Oldest player on the ground scores on shock return to Origin

Josh Morris has celebrated his unexpected return from representative retirement with the first try in the 2019 State of Origin series.

The 32-year-old had not played for the Blues in three years before Wednesday night.

But he was called into action after a return to form for Cronulla and the Blues’ injury curse.

POWERFUL SCENE: Indigenous stars boycott anthem

“I’m expecting a very physical war out there,” he said on Tuesday.

Morris, the only player from either team born in the 1980s, proved he was still up to the task when he bullied his way past Michael Morgan and Corey Oates to score in the 20th minute.

The try sent NSW up 8-0 following an early penalty goal, and Morris’s twin Brett – who retired from Blues duty after 2017 – applauded his brother’s effort.

Queensland later had a try turned down by the Bunker after it was deemed Dylan Napa had not grounded the ball.

The Blues held that lead through to half-time in a fiercely fought first 40 minutes.

Channel Nine’s Andrew Johns reported a “very vocal” Morris took his passion into the sheds at half-time to fire up his teammates.

Key moments of the first half

* 5th minute: Speedy NSW hooker Damien Cook makes the game's first serious inroads out of dummy-half after a bruising opening, pinning the hosts on their tryline

* 13th: An under-fire Queensland give away the game's first penalty as the Blues press, with Nathan Cleary slotting the first points. SCORE: 0-2

* 17th: Will Chambers bursts through a gap before Corey Oates launches himself at the line on the opposing wing from the next tackle, only to be denied by a stray foot on the line

* 20th: Cleary squares up the defence, James Tedesco skips to the right and finds Josh Morris on his Origin return, who barges over from close range. SCORE: 0-8

* 26th: Cook again goes straight through the ruck but, from the ensuing kick, NSW had debutant Payne Haas to thank after he pulled down a runaway Dane Gagai

* 29th: Daly Cherry-Evans hits the goalpost with a grubber, Gagai gets a piece of it, Dylan Napa dives on the ball and 'try' is the soft-signal call, before officials judge Napa to have knocked on

* 32nd: Another Queensland try goes begging as Chambers, set up by a brilliant Cameron Munster run, is chased down by Tedesco and Josh Addo-Carr just metres from the corner post

* 36th: Ben Hunt manufactures a 40-20 to give Queensland prime position for another raid, but again they can't turn it into points.

with AAP