The opening match of the 2026 State of Origin series took place in cold and wet conditions at Accor Stadium in Sydney's west, with the New South Wales Blues desperate to overturn last year's series defeat. The Blues found unexpected reserves of strength to overcome a 20-0 deficit and secure a two-point victory on home soil.
First Half Dominance by Queensland
Queensland tore the Blues apart in the first half, but a moment of madness from fullback Kalyn Ponga saw him sent from the field. Referee Ashley Klein's highly contentious decision sparked outrage among Queensland legends, but it allowed New South Wales to capitalise, with two superstar players instrumental in the remarkable comeback.
The Daily Mail's Josh Alston assessed the performances of both sides, providing ratings for all the stars and those who failed to fire.
New South Wales Player Ratings
1. James Tedesco - 8.5 Tedesco had a mixed night after earning a recall to the Origin arena, with Dylan Edwards pressing for his spot. The evergreen Roosters fullback resurrected his Origin career through outstanding club form. He copped an accidental shoulder from Reuben Cotter early on and struggled to read the kicking game of the Queensland halves. He was reliable under the high ball and nearly broke free several times, but his defensive reads were a concern. Then came the defining moment: with the game on the line, he plucked a Nathan Cleary bomb from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's grasp for the match-winner. Those clutch moments are why Tedesco was selected.
2. Brian To'o - 6 The dropsies appeared contagious, as the normally safe Penrith star fumbled to surrender another two points to Queensland. Three uncharacteristic errors in the ruck put his side under immense pressure. He regained composure in the second half but could not add to his Origin try tally.
3. Stephen Crichton - 6 Crichton had a rocks-and-diamonds match, but his effort was unquestioned. He has been out of touch in a Bulldogs side that has slipped down the NRL ladder, retaining his spot largely due to the unavailability of Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic. Excessive enthusiasm led to an early error, and the pressure was evident in his chaotic effort. He will need to find more composure at club level.
4. Kotoni Staggs - 7 Staggs had little opportunity to attack as Queensland dominated possession. In the second half, he was determined to make his mark with a series of willing tackles and runs. While we did not see his best, extra points are awarded for sheer effort.
5. Tolutau Koula - 7.5 Koula saved a certain try in the second half, latching onto a rampaging Robert Toia. He was brilliant under the high ball and broke down the left sideline before Ponga took him out illegally. He was bloodied and forced off for a HIA, which he failed, and could not return.
18. Ethan Strange - 7.5 Canberra half Ethan Strange sparkled on debut and could be a long-term solution for the Blues. He was granted an Origin debut after Mitch Moses suffered a hamstring complaint days before the match. He produced a bone-rattling tackle to save a try, but with the Blues trailing by 20, he kept celebrations in check. He let his emotions out when he scored a vital try, only for the bunker to disallow it. He finally got his joy when Crichton put him over. He almost bungled it with a late penalty for passing off the ground, but it proved not costly.
7. Nathan Cleary - 9 For all his achievements, Origin glory had eluded the Penrith playmaker. He had few attacking opportunities for most of the first half-hour, but when presented with a chance, he kicked through for Hudson Young to score. He had almost no chance to stamp his mark as NSW were pinned in their own half. He produced a big-time 40/20 kick with the game on the line, and fittingly scored the try that brought the Blues within four points. Then he put up the bomb for the match-winning try and iced the result with the conversion. This was the moment Cleary finally arrived at Origin level.
8. Addin Fonua-Blake - 4 After 17 appearances for Tonga and one for the Kiwis, new rules allowed the prop, arguably the best in the game outside the injured Payne Haas, to make his Origin debut. But he had just one run for 10 metres in his opening stint before hitting the bench. His second stint was not the grand debut many hoped for.
9. Reece Robson - 9 Robson held off a challenge from rising star Blayke Brailey to retain the starting rake role. He mopped up plenty of tough work and had the poise to kick through a pinpoint kick that Cam Murray could not ground. He was Mr Reliable once again and hard to fault. Brailey will have to wait.
10. Mitch Barnett - 4 Barnett had the worst possible start with a knock-on on his first touch, immediately putting the Blues under pressure. He made 22 tackles but rarely went looking for the ball as his forwards fatigued against Queensland's wall of defence. The Warriors prop will need to produce more to keep his spot, especially with Payne Haas set to return.
11. Hudson Young - 6 Young had three missed tackles in the opening 20 minutes as the Maroons tore the Blues apart. But when momentum swung, he latched onto a Cleary kick to keep the Blues in the match.
12. Haumole Olakau'atu - 6 It was a mixed bag for the barnstorming Manly forward, who threw everything into the match. While Kieran Foran has been earning plaudits, the Manly second-rower has been a driving force and was one of the first picked. He showed plenty of energy, producing damaging runs but also a costly second-half error. He was completely gassed with 25 minutes left and butchered an absolute dolly with Queensland's line in tatters, ending his night. More composure is required.
13. Isaah Yeo - 8 With his side under the pump for most of the match, the Penrith star was exceptional with 33 tackles and no misses before being benched with nothing left. It was not fancy or fashionable, but the typical rugged stuff expected from the international star.
Interchange
14. Cameron Murray - 5.5 Murray squandered a golden chance to score a try and surrendered a penalty for hands in the back of Kurt Capewell, adding insult to injury. He blew NSW's only challenge when caught with the ball on the last, unsuccessfully arguing that Munster got him high. He was not at his best but was willing and tough.
15. Victor Radley - 6.5 Big things were expected from 'Victor the Inflictor' on his belated Origin debut, a beneficiary of new eligibility rules after playing for England. He came on with plenty of enthusiasm but also three missed tackles as the NSW defence continued to fall apart. He pulled it together and rattled Harry Grant with a textbook 'Inflictor' hit.
16. Jacob Saifiti - N/A DNP
17. Blayke Brailey - 5 Brailey came on late and produced 14 vital tackles. He did not get to break the game open as he would have hoped, with the Queensland line left tattered.
19. Casey McLean McLean made his Origin debut with 23 minutes left after Koula was struck high by Ponga and taken from the field. He had an immediate impact with a spectacular catch on his first touch. He laid the platform for a Stephen Crichton bust that led to Strange's try.
21. Matt Burton - N/A Burton came into the match late after being called into the squad on Monday. He did not have enough time on the field to warrant a ranking.
Reserve: 20. Dylan Lucas - N/A DNP
Queensland Maroons Player Ratings
1. Kalyn Ponga - 2 Ponga and Koula had a head clash that led to the Blues winger being barrelled into touch. Referee Ashley Klein ruled that Ponga used his shoulder in direct contact to the head and sent him for an early shower. He was in the thick of it early, nearly putting the Hammer away on the left edge. He was dangerous in attack and reliable under the high ball until he spilled one to give NSW a chance. He sparked chaos in the second half when he shoulder-charged Koula over the sideline and was sent off with 23 minutes left. In one moment, Ponga went from hero to zero for his state, regardless of the contentious nature of the call.
2. Selwyn Cobbo - 7.5 NSW elected to bomb his wing early, sending Olakau'atu screaming at the Dolphins winger, but he was more than up for the challenge. He was almost perfect for much of the match, completing all the one-percent plays, was a defensive wall, and safe as houses under the high ball. He could only scramble along with the rest of the Queensland backline after the Ponga send-off.
3. Robert Toia - 8 The Sydney Roosters centre was one of Queensland's best until it all unravelled. Plucked from obscurity to debut in 2025, Toia came into this series with experience and poise, scoring the opening try. He had three tackle breaks and almost crossed for another try, stopped only by a desperate Koula tackle. He was willing in defence in the frantic dying minutes and was one of Queensland's best.
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow - 6 It is hard to believe, but the Hammer is fourth on the all-time Origin try-scorers list at just 24. He made it look easy when he latched onto a Munster grubber and was a constant threat. He shifted to fullback when Ponga was sent off but had almost no opportunities with the ball after that. He could not take the catch that mattered as Tedesco plucked it from his grasp.
5. Jojo Fifita - 5 A surprise selection, he held off Murray Taulagi, who could not return from concussion protocols in time. He had his moments but coughed the ball up on his own tryline in the most crucial moment. Origin can be cruel, but those are the moments that can make or break a player.
6. Cameron Munster - 5 Munster held onto his position despite the Melbourne Storm's stunning fall from grace and needed to reward Billy Slater's loyalty. He bobbed around like a jackrabbit as usual, but his erratic play did not result in the big plays of the past.
7. Sam Walker - 8 Sam Walker was brilliant on debut for the Maroons and would have been man-of-the-match if Queensland had held on. The big Queensland forward had waited a long time to return to the Origin arena and was rewarded with a first-half try. The Sydney Roosters young gun had huge boots to fill after Tom Dearden's injury earlier this year. He was largely picked for his short kicking game and showed why, laying it on for Roosters teammate Rob Toia for the opening try. He showed why he has been anointed as a long-term Queensland half and was devastated by the result.
8. Tom Flegler - 7 Flegler broke down in tears when Billy Slater told him he had been picked, after a shocking run of injuries. 1071 days since his last Origin appearance, he was the toast of Queensland when he charged over under the sticks to put the Maroons ahead by 12. He fatigued from the sheer pace of the game and fell away, but the best is yet to come from the Dolphins star.
9. Harry Grant - 6 Grant almost racked up 50 tackles but had six misses as fatigue set in. He gave away only a single penalty, but it was brutally costly as the Blues dominated possession in the dying minutes. He let his frustrations be known to referee Ashley Klein. He worked tirelessly but also had moments he would rather take back.
10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui - 8 There will not be many highlights of big Tino from Origin I, but he got through the work Billy Slater deployed him to do. He shrugged off the Gold Coast Titans' poor start to the season to get 115 metres and 26 tackles with just a single miss.
11. Reuben Cotter - 6.5 Strangely, the only North Queensland Cowboys player picked for Origin I despite their recent form. He never lets his state down and was rugged and reliable as always. Four missed tackles as the game opened up were a concern.
12. Kurt Capewell - 6.5 Capewell saved a try in a mad scramble with Cameron Murray. He was left bloodied in a head clash with teammate Lindsay Collins late in the first half. He was forced into the centres with Ponga off the field and scrambled as hard as his aching lungs would allow. He did not disgrace himself and earned his recall.
13. Max Plath - 8 Plath showed he has all the tough stuff required to be an Origin warrior. A staggering 43 tackles and some incisive runs showed why Billy Slater entrusted him at lock. He looked like he had been playing Origin for years.
Interchange
14. Briton Nikora - 5 Another defensive warrior for Queensland, his 30 tackles helped blunt NSW as the Maroons raced out to a 20-0 lead. However, he was largely ineffective with the ball in hand and will need more punch in the rest of the series.
15. Lindsay Collins - 5 Collins was a huge part of the Maroons' mountain of defence when he came into the fray but could have offered more with the ball. He crunched heads with teammate Kurt Capewell, which may have hindered his impact.
16. Patrick Carrigan - 8.5 An interesting choice by coach Billy Slater to bench the Broncos star given his recent incredible form. He powered through 127 gut-busting metres in his 48 minutes on field and made 33 tackles. He will be pushing for a starting spot in Origin II.
17. Trent Loiero - 6.5 Loiero only got 15 minutes on the field but ran the ball hard, made his tackles, and did not commit any errors. He did his job off the bench.
18. Ezra Mam - N/A DNP
19. Gehamat Shibasaki - N/A DNP
Reserve: 20. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki - N/A DNP
