2007 State of Origin 1:
Queensland 25 defeated New South Wales 18.
New South Wales had a top opening half to the 2007 State of Origin series, but let it all slip away in the second 40 minutes, as once again Queensland came back to post victory. New South Wales lead 18-6 at halftime, but lost the second half 19-0 as they fell apart at the seams.
The match started brightly for Queensland when Greg Inglis came down with a Johnathan Thurston bomb to score. New South Wales hit back in the 10th minute when Nathan Hindmarsh crossed running off a brilliant Braith Anasta pass close to the line. Matthew Cooper crossed for the blues ten minutes later, when Jarrod Mullen threw a brilliant pass to find space out wide.
It looked like being an eight point lead to New South Wales at the break, but a piece of Jarryd Hayne extended that lead to 12. Brent Tate tried an optimistic kick after the siren, which Hayne regathered, before grubbering ahead himself, and forcing the ball to score one of the more memorable origin tries. Although it was a 12 point lead to New South Wales, it could easily have been drawn, with Steve Price being denied a try with an incorrect forward pass ruling, and Steven Bell losing the ball virtually over the line.
Queensland hit back in the 50th minute when Greg Inglis got the ball in space out wide. Then Steve Price replicated his earlier no-try, with it being given this time. And with the scores tied in the 61st minute, Jarryd Hayne dived on a kick, threw a crazy pass inside, and Darren Lockyer regathered to score. The pass by Hayne was reminiscent of earlier origin mishaps by Phil Duke, Justin Hodges and Brett Hodgson.
Johnathan Thurston added a field goal to make it a seven point lead, and Queensland were never threatened.
Questions remained over Graham Murray's coaching at halftime, with Danny Buderus being taken off the field with the game in the balance, and replaced by Kurt Gidley - a player who had excelled at fullback all year for Newcastle all season. Newcastle also suffered a major injury setback, with Kurt Gidley suffering a possible dislocated shoulder in his short stint on the field. Steve Simpson made some excellent runs during his time on the field, and was lauded in some quarters at New South Wales' best forward. On debut, Jarrod Mullen had a quiet night, still being inconvenienced by his calf injury.