NSW complete biggest-ever State of Origin comeback win, Ponga sent-off

First blood to New South Wales in the 2026 State of Origin series, staging the greatest comeback in the rivalry's history on a wet, dramatic night in Sydney.

In front of over 79,000 fanatical fans, the Blues fought back from an overwhelming 20-0 deficit to snatch an unbelievable 22-20 victory in the final minute of play.

The hosts got off to a nightmare start as Queensland completely dominated the initial 20 minutes of play.

The Maroons ran rampant, crossing the stripe for three converted tries and adding a penalty goal to silence the Sydney crowd.

The Blues desperately clawed back a sliver of hope before the break when Hudson Young barged over, trimming the half-time margin to 20-6.

The turning point of the match arrived in the 57th minute when Maroons superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga was sent off, leaving Queensland a man short for the remainder of the game.

Ponga was given his marching orders after making direct contact with the head of New South Wales debutant Tolu Koula, becoming the first Origin player to be sent off since Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii two years ago.

Ponga has escaped suspension though, meaning he is free to play in the NRL this weekend after being hit with only a fine for the grade two shoulder charge.

With Ponga gone, the Blues ruthlessly took full advantage of the extra space at the back, launching a furious attack to score three unanswered tries.

Halfback Nathan Cleary completely took the game by the scruff of the neck, pulling the strings perfectly in a masterful, Man of the Match performance.

The grand finale came in the 79th minute when Cleary launched a towering bomb into the rainy Sydney sky.

Veteran fullback James Tedesco hunted it down, leaping high to catch the ball and dive over to seal the historic victory in the dying seconds.

Beyond Cleary's heroics, the Blues received stellar contributions from 21-year-old stand-off Ethan Strange, who was incredibly busy on debut after the late withdrawal of Mitchell Moses.

20-year-old Kiwis center Casey McLean also made a massive mark on the big stage, delivering a faultless display despite the slippery conditions.

With the Blues holding a 1-0 lead, the series now shifts south, with Game Two set to take place at the MCG on June 17th.