IT was the moment we all missed in last night’s State of Origin clash.

The moment that, once again, Queensland and Sam Thaiday proved how dirty they really are.

In the 53rd minute of the match a NSW line dropout was caught by Thaiday on the 40m line.

If Adam Reynolds’ reaction is anything to go by it would appear the Maroons back-rower squirrel-gripped the NSW halfback as he, Josh Jackson and Dylan Walker completed the tackle.

The result was a penalty. To Queensland.

Despite remonstrating with the referees while indicating he had been grabbed it was Reynolds who was penalised for shoving Thaiday to the ground.

Welcome to Suncorp Stadium.

Even the main camera missed Thaiday’s alleged attack on Reynolds and a quick restart of play by Cameron Smith meant we never went back to have a look at the incident. Never went back to see it from another angle.

What we do see in replays of the available footage is Thaiday’s hand on the ground with a fistful of the drawstring from Reynolds’ shorts.

A moment later Reynolds lunges at the veteran Maroon and concedes the penalty.

It was a moment that added insult to injury for the Blues because it was Thaiday, again, who escaped heavy sanctions on the field after he tipped Blues skipper Paul Gallen vertical in a tackle before he speared into the turf.

The first-half incident had the potential to cause serious injury to Gallen but Thaiday escaped with being placed on report.

He was charged by the match review committee with committing a dangerous tackle and could miss two games.

Yesterday marked 1813 days since the Blues had won a penalty count at Suncorp Stadium. After last night that number continues to rise.