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Miracle State of Origin comeback in Game I as controversial sin-binning fails to stop Maroons

Was it a bird? Was it a plane? No, I think it was Lindsay Collins. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)

Queensland did what Queensland does best in State of Origin Game I, coming back to win against the odds on a controversial night in Adelaide.

Trailing by two points and down a man after Tom Flegler was sent to the sin-bin, the Maroons miraculously came back to win 26-18 and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Here are the five main talking points from Origin I.

Murray Taulagi's miracle try savers

James Tedesco was held up thanks to some superb work from the Maroons.  (Getty Images: Mark Kolbe)

Watchers of the NRL have become used to this sight, James Tedesco bearing down on the try line with just a solitary defender to beat, surging through him and dotting down to score.

In the 20th minute at Adelaide Oval, Tedesco found himself in that position, with just Murray Taulagi in his way.

The Blues were already down 10-0 after the Maroons' lightning start, so they needed a score quickly.

And when Tedesco surged through the Queensland centre it looked like the Blues would be celebrating getting on the board.

But somehow, Taulagi grabbed hold of the ball and heaved with all his might to keep it up off the ground — denying Tedesco a try.

Just a couple of minutes later, as if to prove that was no fluke, he did it again, this time against the far more imposing figure of forward Tyson Frizell.

Tyson Frizell was the second Blue to be held up over the line. (Getty Images: Mark Kolbe)

The bunker was called upon to rule whether the ball had touched the ground and — although there was every chance that a blade of Adelaide Oval grass was at least brushed by the ball — there was not enough evidence to overturn the on-field call.

It was a lucky break for the Queenslanders early on.

Api Koroisau receives a second-half gift

Api Koroisau knocked the ball down, but did he knock it on? (Getty Images: Mark Kolbe)

New South Wales may have gone into the sheds 10-6 down at half time, but they were definitely on top in every other aspect of the contest.

The Blues enjoyed 56 per cent of possession in the first half and had pinned the Maroons deep in their own territory for long periods even when they had the ball.

New South Wales needed something to go their way after having two tries ruled out for last-ditch tackles.

They were given a gift.

First, Valentine Holmes attempted an ill-advised offload under serious pressure in his own 30.

That was knocked down by Api Koroisau, who then appeared to knock the ball on as he got it, but that was not picked up by the officials.

They — and the Queensland defenders — simply watched on as Koroisau scooted over unopposed to hand the Blues the match-levelling score.

In commentary, Andrew Johns called the try "dubious". That might be being kind, yet the try stood and the Blues were in the ascendancy.

Tom Flegler sent to the sin-bin

Tom Flegler was shifted to the bench to start in a late change, and he ended the game in the bin. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)

If Queensland had the rub of the green in the first half, the tables surely turned in the second, namely with the mystifying sin-binning of Tom Flegler with just over 10 minutes to go.

Tom Trbojevic took the ball into contact and went down with a head knock that, on replay, appeared to happen when his head made contact with Flegler, who was one of two Queensland tacklers.

In the 15-man code, Flegler would undoubtedly be in trouble.

In league though, that's not normally considered a penalty, and yet referee Ashley Klein decided it was.

TV official Grant Atkins then said there was a high shot, which Flegler was sent to the sin-bin for, much to the confusion of the Channel Nine commentators.

In a hot-mic moment, Maroons great Paul Vautin was heard to say it was "one of the worst sin-bins I've ever seen in my life".

The NRL later charged Flegler with a grade two careless high tackle for which he will be fined.

The Blues led 18-16 at that stage with 10 minutes remaining.

The Hammer strikes

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow struck hard when the Maroons needed him to. (Getty Images: Mark Kolbe)

The Blues were in the ascendancy. A player up. Two points in front. Queensland had players injured, with those that were left playing out of position.

Surely all hope was lost.

That's not how Queensland plays, though. The Maroons never know when they're beaten.

Shortly after losing Flegler to the bin, Queensland belied their numerical disadvantage and shifted the ball left through Cameron Munster, who passed to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on the left wing.

The Hammer has scored 10 tries in 11 NRL matches for the Dolphins this year and added a third Origin try in his second appearance with a wonderful solo score to give the Maroons the lead once more.

First he shoved aside Josh Addo-Carr, before tearing down the wing. His step inside caused Tedesco to slip, leaving a clear run to the line and spark delirium among the Maroons supporters.

Lindsay Collins goes airborne

It's the 76th minute of a brutal and bruising Origin contest.

The game is on the line and the Maroons — still a player down — have the ball on the fifth tackle, deep in New South Wales territory.

Daly Cherry-Evans puts a kick up. Surely all he can hope for is to contain Tedesco and re-organise the defence.

But Lindsay Collins seemingly says, "Hang on guys, the game's not over yet", before running past five stationary Blues defenders — all with their eyes skyward — to leap above his Roosters teammate Tedesco and catch the ball. 

"I just saw the ball and went for it," Collins said on Channel Nine.

"It was only fitting, wasn't it? [Taking a mark at] Adelaide Oval. I saw the ball and came down with it."

He instantly looked for the offload to Munster, who scored and celebrates wildly as the Blues players stared disbelieving into space.

Every other Maroons player though sprinted to Collins for his stunning involvement that sealed a memorable, miracle win for Queensland.

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