their Origin experience -- White having his nose busted with his first touch from a Tonie Carroll forearm and Gidley taken off only a few minutes into his taste with a dislocated left shoulder and he is waiting to be taken to hospital.
Willie Mason also picked up an injury with a right hamstring strain, but Queensland rookie and late call up Antonio Kaufusi is the biggest concern with a right knee injury which could end his season.
Queensland forwards Nate Myles and Dallas Johnson were put on report for an ugly dangerous throw tackle on White in the 10th minute.
- AAP
