Queensland recovered after the break with three converted tries including one which followed Darren Lockyer's interception of a wild pass made by Hayne near the New South Wales goal line.

The Blues' Danny Buderus and Kurt Gidley were injured in the match, while Maroons' substitute Antonio Kaufusi suffered a season-ending knee injury in his Origin debut.

Brett Stewart was called in to make his Origin debut only 24 hours prior to the match as a replacement for the injured Anthony Minichiello.

Their hooker Cameron Smith ran from dummy half on the fifth and last, down the short side and through his tacklers shot a remarkable pass out to the feet of Greg Inglis.

Queensland dominated field position and crossed the Blues' try line three more times in the remainder of the first half but couldn't score, leaving the sides level at a single converted try each for the break.

A pass (that appeared to be forward[15] but was allowed by the referee)[16] went to Thurston who, keeping the ball alive, chipped a grubbing kick through the line of defence for centre Steven Bell to pick up and dive over the try-line in the corner.

With under three minutes remaining Brent Kite lost the ball in a tackle and Shaun Berrigan picked it up and ran 45 metres to put it down.

[23] Meninga was critical of referee Shayne Hayne's performance in the match with no penalties until the 51st minute and a final count going New South Wales' way 4-1.

It was not till the 73rd minute that New South Wales' Matt King, in his farewell Origin performance having announced his intention to relocate the Super League in 2008, scored a try which was set up by a flat pass from eventual man-of-the-match Greg Bird.

Hazem El Masri, in his debut performance for the Blues after an 11-year top-grade career, converted from the sideline, giving New South Wales an important 8-point lead.