Adelaide Oval hosted the opening State of Origin clash between New South Wales and Queensland on May 31, 2023.
Result
Queensland (10) 26
Tries: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 7th, 73rd; Selwyn Cobbo 10th, 56th; Cameron Munster 76th
Goals: Valentine Holmes 9th, 58th, 74th
New South Wales (6) 18
Tries: Liam Martin 31st; Api Koroisau 43rd; Stephen Crichton 66th
Goals: Nathan Cleary 32nd, 45th, 67th
Report
Queensland once again proved they can play until the final siren in posting victory over New South Wales by 26-18.
When referee Ashley Klein sent Maroons forward Thomas Flegler to the sin bin for a shoulder charge on Blues centre Tom Trbojevic, it appeared a formality that New South Wales with a two-point advantage would go one up in the series. Flegler would be charged by the NRL Match Review Committee and receive a monetary fine.
However, it wasn’t to be as Maroons stunned the Blues, just like they did in the opening ten minutes scoring twice through Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and then Cameron Munster sealed victory with four minutes to play.
New South Wales couldn’t convert 56% possession in the opening forty and trailed 10-6 at the break. An unusual penalty went the Blues way when the Maroons had 14 players on the field as a result of an interchange error when Tom Gilbert left the field with a dislocated shoulder.
Api Koroisau’s fortuitous try after the break gave New South Wales the lead for just 11 minutes before Queensland hit back when Selwyn Cobbo scored his second. The only other time the Blues led was a seven-minute period after Stephen Crichton’s try which saw Flegler sent to the sin bin and ended with Tabuai-Fidow’s try where he scooted down the sideline and evaded a slipping James Tedesco in the final line of defence.
A key to Queensland’s victory was their improved defence in the final forty with only 12 tackles missed compared to New South Wales’ 21.
There was criticism of the use of Nicho Hynes on the Blues interchange bench with coach Brad Fittler saying the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks halfback would not have seen game time had it not been for Trbojevic leaving the field under HIA protocols.
The series is firmly in Queensland’s hands as they head to Suncorp Stadium for game two on June 21.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Maroons)
2 – Cameron Munster (Maroons)
1 – Reece Walsh (Maroons)
