3 minute read
Queensland have sprung an upset over NSW in the opening match of the 2020 State of Origin series, winning 18-14 at Adelaide Oval.
STATE OF ORIGIN I AT A GLANCE
* RESULT: Queensland 18 (AJ Brimson, Xavier Coates, Cameron Munster tries; Daly Cherry-Evans 3 cons) bt NSW 14 (Josh Addo-Carr 2, Damien Cook tries; Nathan Cleary 1 cons)
* KEY MOMENT: Cameron Munster was in all sorts the day Queensland took their team photo after days of celebrating Melbourne's NRL premiership. But he was at his electric best against the Blues, particularly in the second half when he toed a loose ball through to score and put the Maroons in front by eight with 14 minutes to go.
* MAN OF THE MATCH: Daly Cherry-Evans. In an inexperienced Queensland side Cherry-Evans stood up, finding space through the middle with five tackle breaks and a line break. But it was his proficiency with the boot that proved the difference. Despite missing his first shot at penalty, the Queensland skipper nailed all three conversions, with his NSW counterpart Nathan Cleary missing two.
* QUOTE: Former Blues coach and commentator Phil Gould: "I don't want to sound detrimental to his club form, Dane Gagai, because he's a very good footballer, but his performances at Origin level go to a completely different level. There's something about this Maroon jersey that does something for Dane Gagai."
* TALKING POINTS: NSW skipper Boyd Cordner's complex history with head knocks was again under the microscope after he passed a HIA midway through the first half. The 28-year-old copped what looked to be an innocuous knock by Felise Kaufusi's elbow and was taken from the field for a concussion assessment, which he passed. However, it raised ongoing concerns for the Sydney Roosters star who missed six weeks of the NRL season managing concussion symptoms.
* KEY STAT: Queensland winger Xavier Coates is the least experienced player to debut for Queensland with 15 NRL games since Matt Scott made his debut after just 14 matches in the 2006 series. The teenage winger put a cherry on top of his night with a brilliant try in the 54th minute after he polished off a break from Maroons star Dane Gagai.
* INJURIES: NSW - Cameron Murray (knee), Josh Addo-Carr (shoulder); Queensland - Christian Welch (concussion), Kurt Capewell (leg)
