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Mal Meninga’s team is on-track

One of the more controversial tries in State of Origin history lifted Greg Inglis to the throne of Origin’s try-scoring king in Queensland 18-10 win in the first game of the series at Etihad Stadium.

Mal Meninga’s team is on-track for an unprecedented seventh consecutive series win, heading to Sydney for Game II with a crucial first victory in the bag before returning home to Brisbane for Game III.

Carrying a tribute to fallen Maroon greats Arthur Beetson, Ross Henrick and Peter Jackson on their jerseys, the Queenslanders forged a victory on the back of patience and composure to see off the Blues.

It was a night of milestones for the Maroons.

Big Mal equalled Phil Gould’s record of 14 wins as coach, meaning he is now only one victory away from being the most successful Origin coach in history, while Inglis passed Dale Shearer’s long-standing record of 12 tries from 26 games, with the big Rabbitoh crossing for his 13th try in just 16 games.

It is unlikely any of the preceding dozen four-pointers have been talked about as much as Inglis’ most recent.

While the Maroons were in front at the time, and the try didn’t change the result of the match, Inglis’ try in the 73rd minute of Game I was the major topic of debate south of the border in the aftermath of the match.

Inglis scored the try after having the ball kicked from his grasp by Blues hooker Robbie Farah as the Queenslander was putting the ball down.

Replays clearly showed Farah making a play for the ball with his foot, but those with two Blue eyes argued til they were, well, Blue in the face that Inglis had knocked it on.

Blues captain Paul Gallen let his emotions spill over on the field, blasting the referees for their decision, but even NSW coach Ricky Stuart conceded after the match that Farah’s strike had made the ball “live”, and that the referees had made the right decision in awarding the try.

Queensland coach Mal Meninga was understandably pleased to start his seventh series with a win.

“I think it was a very mature performance. We knew the Blues would come out with everything they had, and NSW certainly played very well,” Mal told fogs.com.au.

“They were able to get the jump on us early, but there was never any panic from our guys.

“They know their jobs, they knew the game plan, and they just stuck to that.

“There is no doubt that we can get better, but I was very pleased with the patience and composure they applied to the task, even when things were not going their way.”

Winger Darius Boyd scored Queensland’s two other tries – both exceptionally constructed through running attacking lines at the Blues’ right edge, whereas NSW’s tries both came from Queensland mistakes under the high ball.

Nate Myles was a deserving winner of the man of the match award, but winger Brent Tate was another standout with an electric display on the right flank – playing one of his best games for Queensland after courageously fighting back from his terrible run of knee injuries.

QUEENSLAND 18 (D Boyd 2, G Inglis tries; J Thurston 3 goals) d NSW 12 (A Uate, M Jennings tries; T Carney 2 goals) at Etihad Stadium.

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