Queensland played 10 minutes in the dying stages of the State of Origin opener with one less man on the paddock because of a controversial sin-binning.
But the Maroons still managed to score two tries to erase a two-point deficit and carve out a 26-18 victory at Adelaide Oval, etching into folklore yet another famous Queensland win and leaving New South Wales shell-shocked.
For 10 minutes from the 69th minute, the Maroons were one man down on the field when front-rower Thomas Flegler was sent to the sin bin by referee Ashley Klein for what the whistleblower deemed a shoulder charge.
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But they stole the lead when Cameron Munster linked with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, the Dolphins speedster tearing into space on the left wing and scoring his second try of the night.
Billy Slater’s men then sealed the result when Queensland prop Lindsay Collins upstaged Roosters teammate James Tedesco, outjumping the Blues skipper and fullback to reel in a Daly Cherry-Evans kick, before offloading to Munster and cheering wildly as the champion five-eighth crossed for a try.
Queensland won despite forward Tom Gilbert suffering a shoulder injury that left the Maroons with one less man at their disposal from the 19th minute.
The Maroons also didn’t have second-rower David Fifita for the final eight minutes of the first half due to a head injury assessment.
And making the unlikely win even more extraordinary was the 72nd-minute departure of winger Murray Taulagi, whose night was ended by a HIA.
Queensland legend Cameron Smith described the victory as “remarkable” on Nine’s coverage.
“That’s one of the greatest wins I’ve ever seen from the Queensland team,” added Queensland great Paul Vautin.
“They lost a player after 18 minutes in Tom Gilbert, they had one of the worst sin-bins I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Johns Smith dumbfounded by Flegler sin bin
So bizarre was the sin-binning of Flegler that hardly a person noticed he had been marched until he was off the field.
In the referee’s eyes, Flegler collected Tom Trbojevic high with his left shoulder as he and Patrick Carrigan tackled the NSW centre.
“No, no way, no, surely not,” Blues icon Andrew Johns said of the sin-binning.
Watch the 2023 State of Origin series LIVE and exclusive on Channel 9 and 9Now
It’s now the Blues’ challenge to square up the series at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on July 21.
The Maroons will retain the Origin shield if they win game two, having won the 2022 series 2-1 in Slater’s first year in charge.
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