Queensland thrash NSW to take State of Origin lead
Defying a near-capacity crowd in Sydney, the Queensland Maroons scored six tries to two to move a step closer to a third straight series title.
The NSW Blues' bid for an upset was dealt a major blow when debutant Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i was sent off in the seventh minute after a hit to the head left Queensland fullback Reece Walsh concussed.
Sua'ali'i became just the sixth player to be sent off in Origin history.
Queensland capitalised and reinforced the dominance they have shown under coach Billy Slater, regarded as one of the game's greatest players.
"Just to showcase what we can do out there is an unreal feeling," said Tabuai-Fidow, who equalled the mark for most tries in an Origin match.
The new-look Blues showed some resolve under new coach Michael Maguire, who wielded the axe to field five debutants.
"Disappointed to lose at home but we have to come back bigger and better in the next game," said Blues captain Jake Trbojevic.
The Blues were looking for a change of fortune after the no-nonsense Maguire replaced Brad Fittler, who had been at the helm since 2018.
Maguire, who coached New Zealand from 2018 to 2023, urged his team to be ruthless and play with physicality. But Queensland were undaunted and hit the scoreboard in the fourth minute when Ben Hunt crossed over after a brilliant run from halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.
The Blues were left shell-shocked when Sua'ali'i was sent off just minutes later. Walsh was flattened by a shoulder to the jaw from Sua'ali'i and lay motionless for several seconds before walking off gingerly and was unable to return.
The Blues regrouped with a try by James Tedesco but the Maroons quickly regained control, with Tabuai-Fidow crossing over twice in five minutes.
Isaah Yeo and Spencer Leniu helped spark the Blues, who inched closer after half-time when Zac Lomax caught a high kick from Nicho Hynes and dropped over the line.
But the Maroons pulled away with three late tries to record their biggest victory in Sydney. The series shifts to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 26 before the final match in Brisbane on July 17.
