LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Queensland's performance in the 2025 State of Origin opener has raised significant concerns about the team, described by multiple commentators as "dumb, scrappy, flat, and ill-disciplined." Despite historical instances where strong NSW teams overpowered the Maroons, this particular match showcased an alarming level of underperformance from Queensland.
The Maroons were outplayed by a New South Wales team that didn't even need to reach its peak to secure a victory.
In the first nine minutes, Queensland conceded three avoidable penalties, adding to a total of six penalties in the first half alone.
Their lack of discipline kept them from capitalizing on opportunities, and it was only due to some errors from the Blues that the halftime score reflected a manageable two converted tries behind.
With Nathan Cleary and Zac Lomax on the kicking duties, the scoreboard could have told a harsher tale-if they had scored all their attempts, the final score of 27-6 would have marked the Blues' biggest victory since 2022, aligning more closely with the nature of the game observed that night.
Nevertheless, Queensland's resilience was evident, particularly from their front-row players who seemed determined despite being outmatched in the forward exchanges.
This grit stands out as one of the few redeeming features of their performance amid widespread criticism.