The Maroons have claimed the State of Origin opener on home soil, after losing the series to the Blues last year. More than 52,000 thousand fans flocked to Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday evening for the promise of an action-packed match. The teams did not disappoint, with the national anthem controversy, a fleeting lead from the Blues and a close contest up until the final siren. Maroons won Game One 18-14, despite trailing the 2018 champions 8-0 by the 40 minute mark. The Maroons have claimed the State of Origin opener on home soil, after losing the series to the Blues last year QLD Maroons fan cheer for the squad during Wednesday's victory in Brisbane But the game has again been marred by the refereeing with many questioning Queensland's two disallowed tries. The video referee denied attempts from Dylan Napa and Corey Oates to take lead of the game on Wednesday. Josh Morris and Jake Trbojevic scored in each half for the Blues but it was not enough to defeat the three tries through Corey Oates and Dane Gagai, who scored a double. A key moment of the Maroons' comeback was in the 58th minute when Latrell Mitchell was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul against Matt Gillett, who was in a try-scoring position. Mitchell's sin bin proved to turn the tables for the Maroons, who were held at 8-8 at the time. They quickly found the power to take the lead, with Gagai scoring a 95m intercept try off an errant Jack Wighton pass in the 67th minute. There were 60 seconds left on the sin bin clock for Mitchell. Gagai then ran off a Kalyn Ponga cut out pass to score the matchwinner in the 71st. 'Like I always say, it came off the back of hard work and effort from the boys,' Gagai said. The-28-year-old's successes were celebrated at the end of the game when he was awarded man of the match. Rugby league legend Paul Vautin declared the match as 'one of the greatest Origin games' Rugby league legend Paul Vautin declared the Game One as 'one of the greatest Origin games'. 'Queensland's come back sensational. NSW still had a chance to win it with a couple of minutes to go,' he told the Nine Network. 'All 34 players deserve a big round of applause. I enjoyed that. One of the great Origin games.' After the match Blues' Damien Cook admitted the result was disappointing. 'Felt like we played good footy tonight... Credit to Queensland. They come out firing tonight. Kept going the whole 80 minutes,' he told the Nine Network. Thousands of fans flocked to Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday evening for the promise of another action-packed match Gagai was a prominent force in the Maroon's victory, scoring two important tries to increase their lead in the second half Gagai (pictured), who scored two important tries for the Maroons, was awarded man of the match Speaking to the atmosphere Cook said it was always 'special' playing in Queensland. 'I'm a New South Welshman you love coming up here. They make it extra hard. Great turn,' he said. 'State of Origin is the best game... Would have been nice to get the win.' Daly Cherry-Evans Queensland captain commended his team for the win but said they 'won't be getting too ahead of ourselves'. 'I can't be prouder of the boys and the way they defended in the second half,' he said. Cherry-Evans said he was joined at Suncorp by immediate family and partners family. 'Lot of tickets. But worth every cent of it mate. Moments like this they're hard to forget.' In terms of Gagai's award as man of the match award Cherry-Evans determined it was 'well deserved'. 'He's a fantastic teammate. For a winger, you want them to be able to do all the tough stuff. Don't get me wrong he scored great tries. His carries were fantastic. He lights the game up like that.' More to come Maroons won Game One 18 to 14, despite trailing the 2018 champions 8-0 by the 40 minute mark Before the game kicked off, nine Origin stars opted to stay silent during Advanced Australia Affair. Blues trio Cody Walker, Josh Addo-Carr and Latrell Mitchell vowed to abstain from singing the national anthem, along with Maroons rival Will Chambers, ahead of the first clash on Wednesday evening. Blues representative Payne Haas joined the trio of Blues representatives and opted to stay silent. For the Maroons, Josh Papalii, Dane Gagai, Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Napa did not sing alongside Will Chambers. State of Origin stars have stayed true to their word and snubbed the pre-game national anthem, amid calls to change one word of Advance Australia Fair Latrell Mitchell (left) and Josh Addo-Carr (right) did not sing the national anthem at Wednesday's opener Left to right: Mitchell, Addo-Carr and Walker did not sing. They were joined by Payne Haas (right) While thousands of fans at Suncorp Stadium sang the anthem, some Origin stars stood in silence as the camera panned across the two squads. Pictured: Dane Gagai stood in silence Josh Papalii (right) joined Will Chambers (left) and opted to stay silent during Advanced Australia Fair Maroons players stand while the national anthem is sang on Wednesday night The silent protest comes amid a push to change the lyric 'young' to 'strong' amid criticism Advance Australia Fair does not represent the 60,000-year history of indigenous Australians. Former Maroons star Johnathan Thurston seemingly addressed the conversation when he delivered an acknowledgement of country before the anthem. 'For 60,000 years Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have been passing down their stories from generation to generation,' he said. 'Tonight, we come together. 'Please join me as we acknowledge the traditional owners and pay our respects to elders past and present. 'We come together, we stand united with respect for the land and for one another.' Dylan Napa (second from right) stood in silence during the anthem Former Maroons star Johnathan Thurston seemingly addressed the anthem boycott when he delivered an acknowledgement of country 'For 60,000 years Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have been passing down their stories from generation to generation,' Thurston said before the anthem State against state, mate versus mate: A man and a woman smile together ahead of Wednesday's match, despite supporting different teams Last week, Walker announced he wouldn't be taking part in the anthem, after also not singing before the start of the Indigenous All Stars game in February. He told the Sydney Morning Herald he wasn't making the choice to 'court controversy' but rather because it is a stance his family has long held. 'I'm not pushing my views on anyone, it's just how me and my family have grown up and how I feel. I've already voiced my opinion, and I want to reiterate it's just my opinion,' he told the publication. Walker's announcement was promptly followed by the support of Aboriginal NRL star Josh Addo-Carr, who also vowed to abstain from the anthem. Addo-Carr said the anthem does not represent Australia's indigenous people and revealed he hasn't sung it in 10 years. Maroons and Blues fans before Game One of the 2019 State of Origin series Despite being held at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, keen NSW fans donned blue wigs and cheered for their team Addo-Carr (right) has backed his Blues teammate Cody Walker (left) after he announced on Wednesday that he won't be singing Advance Australia Fair at his first ever State of Origin game 'I am a proud Australian man but a proud Indigenous man, too. If it's not going to stand for my people, why should I sing it?' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'I've forgotten how to sing it. I haven't been to school in about 10 years. I hardly sing it anyway.' Addo-Carr also raised questions about why nothing had been done to change the national anthem to better reflect indigenous Australians. 'We're Australians too. Why can't we recognise the indigenous people of Australia?' How hard can it be?' Queenslander Will Chambers was the next origin star to support Walker and Addo-Carr in their plan to silently protest the anthem as 'it doesn't represent us'. 'If the guys (Indigenous Origin players) don't want to sing it, so be it,' he said. Addo-Carr revealed he hasn't sung the national anthem since he was in school, because it doesn't represent his indigenous heritage Indigenous rugby league star Cody Walker (pictured with his family) said he didn't make the decision to cause controversy, but that it's a stance his family has held for a long time Poll Should 'young' be changed to 'strong' in Advanced Australia Fair? Yes 55 votes No 101 votes Now share your opinion 'If enough of us stand by and not sing, maybe one day there will be change and that's all we can hope for.' NSW youngster Latrell Mitchell then followed suit, agreeing with the players before him. 'It doesn't represent my people. I know Cody has spoken about it and Foxx [Addo-Carr] has spoken about it,' Mitchell told 7 News. The 21-year-old said he had a specific issue with the lyrics 'young and free'. 'We aren't young and free. We're the longest-living culture in the world,' Mitchell said. 'I guess just for them words to be in that, it just contradicts the whole anthem for us singing it.' Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek and Liberal MP Craig Kelly have called for one word to be removed from the anthem, to pay respect to the proud 60,000-year history of indigenous Australians. NSW youngster Latrell Mitchell followed suit, agreeing with the players before him. 'It doesn't represent my people. I know Cody has spoken about it and Foxx [Addo-Carr] has spoken about it,' Mitchell told 7 News Both Ms Plibersek and Mr Craig believe the words 'young and free' should be replaced with 'strong and free', The Daily Telegraph reported. 'I love singing the national anthem, and I sing it with pride,' Ms Plibersek said. 'But if we can make a small change to recognise our country's incredible 60,000-plus years of continuous culture, then let's just do it.' Mr Kelly proposed the word change on ABC radio and said the words of the national anthem are 'not something carved in stone'. 'If these gentlemen said (they) would be happy to sing the national anthem with changing that one word, I think a lot of Australians would sit down and they would say ''OK let's change that word'',' he said. 'Let's sing, ''We are strong and free'' and let's all get on and make sure we are, as the anthem says, Australians all.' Rugby league great and recently retired superstar Johnathan Thurston threw his support behind Walker and said he was surprised it wasn't made a bigger deal of after the Indigenous All Stars game. 'I thought it was great leadership by the team. Cody Walker came out after the game and said the national anthem doesn't represent him or his family. I can't remember anyone from the game coming out and having a further discussion about it,' he said. The South Sydney Rabbitohs and New South Wales Blues debutant also chose not to sing the Australian national anthem before the start of the Indigenous All Stars game in February (pictured) After the Indigenous All stars game Walker (pictured) said he hoped a discussion would be opened up about the national anthem New South Wales coach Brad Fittler said while he would be singing the national anthem himself he would still support the decision from his five-eighth. Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga was quizzed after the Indigenous All Stars game about what his thoughts were around players choosing not to sing the national anthem. 'We expect them to sing the national anthem, but I'm also in favour of the fact, if it is offensive to indigenous Australians, let's have a discussion about it,' he said. After the Indigenous All stars game Walker said he hoped a discussion would be opened up about the national anthem. 'It just brings back so many memories from what's happened and I think it's something that everyone as a group, and everyone in Australia, needs to work something out,' he said in the post match press conference. 'I don't have an answer but ...as a country we need to come together and make some sort of decision together, I reckon that's the answer.' At 29-years-old Walker will be the oldest player to debut in State of Origin as the starting five-eighth when the series kicks off in Brisbane on June 5 Walker was selected as the starting five-eight for the NSW Blues in the upcoming State of Origin Series, kicking off in Brisbane on June 5. After being selected for his first State of Origin appearance the father-of-two said he 'couldn't wait to tell the kids'. 'To be honest I couldn't wait to get home and tell the kids, just the excitement on their face… it was an amazing feeling,' he told 2GB Radio. 'But none of that means anything if I don't go out there and do my job on Wednesday night.' At 29-years-old Walker will be the oldest player to debut in State of Origin as a starting five-eighth. All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility