Wednesday May 24 19:56 AEST
Boom Newcastle five-eighth Jarrod Mullen sparked NSW under-19s to a 22-10 win over Queensland in a fiery rugby league clash at Telstra Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Blues scored 22-unanswered points to claim victory in the curtain raiser to Wednesday night's State of Origin series opener, but not before the game exploded in the final three minutes with an all-in brawl.
Queensland lock Keiron Lander was sent off by referee Chris James for his part in the altercation, with NSW's two-try hero Jarryd Hayne also sent to the sin bin.
The Blues had already wrapped up the game by that point after turning around a 10-0 deficit.
Mullen threw the final pass for the Blues' first two tries to lead the fightback.
It is the second time the under-19s clash has been played with players selected on an Origin basis. Queensland won 40-12 in the inaugural match last year.
The Maroons took a 10-0 lead after tries to five-eighth Joel Moon and winger Denan Kemp in the opening 20 minutes.
But a pair of miracle balls close to the Maroons tryline from Mullen and hooker Stuart Flanagan in the 30th minute helped NSW cut the deficit to just four at the break.
Wests Tigers youngster Flanagan was swamped by three Queensland defenders near the tryline before flicking a pass out the back to Mullen, who quickly tossed a no-look speculator which was well read by Hayne who scored.
Luke Walsh's conversion from in front made it 10-6, before the Blues claimed the lead six minutes into the second half.
Mullen drew in two defenders close to the line before firing a flat cut-out pass to winger Ben Jefferys to dive over in the corner.
Walsh's sideline conversion made it 12-10 to NSW.
The lead was out to six shortly after when Newcastle flyer Akuila Uate finished off some quick Blues movement.
Hayne, who made his NRL debut for Parramatta last week, then iced the victory with his second try.
Boom Newcastle five-eighth Jarrod Mullen sparked NSW under-19s to a 22-10 win over Queensland in a fiery rugby league clash at Telstra Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Blues scored 22-unanswered points to claim victory in the curtain raiser to Wednesday night's State of Origin series opener, but not before the game exploded in the final three minutes with an all-in brawl.
Queensland lock Keiron Lander was sent off by referee Chris James for his part in the altercation, with NSW's two-try hero Jarryd Hayne also sent to the sin bin.
The Blues had already wrapped up the game by that point after turning around a 10-0 deficit.
Mullen threw the final pass for the Blues' first two tries to lead the fightback.
It is the second time the under-19s clash has been played with players selected on an Origin basis. Queensland won 40-12 in the inaugural match last year.
The Maroons took a 10-0 lead after tries to five-eighth Joel Moon and winger Denan Kemp in the opening 20 minutes.
But a pair of miracle balls close to the Maroons tryline from Mullen and hooker Stuart Flanagan in the 30th minute helped NSW cut the deficit to just four at the break.
Wests Tigers youngster Flanagan was swamped by three Queensland defenders near the tryline before flicking a pass out the back to Mullen, who quickly tossed a no-look speculator which was well read by Hayne who scored.
Luke Walsh's conversion from in front made it 10-6, before the Blues claimed the lead six minutes into the second half.
Mullen drew in two defenders close to the line before firing a flat cut-out pass to winger Ben Jefferys to dive over in the corner.
Walsh's sideline conversion made it 12-10 to NSW.
The lead was out to six shortly after when Newcastle flyer Akuila Uate finished off some quick Blues movement.
Hayne, who made his NRL debut for Parramatta last week, then iced the victory with his second try.
