'Makes me sick': Braith's sad admission as ugly moment exposes ...

NSW Origin great Braith Anasta has ruefully conceded the Blues showed less desire than Queensland in key moments of their gutting Game 1 loss – even if he “hates to say it”.

The Maroons earned plenty of plaudits for their resilience and will to win, coming from behind despite injuries and a sin-binning to claim a 26-18 win in Adelaide.

At times in the game, 10-game NSW star Anasta said he was left thinking, “Queensland did just want it a little bit more than us.”

One crucial moment harshly exposed the Blues’ lack of desire: when Queensland prop Lindsay Collins ran past five inert NSW players to contest a kick and set up the final try of the night.

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Speaking on NRL 360, The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield said: “As far as I’m concerned … they (QLD) were just a little bit hungrier. A little bit more desire, a little bit more intensity.”

Anasta said: “They are never gone, they are never gone. As a NSW ex-player, supporter, watching the game. NSW are dominating but they’re just hanging in there.

“We’ve all read the book before; we’ve all seen the movie before. They hang in there. And then 10 minutes in the bin and you know that’s going to inspire them more, because that’s what happens with Queensland. And they just come up with the right play.

“I hate saying it. It makes me sick even saying this right now! But you just know they’re always in the game and they’re always a chance of coming back no matter how far behind they are, or whatever happens to their team.”

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Rothfield said: “I said before the game we had the better football side on paper … we all know Origin games are not won on paper. It comes down to the want to win, the jersey, intensity, the desire, the aggression. I used those words earlier. And we didn’t have it in the key moments.”

League great Gorden Tallis interjected: “They had it. Liam Martin and that had it.”

But Rothfield hit back: “Have a look at the last try when Collins gets above Tedesco. Where are all the NSW players in the chase for the football? Moments like that – I’m not saying we weren’t hungry. We were found wanting at key moments of the game.”

In that remarkable game-sealing try, Queensland prop Lindsay Collins raced past five Blues players before beating fullback James Tedesco in the air and feeding Cameron Munster for the finish.

Collins started the kick chase well behind NSW’s Isaah Yeo, Api Koroisau, Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai and Liam Martin – but that quintet hardly gave chase as the Queensland big man desperately gunned for the ball.

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Anasta added: “I think you’re right Buzz. I don’t want to be too harsh. Their intensity was there. But there were moments in that game where they dropped the ball, so to speak.

“And they capitalised – they always make you pay, Queensland.”

Anasta also pointed to the very first play of the game, where NSW failed to make a statement with a strong tackle on QLD fullback Reece Walsh.

“What stood out to me was all week we said we were going to bash Reece Walsh,” he said.

“He had the first touch for Queensland. He ran at Payne Haas and he found his elbows and knees on the first touch of the game, on the first run. So all that talk about bashing him, you just straight away go (it’s fallen flat) … he hits the biggest player, elbows and knees, gets up and plays the ball. And it continued to happen.”

He continued: “They (NSW) had every chance to win the game. There were just some moments when I thought: ‘You know what? Queensland did just want it a little bit more than us.’

“I hate to say it, but that’s just my honest opinion. I did see it out there.”