Queensland are within touching distance of a third straight State of Origin series victory after Joseph Suaalii’s early send off condemned NSW to a 38-10 flogging at Accor Stadium – and stirred up plenty of controversy afterwards.
In a horror start to Michael Maguire’s tenure as NSW coach, Suaalii lasted just seven minutes on debut before being sent off for a late and high hit on Reece Walsh.
The shot made him the fastest man sent off in Origin history and it immediately ruled Walsh out of the rest of Game I, as he was knocked out cold in horrific scenes that saw his eyes roll back in his head and the fingers on his left hand contort in a sure sign he suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Thankfully, the fullback appeared to make a full recovery and he was seen hugging his young daughter Leila during the game after finding her in the stands.
Suaalii smashed his shoulder into Walsh’s jaw in the seventh minute – setting a State of Origin record and paving the way for Queensland’s 38-10 romp
Walsh was out cold after the hit, which saw Maroons assistant coach Nate Myles cop an official warning from the NRL when he screamed at Suaalii as he left the field
Walsh’s young daughter Leila was in the crowd – and the fullback recovered well enough to find and comfort her while the game was still going (pictured)
That wasn’t the end of the drama from Suaalii’s hit, however.
Maroons assistant coach Nate Myles was given an official warning by an NRL staffer after he was caught on camera hitting the Roosters star with an intense verbal tirade as he left the field.
Myles – who starred for Queensland as a player – unloaded on Suaalii after leaping up from his seat on the interchange bench.
Despite Suaalii’s shoulder clearly smashing Walsh straight on the jaw, two of the biggest names in the game thought the send-off was unwarranted.
Footy Immortal Andrew Johns said he was ‘really surprised’ the centre was marched from the field.
‘At clubland, yes it is a send-off. But at this level, I’m really surprised they sent Joseph Sua’ali’i off,’ he said on Channel Nine’s coverage.
That wasn’t a massive surprise coming from one of the biggest names in the history of the Blues, but the take from one-eyed Queensland supporter and Maroons legend Paul Vautin was an utter eye-opener.
Blues legend Andrew Johns said that while he thought the tackle was worth a send off in club footy, the penalty was too harsh for Origin
Former Maroons star and coach Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin (pictured) had a stunning take on the send-off, saying Suaalii didn’t deserve it because what he did was ‘not intentional’
‘Suaalii thinks he is gonna hit him in the chest, but Reece Walsh ducks down – it’s reckless and careless, but it’s not intentional,’ he said.
‘I don’t think it’s a send off. [Referee] Ashley Klein looked down and saw Reece snoring, so he straight away thought it was a send off.’
Footy fans lashed out at their stance on social media, with one writing, ‘Doesn’t matter that it’s Origin, it’s a dog shot.’
‘Anyone who thinks that is NOT a send off, time to get out from under your rock and jump in your time machine. Not the 1980s anymore. That action is a career ender. At the wrong angle – it is a life ender,’ another commented.
Martin Lang – who played eight matches for Queensland from 1998 to 2000 – added: ‘I applaud the match officials. Direct contact with the head. If it’s a send-off in the NRL, it’s a send-off in State of Origin.’
Queensland were able to bring super-sub Selwyn Cobbo off their bench and into the centres after Walsh was forced off, while NSW paid the price for having no back on their bench.
Murray Taulagi (top) leads the celebrations after the Maroons stomped the Blues, who must now win two games on the road to take the shield back
As NSW played one short on their right edge, Queensland ran in two first-half tries down that side with Jaydn Su’A and Cobbo both riding roughshod.
The Blues eventually shifted Stephen Crichton to right centre to shut down the Maroons’ threat before halftime, but by then the damage had been done.
Queensland led 20-6, giving NSW an insurmountable mountain to climb.
The path to the Blues’ first series victory since 2021 looks equally difficult for Maguire’s men, with the final two games in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Only the 1994 NSW side has come back to win the series after losing the first game at home and being asked to spend the rest of the series on the road.
NSW started the better of the teams in the opening minutes on Wednesday night, winning the early territorial battle.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow filled in at fullback after Walsh was smashed out of the game and recorded a rare Origin hat-trick – as well as saving a try with some incredible defence
James Tedesco (left) and Liam Martin (right) spoke volumes with their facial expressions after the loss, which was all but sealed as soon as Suaalii lowered his shoulder
But when Nicho Hynes put a grubber kick dead, the Maroons went down field with Daly Cherry-Evans skipping out of dummy-half to put Ben Hunt over.
When Suaalii was marched, the game changed.
Su’A and Cobbo both offloaded in the lead-up to one try for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, while Cobbo brushed off Zac Lomax to put the makeshift fullback over for his second.
And while NSW got the game back to 20-10 early in the second half through tries to James Tedesco and Lomax, Queensland were able to pull away again late despite some brave defence from the Blues.
After holding out a NSW attacking raid with 13 minutes to play, Queensland went the length of the field when Cobbo and Hunt broke through the line on back-to-back plays.
Man-of-the-match Cherry-Evans then put the game beyond all doubt when he intercepted an Isaah Yeo pass moments later, running 60 metres before grubber-kicking with precision for Xavier Coates to score.
Tabuai-Fidow also bagged a third try late to seal the Maroons’ biggest-ever win in Sydney.
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