New South Wales have flexed their muscles, completing a record 50-6 win over Queensland in the opening State of Origin clash in Townsville.
The Blues ran in eight tries to one, with Nathan Cleary going a perfect nine from nine with the boot, as they humbled the defending series champions in front of 26,000.
Tom Trjboevic scored his second Origin hat-trick, while centre partner Latrell Mitchell and debutant Brian To'o scored try doubles.
The Blues turned a 20-6 halftime lead into an NSW record 44-point win, to set the marker for the rest of the series, with the second game at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium in two weeks.
New South Wales put the game to bed in the first quarter of the second half, with Mitchell scoring twice in a matter of minutes, silencing the North Queensland faithful that packed out Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Three more tries would follow with little resistance, as Jerome Luai, Cleary and Trjbojevic put on a masterclass.
Earlier, New South Wales shot out to a 20-0 lead, after a 10th-minute penalty from Cleary opened the scoring.
Trbojevic ghosted through a weak Kurt Capewell tackle for the night's opening try and within nine minutes they had two more - a double to Origin debutant To'o.
The Panthers winger made the most of a Damian Cook midfield break, scoring a tackle later off a feed from Mitchell.
Moments later, he crossed for a second time, after Tariq Sims produced an audacious offload to free up an unmarked To'o to touch down in the corner.
Queensland came to life in the final 10 minutes of the spell and should have had more than just a 35th-minute Capewell try.
The breakout star of the 2020 series got one back on Trbojevic with some handy footwork to give the Maroons halftime hope at 20-6.
Join us on June 27 for live updates of State of Origin II between NSW and Queensland
