Five quick hits — Sua'ali'i cops month-long ban as Hunt stands tall for Maroons in Origin I (2024)

The Maroons claimed bragging rights after defeating the Blues 38-10 in the State of Origin opener, but their win didn't come without a spot of controversy.

Here are five quick hits from State of Origin I in Sydney.

• Look back on how all the action unfolded in our match report

1. Sua'ali'i send-off cruels Blues' hopes

The Blues were already trailing on the scoreboard when their task became even harder after Joseph Sua'ali'i was sent off in the eighth minute.

Making his State of Origin debut, Sua'ali'i was given his marching orders when his right shoulder made contact with Reece Walsh's head when attempting a tackle on the Maroons' star fullback.

Walsh played no further part in the match despite passing his HIA after initially displaying category-one concussion symptoms.

Sua'ali'i will spend a minimum of four weeks on the sidelines after being charged with a reckless high tackle, five if he fights the charge and the judiciary and loses.

It was argued during the TV broadcast that such an incident would warrant a send-off in an NRL match but not a State of Origin encounter, where some expect players to be granted leeway.

Referee Ashley Klein, however, did not hesitate with his decision, explaining to Sua'ali'i and a shocked Blues skipper Jake Trbojevic that he had no other option.

"I don't want you to say a word," Klein said.

"Very dangerous action, direct contact to the head with the shoulder. You're [Sua'ali'i] off."

2. Maroons capitalise on numerical advantage

With the Blues reduced to 12 players, it didn't take long for the Maroons to make the most of Sua'ali'i's absence.

They attacked the Blues' right-edge defence and it paid dividends, with three-try hero Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow crossing for his first two after the Maroons took advantage of the overlap.

The Blues found a solution when they shifted Sua'ali'i's centre partner Stephen Crichton to the right in defence, but the damage was done with the Maroons having already established a 20-6 lead after 24 minutes.

The home side was also forced to use three interchanges in the first half as it looked to plug the hole created by Sua'ali'i's indiscretion, while the Maroons only employed one.

The Blues threw everything at the Maroons in the second half and stayed in the contest after Zac Lomax's 43rd-minute try, but the stress of playing a man down told and they fell away late in the match.

3. Hunt supreme on both sides of the ball

Ben Hunt produced two plays in attack and defence in the second half that extinguished any hope the Blues had of snatching victory.

Having just returned to the field for his second stint, Hunt made a dummy-half run from just inside Maroons territory in the 67th minute, before weaving his way through a tired Blues defence to run away and score his second try of the match.

Only minutes later, Hunt pulled off a try-saving tackle on Crichton, ahead of the Blues turning over possession when Daly Cherry-Evans intercepted an Isaah Yeo pass and headed down field.

Cherry-Evans then kicked towards the in-goal area, with Xavier Coates following through to touch down for the Maroons' fifth try of the match.

Billy Slater's use of Hunt and Harry Grant in the hooker role has been a masterstroke since he took charge of the Maroons.

4. No Munster? No worries, says Dearden

The Maroons are always going to be a stronger side with Cameron Munster on the field, but Tom Dearden didn't let his state down with a solid performance in the number six jersey.

Dearden has been here before, having replaced Munster for Game III in 2022 when the Storm playmaker was a late withdrawal because of COVID.

Just as he did in the Maroons' series-clinching 22-12 win over the Blues two years ago, Dearden refused to be overcome by the occasion on Wednesday night.

He worked superbly with his skipper Cherry-Evans in the halves to orchestrate their side's attack, proving he belongs at the Origin level.

He also got the seal of approval from the man he replaced, with Munster declaring after the match "Queensland is in safe hands" with Dearden at five-eighth.

5. Teddy doesn't waste his opportunity

Incumbent Kangaroos skipper James Tedesco came into this match with a point to prove.

And, despite being part of a losing effort, it's hard to argue that he didn't make that point.

After being left out of the side following 22 consecutive games as the Blues' fullback, Tedesco was given a last-gasp reprieve to return to the line-up.

The Roosters custodian ran for 200 metres from 20 carries, made three line breaks and scored the Blues' opening try.

With Dylan Edwards's injury unlikely to keep him out of Origin II at the MCG, Blues coach Michael Maguire will likely make the call to give the Panthers star an Origin debut.

But, aside from missing a tackle on Hunt towards the end of the contest, Tedesco did himself no harm on a night in which the under-manned Blues had little to celebrate.