New South Wales beat Queensland in State of Origin Game 1

It’s advantage New South Wales in the 2014 State of Origin Series after they beat Queensland in Wednesday’s opening game.   New South Wales are 80 minutes away from recording their first State of Origin Series in nine years after recording a 12-8 in over Queensland in Brisbane.   The Maroons got off to a fast start with Darius Boyd scoring the first try of the game, but after Cooper Cronk was led from the field with a broken arm the half was all New South Wales.   Josh Morris of the Blues is tackled by Greg Inglis of the Maroons. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) The Blues dominated the majority of the first half with Jarryd Hayne in great form and they le 10-4 at the break thanks to tries from Brett Morris and Hayne himself.   After the half-time interval Hodkinson extended the Blues lead to eight points and despite Boyd grabbing his second try NSW managed to hold on to draw first blood.   Queensland started the strongest in front a very passionate full house at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and opened the scoring inside the first five minutes when Boyd scored as Jonathan Thurston and Brent Tate combined to send the Newcastle Knights winger in at the corner for his 13th Origin try. Thurston failed to add the extras as the Maroons led 4-0.   Queensland were handed an injury setback in the 10th minute when scrum-half Cronk was forced from the field with a broken arm and he was replaced by Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans.   (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images) That injury slowed the Maroons down a bit as DCE tried to get to the pace of the game and as the half ticked on the Blues were slowly getting a foot hold in the game as the likes of Paul Gallen and Aaron Woods led from the front.   The Blues did level matters minute thanks to a bit of twin magic – Hayne set off down the right and sent Josh Morris clear who in turn sent his twin brother Brett in to level it up at 4-4. Trent Hodkinson missed the conversion attempt.   NSW were the better team now and their tail was up as they took a 6-4 lead courtesy of a Hodkinson penalty, while Blues stand-off Josh Reynolds was placed on report for a dangerous tackle and he was lucky to stay on the field.   Queensland were struggling to get out of their own half and were clearly rattled by the Blues and the visitors extended their lead when the superb Hayne threw a dummy and rolled through three defenders to get the ball down. Hodkinson failed to convert but they led 10-4 at the break.   (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images) Another penalty from Hodkinson put the Blues 12-4 in front just four minutes after the break and it could have been a lot worse for the Maroons as Hayne made a charge up field but he was hauled down by Billy Slater.   The Maroons slowly started to get back into the game and Boyd’s second try following a swift passing move involving Thurston got the crowd going – Thurston failed with the conversion attempt but Queensland only trailed by four now at 12-8.   It was Queensland who looked the better team now and they gained a repeat set deep in NSW’s half but strong Blues defence ensured they kept their lead.   Boyd thought he had grabbed his hat-trick as he went close in the corner but he was forced into touch by Brett Morris as the Blues were determined to keep hold of their lead.   Queensland had one last chance following a harsh knock on call against the Blues but they could not find a way through a very resolute Blues defence as NSW held out for a famous win to lead the series 1-0.