'Greatest comeback in Origin history': Inside the Blues' dramatic victory

"This could be the greatest comeback in Origin history."

That was the message at half-time as Blues coach Laurie Daley attempted to rally his troops following an underwhelming first-half performance in Wednesday's series opener. 

The Blues trailed 20-0 after 20 minutes after an error-riddled start to the match and looked well off the pace at Accor Stadium. 

Hudson Young scored late in the first half to cut the deficit to 14 but NSW still had plenty of work to do to claw their way back into the contest after the break. 

With Daley's words ringing in their ears, the Blues scored three tries in the final 18 minutes to complete the biggest comeback in State of Origin history and send nearly 80,000 fans at Accor Stadium into a frenzy. 

The match will go down in Origin lore as one of the most unique and eventful contests in the 46-year history of the interstate rivalry. 

This is how the Blues wrote their names into the record books. 

26th minute - Hudson Young Try

With the Blues trailing by 20 points, the hosts desperately needed to strike before half-time to have a glimmer of hope of an unlikely comeback. 

A penalty for an escort provided NSW with an attacking set of six and Nathan Cleary ensured they capitalised. The halfback produced a grubber in behind the Maroons defensive line for a charging Hudson Young. 

In the moment, the back-rower knew exactly how important it was. 

"To get the one before the break gave us that little bit of belief, that little bit of confidence coming in down 14 points," Young said. "In today's game, 14 points isn't a great deal."

51st minute - Tolu Koula prevents a Rob Toia try

A successful Captain's Challenge handed the Maroons an early chance to kill off any hopes of a NSW comeback and the visitors came agonisingly close. 

Queensland opted to run the ball on the last, Kalyn Ponga producing a pinpoint pass for Rob Toia, who looked destined to score. 

Tolu Koula jammed in and somehow managed to knock Toia over before he got to the line, saving a certain try in the process. 

The tries scored in a comeback make the highlight reels, but it's defensive plays such as this that are just as important and keep the dream alive. 

57th minute - Kalyn Ponga sent off

Koula was in the thick of the action just minutes later, when he latched on to an Ethan Strange cut out pass and raced down the left sideline. The winger was eventually stopped in his tracks by Kalyn Ponga and Sam Walker. 

The Maroons fullback collected Koula high with a shoulder charge and became the seventh player in Origin history to be sent off. 

Still trailing by 14, in this moment the Blues knew they had a chance. 

58th minute - The Bunker denies Ethan Strange

The Blues looked to have immediately capitalised on the extra man when Ethan Strange latched on to a Nathan Cleary pass, broke through a tackle and slammed the ball down. 

Replays, however, showed Haumole Olakau'atu had got his decoy line wrong and knocked over a defender. The Bunker ruled no try and the Blues' bubble deflated a little bit. 

63rd minute - This time Strange strikes

There was no stopping the debutant just five minutes later, when he created a break for Stephen Crichton before running a superb support line for his centre. 

Crichton drew in Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow before linking up with Strange, who hurdled a falling Sam Walker and raced away to complete a stunning long-range try. 

"It was a mad feeling," Strange said. "Here in Sydney with all the Blues fans, it was an awesome moment."

65th minute - Kotoni Staggs and Brian To'o combine on right edge

The loss of Kalyn Ponga forced the Maroons into a backline reshuffle. Rather than utilise Gehamat Shibasaki as his fourth substitute to provide specialist cover, Billy Slater opted to move Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to fullback and Kurt Capewell to left centre. 

The Blues immediately sensed blood in the water. 

Cleary sent the attack to the right early and often, Kotoni Staggs running rampant against Capewell. With 15 minutes to play, the centre created a break for winger Brian To'o, who raced away before being dragged down. 

Queensland desperately held on to deny NSW on the next play, but the hosts had found the Maroons weakness. 

"We knew they had made changes with Kalyn getting sent off and Capewell moving to centre," To'o said. "We focused on ourselves and what we can control, sticking to our plays and our processes."

67th minute - Blues blow golden opportunity

Queensland are on the ropes and NSW look destined to cut the deficit after Strange made another break down the left edge. 

The Maroons defensive line is scattered, exhausted bodies scrambling to get back onside and the Blues know it. With a massive overlap, the hosts shift the ball to the right. 

James Tedesco has three unmarked players outside him and attempts a long pass to Olakau'atu in wet conditions. The pass is low, the ball is dropped and the fullback fears he has cost his team the match. 

"I thought I'd blown it," Tedesco said. "But our message had been about staying present. I could have easily just dwelled on that and come out of the game, but I wanted to make up for it."

71st minute - Nathan Cleary breaks through

In a sequence reminiscent of his spectacular 2023 grand final performance, Cleary nails a perfect 40/20 to put the Blues straight back on the attack.

Queensland initially held firm before Cameron Munster conceded a set restart on the last tackle. 

Moments later, Mitch Barnett was tackled close to the line, Blayke Brailey spotted the markers were out of position and darted from dummy half. The hooker dummied once before hitting Cleary for NSW's third try to cut the margin to four.

"I saw a bit of space," Brailey said. "My first thought was I'm going to score, then that hole collapsed. As all good players do, he was supporting there and punched that line."

Cleary was full of praise for the hooker, who helped swing the momentum when injected into the contest in the 50th minute. 

"Blayke jumped out and backed himself," Cleary said. "I saw a little bit of space and wanted to push into it."

79th minute - James Tedesco seals a miraculous victory

Queensland bravely continued to hold firm and looked destined to secure a famous victory before Cleary attempted one last roll of the dice. 

The Blues had enjoyed success all night from the halfback's kicking game and he launched a towering bomb that landed just metres from the try-line. 

Tedesco chased through, out-jumped Tabuai-Fidow and came down with the ball to send 79,186 fans into raptures.

The elation, however, was quickly tempered as the Bunker conducted a forensic investigation of the contest. 

"I was excited," Daley said. "Then they said it's got to go to the video referee to be confirmed and then you start to worry. 

"You're starting to doubt it's going to be a try, then as soon as it's awarded, your emotions are everywhere."

The try was eventually confirmed and Cleary took his time before slotting the conversion to secure a historic 22-20 victory and round out his greatest performance in a Blues jumper. 

"I had Teddy on the inside telling me to put it up," Cleary said. "Credit to him, he always steps up in the big moments when we need him. What an amazing player."

Tedesco was just as surprised to come away with the ball and also relieved to make up for his earlier error. 

"I couldn't believe it," he said. "I was just competing on every play and that's what Origin's about, those last-minute plays. 

"I just went up for it and had a bit of luck come my way. I was glad to come down with it."

The fullback was quickly mobbed by his teammates, who came from all directions to celebrate the match-winning play. 

"When Teddy caught that ball, I lost my hearing," Brailey said. "I'm so happy to debut, but to win like that is an unreal feeling. 

"When he scored I just looked around and tried to grab anyone I could. Any blue jersey I saw, I just wanted to hug."

NSW didn't lead on the scoreboard until the 80th minute, but that was the only moment that mattered as the Blues took a stunning 1-0 series lead. 

"It felt like a nightmare in the first half and then it felt like a dream," Cleary said. "That's rugby league and it's why we all love it."

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