Haas had emphatic support from Mitch Barnett, Angus Crichton, Max King and Isaah Yeo – who all passed 100 running metres – while their knock-the-front-door-down approach was replicated by To’o (195 metres) and Lomax (205 metres).
In contrast, Pat Carrigan was the only Maroons forward to pass 50 metres by halftime.
Payne Haas was on a tear in the early exchanges of the Origin opener.Credit: Getty Images
The way Queensland were bullied off the park in scenes similar to last year’s series defeat could be enough to prompt changes from Slater, with Corey Horsburgh the most eye-catching absence from the squad.
The Raiders’ firebrand’s aggression appears tailor-made for the Origin furnace, while Moeaki Fotuaika (37 running metres from four carries) and Trent Loiero (60 metres from nine carries) failed to dent their rivals’ line.
“I definitely don’t think it’s a personnel thing, I know what this team is capable of, and that’s why you can probably see I’m disappointed because they haven’t played their best footy,” Slater said.
“I feel responsible to help them try and get there, [but] it’s definitely not a personnel thing.
“We were very ill-disciplined in the first half and that just snowballed against us, and we didn’t see the best of this Queensland team, and that’s what I’m most disappointed about.”
Jeremiah Nanai watches on after suffering defeat in the State of Origin series opener.Credit: Getty Images
Not even Fa’asuamaleaui’s comeback after missing 2024 with a ruptured ACL could ignite Slater’s engine room, which still seems to be missing Thomas Flegler (shoulder nerve damage) and Tom Gilbert (ruptured pectoral).
Too often did Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans have to kick from deep in their own half in the first 40 minutes, and too often were the back five called upon to try and get them away from danger only to be met by a relentless Blues wall.
There were more promising signs off the ball coming out of the break, with Cherry-Evans and Nanai forcing mistakes deep in Blues’ territory – the latter leading to Xavier Coates crossing in the corner.
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Nanai looked a scoring chance regularly in the second half on his kick chase, marking an incredible fightback after being axed by North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten earlier this year.
But while they displayed far greater grit and go forward in the second term to hold the Blues out for 32 minutes before Dylan Edwards’ try sealed the clash, the ferocity out of the gates needs to be a major point for Slater to address by the time game two kicks off on June 18.
“I just wanted to stick my strengths, competing in the air, at the start of the week that was one of my goals,” Nanai said.
“It’s a good feeling now that I’ve worked my way back into the team at the Cows to get the call from Bill, and to know hard work pays off. I had a rough start to the year, and I’ve turned it around, but now I have to stick solid.
“It’s going to be a tough game in Perth, I’ve played in that arena, and it’s always tough there.”
One man who must surely remain for that occasion, however, is debutant Robert Toia.
Robert Toia was a bright spot for the Maroons.Credit: Getty Images
The 20-year-old was thrown into the fray after just 10 NRL games and an injury-ravaged background, forced to go head-to-head with Blues superstar Latrell Mitchell.
But the Rooster centre – who fought two ruptured ACLs, stress fractures in his back and a broken jaw all before reaching first-grade – was up to the task, finishing with a try assist and 23 tackles while constantly preventing Mitchell (72 running metres, one tackle bust) from gaining momentum.
For all the issues up front for Slater to rectify in his side’s opening 40 minutes, he has unearthed a genuine winner in the young Nudgee College product, while Nanai declared their right edge partnership could remain intact for several years to come.
“It was everything I expected to be honest, I just had to take away his space, and he’s obviously a Jack of all trades,” Toia said of his clash with Mitchell.
“I like to think so [I belong here], I like to back myself but who knows?”
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