Like Hayne, who revealed he had been trying to prevent what he thought was going to be a 40-20 kick from Cameron Smith when he scooped the ball back for Darren Lockyer to score the try that sealed victory, Justin Hodges made a costly blunder as a 20-year-old debutant for Queensland in 2002. After watching Lockyer swoop on the loose ball - in almost identical circumstances to his series-clinching try in the dying minutes of last year's deciding match at Melbourne's Telstra Dome - Hodges expressed sympathy for the 19-year-old rookie, who had been on a high after scoring one of the best individual tries in State of Origin history. A downcast Hayne, who became the youngest NSW player since Brad Fittler made his debut in 1990, said afterwards that the thing he would remember most from his first Origin appearance was "how fast the game can change".
"I said to Locky after the game that when he passed that ball, it reminded me of when I did it," Hodges said. "I know Hayney and he probably would be a little bit down - but it's just one of those things you've got to learn from and hopefully he will come back bigger and stronger. "For me, it shattered me, because playing for Queensland is everything.
I felt that I had let my teammates down and the whole state down as well. I got taken off, but we got away with the win. Still, I would like to have my two passes back.
It plagued me for a lot of years. But these things happen. It's his first game and he's going to be a great player.
" After the 61st-minute incident, in which Hayne had tried to pass to NSW fullback Anthony Minichiello, Blues teammates immediately rushed to his side to console him. "They were great," Hayne said. "They just said, 'keep it together, don't let it get to you'.
" "That was pretty special, wasn't it," Murray said. "He's a good talent and he took some big body hits out there, but what he did there just shows what a class player he is. He certainly showed he's a big player of the future.
" One of five rookies in the NSW side, Hayne said he had wanted to make a big impression but wasn't getting carried away by his heroics. The Blues led 18-6 at the interval but failed to score a point in the second half as Queensland piled on three tries to hit the lead when Lockyer crossed, and finished far stronger. "It was my first game and the inexperience showed," Hayne said.
"It was a great kick and a great chase. The kick was pretty deep and I looked at Mini and I realised I had to get it. I just kept going towards the sideline and I think I tried too much and it ended up a try.
I was just trying to help the team, I wasn't up there being a show pony or anything. It was a 50-50 thing. "The first half we were on a roll and the second half was just a different sort of game.
Being my first Origin, I didn't want to make those sort of mistakes. It was disappointing, not only that I threw the pass and Mini didn't get it but that they scored a try. "It was pretty much my last option.
I knew that I was that close to the sideline they were just going to throw me over anyway, so the only option I could really do was to pass it - and it just went horribly wrong." Murray indicated that the mistake was unlikely to be held against Hayne when the teams for Origin II are picked. The Blues selectors are expected to make minimal changes, although Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah may be in line to replace the injured Kurt Gidley.
Asked about Hayne, Murray said: "Inside, he's got to be upset ...
he will be upset, the kid. He was trying to do the best for the football team and you never get away from a player who is trying to do what he thinks is the right thing. You've got to support him.
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