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Queensland began life under new head coach Billy Slater with a gritty performance studded with flashpoints of impressive skill.

Billy Slater has begun his reign as Queensland coach with a team built in his mould claiming an 16-10 win through sublime execution of skill to open the 2022 State of Origin series.

Since he retired as a player in 2018 after being part of the most dominant team in Origin history, the Maroons have been in a state of flux, winning just one series in that time.

After the victory on Wednesday night, the Maroons will take the upperhand into Game II in Perth, with Suncorp Stadium offering Queensland an extra level of safety in the final match of the series.

There had been a great deal of speculation about how Slater's side might attack, given he had opted to pick tall wingers in Xavier Coates and Selwyn Cobbo.

Their selection prompted opposition coach Brad Fittler to calling up the lanky Daniel Tupou at the expense of Josh Addo-Carr.

Queensland sides of recent years have struggled to match NSW for strength in depth and they have won games courtesy of attrition and will, rather than footballing finesse.

But, as during Slater's own Origin career, the Maroons came to play.

Very little split the two sides statistically, with the Maroons able to match the Blues in the battle for yardage. It was telling that Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans touched the ball so much.

Combined the Maroons halves had 74 possessions, compared with 60 shared by Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai for the Blues.

It was moments of brilliance which swung the game in the Maroons' favour. Kalyn Ponga sent out a cutout pass to the right and Cobbo and chipped ahead for Dane Gagai to score Queensland's opener.

Cherry-Evans outwitted the Blues by running straight off a scrum before Valentine Holmes rounded out their victory with a well-taken finish. Munster was menacing throughout, with a number of key plays.

What Slater managed better than the Blues was the use of his bench, especially considering Jeremiah Nanai and Coates went off with injury.

Josh Papalii and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui set the platform for the Maroons to go forward with bench props Lindsay Collins and Patrick Carrigan taking advantage of the groundwork that had been laid.

Carrigan was the Maroons' standout forward with 145 metres from 18 runs and another Queensland debutant, Reuben Cotter, got through 49 tackles.