An emotional New South Wales rugby league coach Laurie Daley has lauded the courage of his battered troops who scraped out an unlikely win in the opening match of the State of Origin with several players playing through serious injuries which will potentially keep them out long-term.
Brett Morris looked to briefly dislocate a shoulder in the first half scoring a try but played on to make a match-saving tackle on former Dragons team-mate Darius Boys in the dying minutes.
Anthony Watmough played through a serious biceps injury that may keep him out for some time, while Daley said Josh Morris and Trent Hodkinson were among others playing through pain.
Captain Paul Gallen stayed down after another huge late hit from behind from Josh Papalii after he had passed the ball.
Gallen said after the match he had been getting burners in his neck and would need to go for scans.
Daley says the win was one of the bravest Blues performances of all time.
Queensland also have injury woes and are likely to be without star halfback Cooper Cronk for the rest of the series, after the Kangaroos playmaker suffered a suspected broken arm in Wednesday night's loss.