By Shane Saroya – EM TV, Port Moresby
The Queensland Maroons have won game one of the 2015 State of Origin Series, defeating the New South Wales Blues in a score line of 11 to 10.
The victory came when Queensland’s Talismanic half back, Cooper Cronk, snapped a one-pointer in the 74th minute to win the match for his state.
Queensland won the toss to kick off giving the blues the opportunity to run the ball.
The blues were hard on defence keeping constant pressure on the older maroons forwards.
Queensland’s fullback, Billy Slater, thought he had scored the first try of the game through Thurston’s grabber kick, but this was denied by the video referee.
In the 12th minute, Cooper Cronk crossed over through a Cameron Smith dummy half, to seal a successful conversion giving Queensland an early lead of 6-0.
It wasn’t long until the blues replied with the star fullback, Josh Dugan, with a line break before setting up Josh Morris in the corner to score. The conversion was unsuccessful, however, but the blues kept the pressure on Queensland’s territory.
With swift passes from Robbie Ferah, Trenth Hodkinson and cut out pass by Micheal Peas, found Bow Scott edging his way over the try line. The score was 10-6 at half time.
The second half was dominated by the Maroons keeping the NSW Blues at bay.
With a quick switch in play of the ball by Cronk, found Will Chambers on the wing to level the score at 10 all, at the 25th mark of the second half.
In the 55th minute, Cronk’s nerveless magic field goal sealed the victory for the Maroons.
Josh Dugan got a chance to level the scores but poor organisation on an attack saw Dugan’s fail the attempt of a field goal.
