Connor Watson emerged as the hero for the Blues in the opening match of the State of Origin, orchestrating a crucial try for Dylan Edwards with a deft basketball-style pass, all while being grappling with four Queensland defenders. During an intense moment at Suncorp Stadium, as the Blues pressed forward on the Maroons’ try line, Watson managed to offload the ball to Edwards, who then surged past the defence to score, extending the visitors’ lead to 18-6 with just seven minutes left on the clock.
The Queensland side will likely reflect on their missed opportunities and unforced errors as they analyse the game. A notable blunder in the final ten minutes involved lock Patrick Carrigan, who, after a dismal last-tackle scenario, hastily sent the ball to Daly Cherry-Evans, who unfortunately threw a forward pass, killing any momentum. This miscommunication allowed the Blues to reposition themselves on the field, resulting in two restarted sets — one occurring even on the last tackle — which ultimately led to the decisive moment when Brian To’o and Edwards collaborated to seal the game.
The Maroons had moments to be proud of but will need to tighten their performance in future clashes. As anticipation builds for the next instalment of the series, fans can look forward to watching the 2025 State of Origin live and free on Channel Nine and 9Now.