The New South Wales Blues defeated the Queensland Maroons 22-20 [1] in Game 1 of the 2026 State of Origin series on Wednesday.

The victory gives New South Wales an early lead in the series and creates significant momentum following a controversial officiating decision that altered the game's trajectory.

The match took place at Accor Stadium in Sydney, where the contest remained tight until the final minutes [1]. The turning point occurred in the 57th minute when Queensland player Kalyn Ponga was sent off [1].

This dismissal left the Maroons shorthanded and shifted the momentum in favor of the Blues. New South Wales leveraged the numerical advantage to mount a comeback in the closing stages of the match [2].

James Tedesco secured the win for New South Wales by scoring the winning try in the final minutes of the game [2]. The result leaves the series open as the teams prepare for the next encounter.

The 22-20 final score [1] reflects a narrow margin that was decided by the late-game surge. The send-off of Ponga remains the primary point of contention for the Queensland side as they evaluate their strategy for the remainder of the series [2].

“The New South Wales Blues defeated the Queensland Maroons 22-20”

The Blues' victory is psychologically significant due to the timing of the winning try and the impact of the send-off. By securing Game 1, New South Wales puts Queensland in a position where they must win the remaining matches to claim the series, while the controversy surrounding Kalyn Ponga's dismissal may influence disciplinary discussions and team morale heading into Game 2.