Origin game one had moments exhibiting why it’s the best and worst 80-minutes of rugby league for a passionate state fan.

Following Suaalii’s instant send-off, the Maroons piled on some early points in what was a seek and destroy mission. Seek out the right side shortage and punch through the holes with vigour.

Origin’s third quarter provided the best quality contest and viewing. Desperation at it’s finest. Big shots, a flurry of high-pressure line-breaks and some top shelf try saving tackles.

The biggest takeaway despite the one-man woes was New South Wales’ lack of attacking structure. There was no purpose and no authority – disregarding the powerhouse post-contact leg drive of Spencer Leniu. That guy is made for Origin.

Queensland did end up putting the Blues to bed with 15 minutes to go, but as a supporter of the losing side – their were many positives to discuss.

Let’s get into the glaring and subtle details of what went wrong, and how the Maroons look destined for a third Origin in as many years.

The Blues spirit is alive

Losing game one is an obvious dampener for a home side in Origin. Pack on a 28-point difference and you could leave the fixture with little encouragement.

Say what you like, but the Blues were gutsy and had periods of real grit. After wiping off a few post half-time jitters, the intent shown by missile Liam Martin and work horse Reece Robson was exemplary.

A five-minute stretch on the Blues’ line from the 55th to 60th minute demonstrated there is a genuine talisman-like culture in the NSW squad.

Queensland loomed on the opposition try-line after Daly Cherry-Evans’ ‘what you can do I can do better’ 40/20 and went straight to the short edge.

The scramble of Stephen Crichton and the resilience to keep backing up, to then go on a force an error felt like a huge win for the Blues. It was a momentum swing that unfortunately didn’t last long.

Regardless, the efforts of both Crichtons, Robson, To’o and Lomax were admirable. Even without their skipper for almost 50 minutes, New South Wales managed at times to bounce back in great adversity.

2. Tedesco’s debutant-like performance

With 22 Origin caps under his belt, Kangaroos captain James Tedesco looked out of sorts last night. No doubt, his effort was still ever-present, but some debutant-like tendencies took the gloss off his impact.

Most notably, the fullback kept pushing the envelope and forcing tip-on passes in moments that required experience.

When NSW would take a block play down the right edge and opt to pass out the back, Tedesco struggled to analysis the situation and draw in defenders.

The 31-year-old had two handling errors and looked baffled by the Origin arena – almost like he was nervous and thrust into a squad with a shortage of days to prepare.

He also missed a key tackle on Ben Hunt that led to the No.9’s second try – a very painful watch. While Jarome Luai was ineffective in making contact first-up on Hunt, Tedesco had every chance to make amends.

Post game, Channel 9 commentator and immortal Andrew Johns expressed his concerns over Tedesco’s Blues future.

“Does Tedesco keep his place?,” Johns said.

“I don’t know. I really don’t know. It’s going to be a big decision for Madge. Tedesco absolutely tried his heart out tonight. And if you’re going to go with combinations, you know, obviously there’s going to be a lot of talk about the halves. Whether they pick Nico again and Jarome, or whether they go with Mitchell Moses.

“Mitchell Moses and James Tedesco played a lot of footy together as well. So it probably depends on how Michael Maguire sees his team attacking. And how they’re going to play in Melbourne.”

3. Jurbo can’t be playing 29 minutes as a defensive front-man

Jake Trbojevic is no attacking weapon. While he has ball-playing ability, New South Wales selected him for his defensive attributes.

He made 37 metres from five runs and executed 26 tackles. But that’s simply not a standard to take into game two and three. His opposition No. 8 Reuben Cotter played 69 minutes and made 45 tackles. Was Trbojevic carrying a minor injury going into the game? Or is he simply deemed futile when NSW need some go forward?

Either way, it was a captain’s performance that questions his leadership validity. While I think he is a great role model and a cultural icon for NSW, he isn’t exactly a force to be reckoned with.

“There were periods of the game we’ve got to take a lot of confidence from,” Trbojevic said post game.

“The first 20 minutes of the second half I thought we were on top with 12 men.”

Unfortunately, the Blues prop was not present for this contest. At a time where NSW were in the fight, captain Trbojevic was settling in to his seat. Surely you put your team’s voice on the field in a time where you are on top.

4. Suaalii’s shot was a no questions asked send-off, c’mon Madge

“Earlier in the year, he (Walsh) broke his jaw, and there was nothing that happened,” Maguire said in the post-match press conference.

“I guess this one was line-ball, because he (Walsh) was obviously falling.”

“He had Joey clip him a bit, but, big call in a game like this.”

If there’s anyone querying the judgement of that call, ask yourself one question.

Was it forceful contact to the head? Yes.

In today’s game no other factors matter. Walsh was caught flat after Suaalii purposely tried to jam in on him, and because of the shoulder to head contact, he faces the consequences.

Marginal falling does not come in to the decision at all.

5. Slater’s slot-in masterstroke trump card

Even without Reece Walsh, Queensland looked polished from 1-17. Billy Slater is level-headed and to be frank, a damn good coach with no pitfalls.

He was clear throughout the week that Cobbo’s place on the bench was mainly for injury cover in the backs. Well, well done Slater. No nonsense and the best result.

Tabuai-Fidow was safe as houses at the back – seamlessly slotting in to the fullback role. The switch highlighted the value of a clubland No.1 who can play as a representative centre.

New South Wales had one of those, I wonder if he will return?

Kick – Cameron Smith calling Ben Hunt ‘dozer’

Every time Ben Hunt makes a line-break or crosses the chalk a dagger impales my auditory senses.

It’s already bad enough on the eyes – please someone at Channel 9 mute Cam Smith’s microphone, I don’t want to hear him belting ‘goooooo Dozer!’

What’s with the nickname anyway, he’s not pushing around large masses of rubble that just sit there. That’s better suited to Ben Hornby at the minute.