Queensland soon found revenge for that early targeting of their young star as Cameron Munster let loose a beautifully-timed grubber for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to easily capture within the NSW in-goal to open the scoring.
Just three minutes later and on the back of NSW conceding their third penalty, the Maroons backline combined in silky fashion to set Valentine Holmes up to score in the corner and hand the underdogs a 10-0 lead after just 13 minutes of play.
A penalty-riddled first half uncharacteristic of State of Origin meant fatigue was less of a factor than it usually is, which heavily favoured a Queensland side soon down on possession and fresh bodies after Tom Gilbert left the match with a dislocated shoulder and David Fifita was sidelined for 15 minutes while receiving a head-knock assessment.
Three try-saving tackles by Murray Taulagi within ten minutes initially prevented NSW from converting a glut of possession and territory, however the blue wave eventually broke through.
At just past the 30-minute mark the tried-and-true combination of Penrith Panthers stars Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai expertly drew the Maroons defence to put fellow Panther Liam Martin into a big hole for their side’s opening score.
A beaten-up Queensland managed to survive the rest of the half, clinging tightly to their 10-6 lead to set up a nail-biter of a second stanza.
Queensland hadn’t lost an Origin match after leading at halftime since 2014 and looked determined not to do so tonight, despite a horror start to the second 40.
A loose ball from a Holmes offload on his own 20 was scooped up by Apisai Koroisau who scampered unhindered over the tryline to give NSW the lead for the first time in the game.
As the Maroons usually do, they fought back, and it was a magical pass from Walsh under huge defensive pressure that set up Selwyn Cobbo with just enough space on the right wing for him to beat two defenders and slide over the tryline.
Holmes made up for his earlier transgression by converting the try from the sideline and Queensland were back to four points in front.
However, the sustained pressure that NSW began late in the first half continued overall and soon led to another Blues try.
Cleary expertly placed a bomb underneath the Maroons’ goalposts to spark a frenzy of hands grasping for the high ball. Somehow the ball popped out the way of NSW and Luai, who beat one defender and set up Stephen Crichton to score.
The news soon got worse for Queensland as a seemingly innocent head-clash between Tom Trbojevic and Thomas Flegler led to a penalty and a yellow card for Flegler while Taulagi was sent from the field for an HIA; though those losses were somewhat balanced out by Trbojevic being ruled out of the match with concussion symptoms.
That set up a frenetic final ten minutes with both sides forced to improvise with their lineups to find a way to win the match.
Despite being a man down on the field it was Queensland who took the first shot at victory as Harry Grant drew a slew of defenders to set up Tabuai-Fidow in space on the halfway line. The speedster then turned on his jets to sprint under the goal posts, eluding Josh Addo-Carr in the process and handing his side back the lead.
Minutes later the Maroons extended it after Lindsay Collins leaped into the air over James Tedesco to bat a bomb back for Munster who scurried over the line to all but secure victory.
The result now sets up an intriguing series between the sides as they next take each other on in Game 2 on Wednesday, June 21 in Brisbane.
If NSW are able to snatch victory on enemy soil, they will set up a series-deciding clash in Sydney in Game 3 on Wednesday, July 12.
