Queensland Residents have thumped NSW Residents 34-6 in the State of Origin curtain raiser at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
It was sweet revenge for the Queensland Residents side, who went down 24-16 to the NSW Residents last year.
Both sides traded early blows in the first quarter of the match, and
no team looked like scoring until NSW Residents winger David Simmons fielded a kick deep in his corner in the 24th minute.
Not wanting to be tackled out of the field of play, McFadgean brain-snapped and flicked the ball infield to no one, giving Queensland second rower Luke Dalziel-Don the easiest try he'll ever score.
NSW soon struck back in the 27th minute however, with playmakers James Maloney and Michael Sullivan linking up to create space.
A final pass from Maloney to Sullivan was knocked down by Queensland's defence, but a quick-thinking Sullivan toed the ball ahead, which resulted in Maloney winning a foot race to the ball and converting his own try.
However Queensland's James Stuart put the home side back to six in front just seconds before half time, outmuscling three NSW defenders to slam the ball down on the line.
It took Queensland just eight minutes after the break to extend their lead to 12, when halfback Trent Hodkinson flicked a ball to halves partner Brad Davis, who threw a long cut out pass to a rampaging Kaine Manihera on the wing.
Queensland winger Ben Jeffery also got in on the action, and all but sealed the match in the 54th minute, running over 40 metres to score in the corner.
Fullback Josh Hoffman added insult to injury in the 61st minute, finishing off a slick backline move and sliding into the corner.
The game was summed up in the final minute of the match, when standout Queensland halfback Hodkinson slid through the NSW defence and threw a slick flick pass onto the chest of Mark Cantoni, who scored under the posts.
- AAP
