The opening clash of the 2024 State of Origin series was marred by a 7th-minute Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i send-off paving the way for Queensland to run away with a 38-10 victory at Accor Stadium.
Sua’ali’i, on debut, was sent from the field by referee Ashley Klein after a stray shoulder collected Maroons fullback Reece Walsh high in the early exchanges.
Walsh’s night was ended, the Blues were reduced to just 12 men for the final 73 minutes of the games, and the Accor Stadium crowd was sent into a frenzy before the reality of the situation sunk in and resulted in a type of dispirited hush.
The Blues showed some ticker; following two Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow tries in the space of five minutes, Michael Maguire’s men managed to outscore the Maroons over the next 43 minutes before the floodgates opened late.
Tabuai-Fidow – standing in at the back after Walsh’s exit – finished with a hat-trick, Ben Hunt – whose first try came the set before Sua’ali’i was sent-off – snagged a double, and Xavier Coates found a four-pointer late as the Maroons notched their biggest ever Sydney win.
It proved a continuation of Cairns product Tabuai-Fidow’s phenomenal start to his Origin career with the 22-year-old now sitting at 11th on Queensland’s all-time try-scoring list despite having just the five caps under his belt.
Skipper Daly Cherry-Evans assisted on two tries, ran for 138 metres, and kicked for 442 metres en route to a Player of the Match nod.
Patrick Carrigan (164m, 40 tk) was at his usual best with Murray Taulagi (182m, 2 assists) and Selwyn Cobbo (167m, 9 tb) causing headaches for much of the night.
Billy Slater’s call to include Cobbo on his interchange bench sparked plenty of conversation in the lead-up to clash but proved a masterstroke with the Cherbourg native among Queensland’s most dangerous men.
Despite being a man down, the Blues won the possession battle, completed at a higher clip, and finished with more post-contact metres but alarm bells rung every time Queensland shifted the ball.
Zac Lomax (try, 224m), on debut, was among NSW’s best along with Stephen Crichton (130m, lb) and Brian To’o (216m from 24 carries).
Debutants Spencer Leniu (113m, 9 tb in 23 min) and Haumole Olakau’atu (83m in 23 min) both provided a needed spark for the Blues whilst Angus Crichton (168m, 27 tk) enjoyed a strong game out on the edge.
Curiously, skipper Jake Trbojevic (37m from 5 carries) played less than 30 minutes for Maguire.
The Blues have three weeks until a do-or-die second game at the MCG with a number of questions still surrounding Maguire’s men.
