Queensland have strolled to a 28 point victory in the first State of Origin game for 2024 against a New South Wales side that played for 72 minutes with just 12 men, after Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was sent off for a high tackle on Reece Walsh.
Queensland struck first in just the sixth minute when Daly Cherry-Evans at dummy half shimmied left, ran right, found space behind the marker, drew two defenders and flung a good ball inside to Ben Hunt, who took it and dived between two defenders to score. Valentine Holmes converted.
In the eighth minute Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was sent off for a high shot to the head of Reece Walsh. Valentine Holmes kicked a penalty goal while Walsh was ruled out for the match with a concussion.
In the 15th minute, the Blues got on the board when Luai out wide on the left, changes direction and then kicks through the line, where Tedesco cleans up the ball and dives over to score. Nicho Hynes converted the try.
Queensland took just 5 minutes to respond, using their extra man advantage. Jaydn Su'A with a great run and pass led to Murray Taulagi getting into space before he turned the ball inside to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who strolled in to score. Holmes converted.
In the 25th minute the Maroons scored again. This time Selwyn Cobbo bumped out of the tackle of Zac Lomax, then shrugged out of the cover tackle by Hynes, turned the ball inside to Taualagi who drew the fullback before sending Tabuai-Fidow in for another try. Holmes converted again. Queensland up 20-6.
The Blues very nearly hit back with a try in the 27th minute when a Nicho Hynes inside ball to Spencer Leniu almost saw the latter barge over for a try, but he was brilliantly held up ingoal.
At halftime, the Blue had managed to stem the flow of points being scored by Queensland, the Maroons led 20-6.
The Blues came out of the sheds firing and in the 44th minute, Hynes put up a perfect kick to the right corner and Zac Lomax caught it cleanly and scored a great try. Hynes failed to convert from the sideline.
In the 58th minute, Jeremiah Nanai very nearly scored but he dropped the ball as Reece Robson effected a tackle on him.
Queensland were denied a try again just 5 minutes later when Xavier Coates leapt to field a bomb and he batted the ball infield to Holmes, but the ball went forward, denying Holmes a try.
Queensland finally scored again in the 66th minute after an energetic set coming off their own line. On the third tackle of the set, Ben Hunt slipped out of a tackle and raced 35 metres to score. Holmes again converted.
Queensland crossed again just 3 minutes later after Isaah Yeo threw a pass which Daly Cherry-Evans intercepted and raced 55 metres before kicking infield for Xavier Coates, who grounded the ball before it went dead. Holmes converted.
The 78th minute saw Tom Dearden dummy, run, slip through a tackle and then passed inside to Tabuai-Fidow who strolled in to score his third try. Holmes converted and Queensland record a dominant 38-10 victory.