HE'S the form player in the NRL and Tom Trbojevic's Manly performances have translated to the Origin arena.
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The 24-year-old was the star in the Blues record-breaking 50-6 victory over Queensland in the series opener in Townsville.
The Sea Eagles have won five from seven since Trbojevic's return from a hamstring tear and he was at it again on Wednesday night.
Despite wearing number four on his back, the Manly fullback was handed a licence to roam by NSW coach Brad Fittler and he made the most of it, popping up in all areas of the field.
Trbojevic finished the match with three tries, 199 run metres and a try assist as the Blues raced away with a famous victory in front of 27,533 fans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
The centre was not the only NSW player to impress, all 17 of Fittler's men contributing to the win.
Penrith duo Jarome Luai and Brian To'o were outstanding on debut, while Nathan Cleary was instrumental in leading the team's attack and Latrell Mitchell was threatening each time he touched the ball.
While Trbojevic was the star, Fittler said the performances from his teammates allowed the centre to shine through.
"We started to get on top and you could see we were finishing our sets well," Fittler said.
"We were putting them under pressure with where they were getting the ball back and that sort of play allows players to do that, to roam a little bit and he just took advantage."
St George Illawarra forward Tariq Sims, from Gerringong, was also among the side's top performers, Braith Anasta labelling it one of the best games of the 31-year-old's career.
"That's a career-best game," Anasta said on Fox League.
"That's the best game I've seen him play if you take into account it's Origin.
"He was strong in attack, this pass here was brilliant, you don't see Tariq throw passes like this very often, a cutout pass to To'o, that was to get out to 12-point lead.
"Not only that but defence. He was everywhere, in every tackle, they were dominant tackles, he was putting pressure, he was intimidating.
"That's what [NSW] didn't have last year, they didn't have that enforcer, from the get go, he was in their face the whole game."
The Maroons were left to lament a disappointing showing, the side off the pace in defence and ruing poor handling during a subpar first half.
Queensland finished the match with 52 missed tackles and 13 errors, the side needing an immediate turnaround to retain the shield.
The win puts NSW in pole position to win the series, however the contest is certainly not over, Queensland to host the second match in Brisbane before Game Three at Stadium Australia.
The Blues clearly enjoyed the win, however Fittler remained level-headed post-game.
He's had his squad in seemingly unlosable situations before, only to drop matches or lose the series and he knows the challenges will only continue in two weeks' time.
"We're well aware that nothing's been achieved as yet," the coach said. "We've won a game every year quite convincing.
"I'm quite aware that winning a game by 50 here in the first game doesn't mean anything.
"We haven't won at Suncorp for three years now, so that's the challenge. This is over now, the challenge is Suncorp, we haven't won there so there's a really big goal in front of us."
The opening 10 minutes played out as many experts had predicted, the best players in the league taking the NRL's new fast-pace style to hyper-speed.
The action went from end to end, both teams identifying space on the edges and finding opportunities to snipe through the middle of the field.
It was in stark contrast to Origins of old, the typical slow, punishing softening up period abandoned as the two sides hit the attack button from the opening whistle.
Despite trailing 2-nil early, Queensland looked to be gaining the ascendancy before Mitchell burst through the defensive line to put the Blues on the attack.
A silly penalty from Kyle Feldt handed the side a repeat set and Trbojevic promptly made the Maroons pay.
Latrell was again in the thick of the action four minutes later, the centre hitting To'o who finished it in the corner.
The Panthers winger made it two in the 26th minute, St George Illawarra's Tariq Sims throwing a superb pass as he was falling to the ground to link up with To'o.
Despite trailing 20-nil, the Maroons threatened to hit back, NSW handing the hosts multiple attacking opportunities.
Eventually they made the most of one, Kurt Capewell sliding past Trbojevic to cut the gap to 14 at the break.
Times were tense early in the second half, both sides recognising the match hung in the balance.
Queensland fans could sense a famous comeback had their side managed to strike first, however it was Trbojevic again who ensured NSW would retain the ascendancy.
The centre produced a superb grubber for fellow centre Mitchell, who pounced for the first of two second-half tries.
Trbojevic's second came in between his partner's double, this time Mitchell throwing the final pass.
The Blues sensed blood in the water throughout the final 20 minutes, Daniel Saifiti crossing before Trbojevic completed his hat-trick to secure a 44-point win.
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