The first State of Origin match of the 2025 series is done and dusted with Queensland going down to New South Wales on home soil for the second straight time.
The Maroons were seeking revenge after being stunned in last year's decider at Suncorp Stadium. However, the Blues toppled Billy Slater's side again with a comprehensive 18-6 victory.
QLD had no answers for their rival's power game through the middle, while Zac Lomax had a night out on the wing as he crossed for a double.
The Queenslanders will now have to pick themselves up and head to Perth where they will need to win for the first time in their history to keep the series alive.
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State of Origin 2025 Game 1: QLD Maroons player ratings
1- Kalyn Ponga - 5
The fullback was given limited opportunities to put his best foot forward as he was repeatedly penned into the corners by the Blues' strong kicking game. When QLD did get the footy in good field position, Ponga was unable to escape the attention of a resolute defence.
2- Xavier Coates - 7
Battered on his first few runs but then managed to nearly streak down the touchline to remind the opposition of his threat. It was the first of a few chances for the flyer as QLD repeatedly went to him in attack.
He came closest to scoring for his state in the last seconds of the first half but was fouled by Brian To'o in the air which saw his opposite number sent to the sin-bin.
Coates still got on the scoresheet though as he crossed in the corner with To'o still in the bin. Yet he wasn't used as well as he could have been by the spine.
3 - Robert Toia - 6.5
The young debutant was willing to take a chance out of yardage by spreading the ball on numerous occasions, as well as showing some silky touches and an offload to assist in his side's only try.
The 20-year-old showed plenty of resolve in defence to shut down Latrell Mitchell during a promising first game on the big stage.
4 - Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow - 4.5
No input from the 'Hammer' in attack as one of the Maroons' best attacking weapons was put on the periphery of the contest. He clocked 93 run metres for the game with a large chunk of that coming via a trademark late run.
5- Valentine Holmes - 6
Moved out of his recent customary position of the centres in Origin, Holmes didn't appear too fussed on the wing. He constantly put his hand up for the tough carries out of yardage and finished with 126 run metres and four tackle busts.
6 - Cameron Munster - 5
Very little opportunity for the five-eighth to get involved as QLD were dominated through the middle.
Admittedly, a lot of his energy would have been used up in defence as he was forced to make 24 tackles as the likes of Stephen Crichton and Liam Martin tried to get the better of him time and time again.
7. Daly Cherry-Evans - 5
The skipper had endured a poor run in club land for Manly ever since announcing his departure at the end of the season.
And the veteran struggled to execute alongside his halves partner on numerous occasions to leave Andrew Johns openly wondering whether Tom Dearden should be brought into the starting side for Game II.
8 - Moeaki Fotuaika - 5.5
The starting prop pulled off several massive tackles during his first stint as he focused on his defensive duties.
A fingertip tackle to keep Mitch Moses from running away to score the first try of the night was a highlight moment. However, his efforts were in vain as the Blues scored the very next play off the back of some ab-lib footy.
He finshed with just 37 run metres to go with his 34 tackles, with his lack of carry through the middle sure to be a concern for Slater.
9 - Harry Grant - 3
Singled out by Lomax in the first set and was spent sprawling in the tackle in what was a sign of things to come for the No.9.
He made a few uncharacteristic errors with two of them causing his side major pain.
First, he handed the ball over to the opposition on the halfway line with the Blues making him pay as they scored their second through To'o in the corner.
The dummy-half then gave away a needless penalty in the ruck late in the tackle count moments later. The visitors set up camp in the red zone before finally cracking them again through Lomax.
10 - Tino Fa'asuamaleaui - 6
A typically all-action performance from the big enforcer as he returned to the Origin arena after an injury-enforced absence in 2024.
He was caught out through the middle for NSW's opening try though when he failed to cover from inside and was immediately taken off by Slater.
The prop finished with 102 run metres and 27 tackles for a solid re-introduction into the QLD side.
11- Reuben Cotter - 6.5
The forward hadn't played for several weeks after copping a ban in Magic Round and he was thrown into the deep end as he was forced to make plenty of tackles. To highlight this point, he made just 16 run metres in the first 40 minutes.
Cotter finished with 48 run metres and 38 tackles as he was moved from an edge into the middle later in the game.
12 - Jeremiah Nanai - 6
Often the target for Munster and DCE's bombs, yet it was his work in defence that produced points as he smashed Mitchell on his own try line to create a turnover that Coates scored off.
He then went after Mitchell soon afterwards but got penalised for ripping the ball out of the centre's grasp this time. Overall, it was a mixed night as he offered constant threat while also showing deficiencies in defence.
13 - Patrick Carrigan - 7
The lock had made 31 tackles by half time as he produced a tireless performance in the heart of the contest.
Carrigan undoubtedly led the way in the pack as he was one of only two forwards from his side to surpass 100 run metres. Meanwhile, he topped the tackle count for the game with 49 tackles.
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14 - Tom Dearden - 5
Brought on 15 minutes into the second half to provide some energy in the place of an exhausted Grant. The playmaker made two massive tackles on his own line while isolated against bigger men in the middle.
However, he didn't provide much in attack as his creativity was stunted in the dummy-half role.
When he was finally given a chance to link play late in the piece, he thought he'd looped a pass over for Holmes to score in the dying moments, only for it to be called a forward pass.
15 - Lindsay Collins - 5.5
The prop entered into the fray close to half time and made just six run metres as his job was primarily to tackle.
He made a greater impression in the second period with the ball in hand as he finished with 73 run metres off the pine with some strong carries.
16 - Beau Fermor - 4
Introduced in the closing stages of the contest, he wasn't afraid to get involved in the hard work out of yardage but could do little to influence the match.
17 - Trent Loiero - 5
The debutant was brought on after the Blues' opening try for Lomax as he replaced Tino and put in a solid effort through the middle without really changing the momentum for his side.