Ali Stafford
Senior Sports Journalist
State of Origin game one - New South Wales 22-20 Queensland: Blues snatch comeback win after Kalyn Ponga's dismissal
Nathan Clearly converted James Tedesco's try with the final kick of the game as New South Wales snatched a dramatic win over Queensland; Kalyn Ponga was sent off for the Maroons, who go 1-0 down; watch the State of Origin live on Sky Sports
Last Updated: 27/05/26 3:46pm
New South Wales snatched a dramatic State of Origin series opener after capitalising on Kalyn Ponga's dismissal to claim a 22-20 victory over Queensland in Sydney.
Queensland scored three tries in a eight-minute first-half burst to race into a 20-0 advantage and held a 20-6 half-time lead at the Accor Stadium, only for momentum to switch after Ponga was sent off in the 58th minute.
Ponga became just the seventh player in State of Origin history to be sent off after a high tackle on Toluta'u Koula, with New South Wales capitalising on their man advantage with tries from Ethan Strange and Nathan Cleary.
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Cleary converted his score and played a key role in a dramatic finish, following some resolute Maroons defending, with the full-back's high kick caught and grounded by James Tedesco to level the scores in the penultimate minute.
The conversion was then made by Cleary in the rain to spark jubilant celebrations and complete a remarkable comeback from New South Wales, who move 1-0 up in the best-of-three series.
How NSW edged Origin thriller after Ponga's dismissal
Sam Walker - one of four debutants in the Maroons ranks - made an immediate impact when his short kick into the in-goal was pounced on by Rob Toia, who touched the ball down in the 10th minute to give the visitors an early lead.
Queensland doubled their advantage four minutes later when Tom Flegler charged in under the posts, following a smart offload from Harry Grant, having seen Selwyn Cobbo burst down the left to start the attack.
Both tries were converted by Walker before the Maroons capitalised on another error from the Blues in the 17th minute, with Cameron Munster's kick behind the line allowing Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to easily go over down the left side.
Walker converted and moved Maroons into a 20-point advantage four minutes later, kicking the extra two after an offside penalty, with Blues showing few positive signs during a one-side start.
New South Wales debutant Strange caused an error from Munster after a big tackle before they reduced the deficit a couple of minutes later, as - following back-to-back penalties from the Maroons - Cleary's short kick allowed Hudson Young to run in and score.
The hosts saw a try disallowed four minutes before the break, as Cameron Murray - who appeared to knock-on before grounding the ball - was adjudged to have tackled Kurt Capewell off the ball, with Queensland holding on to take a 14-point lead into the break.
Maroons had plenty of the early second-half territory before the game turned by Ponga's dismissal, as he made head-on-head contact with Koula as he broke down the left side and was adjudged to have made a shoulder charge.
The Blues though they had immediately made their one-player advantage count when Strange went over moments later, only for the try to be disallowed for Haumole Olakau'atu obstructing Harry Grant.
New South Wales eventually closed in the 63rd minute when Casey McLean and Crichton helped set up Strange scoring a debut try, with Cleary earning a 40/20 for the Blues seven minutes later that eventually finished with him scoring a try.
Maroons defended wave after wave of Blues attack until coming unstuck in the 79th minute, when Tabuai-Fidow - filling in at full-back after Ponga's dismissal - was held off by Tedesco and allowed the Origin veteran to score and level, before Cleary's conversion - with the final kick - completed a famous victory.
Cleary praises 'unbelievable' Tedesco
Queensland coach Billy Slater:
"We can argue all we want [with Ponga's dismissal], but it is what it is...I haven't got any problems with it. He's OK, he obviously feels he's let his team down, but those things happen in games.
"That happened really quick. I've played that position, I know how hard it is and sour of the moment, it's wet out there, things happen. I thought it was a courageous effort from our players, I'm heartbroken."
Player-of-the-match Nathan Cleary:
"That's just Origin - it was crazy but that's why we love the game. It was a tale of two halves, but for Teddy [Tedesco] to come up with that big play at the end - unbelievable!
"Typical Queensland, they came out really fast and got the jump on us. The talk behind the line was just checking in on each other. We knew we could get back in it and we had to fight hard to do it.
"Disappointed with the first half. Didn't have much defensive resolve. There are two games to go and we have that opportunity to write that wrong. We don't want to fall in love with ourselves; we'll enjoy tonight and get back to it."
What's next?
The final match of the Women's State of Origin takes place on Thursday, with New South Wales looking to complete a series sweep after an 11-6 win over Queensland in game one and 14-10 victory in Game Two. Live coverage begins on Thursday from 10.30am on Sky Sports Action, with kick-off at 10.45am.
The men's series continues on June 17 at the MCG in Melbourne and concludes at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on July 8, with both matches live on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.
