IT WAS the line of most resistance.

Each training session in the build-up to their mission as State of Origin’s ultimate underdogs, Queensland players would finish up with defensive drills on their tryline.

“Fatty had us lined up on our tryline at the end of each training session — We weren’t to let them across our line,’’ Maroons centre Mark Coyne remembers.

“There … that is what we were going to protect. We did lots of defensive drills near our tryline and it came out in the games, didn’t it?’’

The 2-0 score of Queensland’s win over NSW in Game One of the series stands as a monument to the defensive excellence and desire which first-time coach Paul Vautin drew from his thrown-together of ARL loyalties in rugby league’s split season.

“Fatty said at meetings that, `if they don’t score, they can’t win’,’’ prop Gavin Allen says.

“Everyone had that in the back of their minds. It was a great effort defensively and it launched the confidence we had for Game Two.’’

The Courier-Mail the next day particularly highlighted a three-man tackle by replacement prop Mark Hohn and backs Matt Sing and Danny Moore to hold Blue Terry Hill up over the line 14 minutes from the end. But there were other last-gasp tackles to deny NSW.

“I don’t think we had the confidence or capability of scoring a few tries. We knew we had to defend our hearts out,’’ Allen says.

“Had we have lost that first game I don’t know if we’d have had a chance in the rest of the series. I remember how different it was when we went into camp for Game Two.’’

Rugby league has gone back this year to its “take the two’’ roots, with NRL coaches increasingly keen to forego the temptations of the tap penalty in attacking positions.

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Queensland goalkicker Wayne Bartrim’s 29th minute penalty goal 20 years ago was the difference between two sides striving to make their mark. Queensland had nine debutant players that night and NSW, it’s surprising to note, seven.

“Bartrim had the first kick nearly in front and missed it,’’ Allen says.

“We got a penalty out a bit wider and Gilly (captain Trevor Gillmeister) said we’d go for two. I said, `Mate, he missed the one in front. How’s he going to get this?’. He banged it straight over.

“Then we had to defend that two points. No one wants to be the bloke who lets their teammates down.’’

In a column for The Courier-Mail later that week, Coyne recounted some of what Vautin had said to the players at halftime.

“You’re going well, but there is work to be done. If you feel you are doing it tough in the second half, just take a look at what you’re wearing,’’ Vautin said.

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“That Queensland jersey will keep you going for the whole 80 minutes.

“It’s a Queensland heart, pumping blood the colour of maroon. Don’t worry about your teammates — they’re Queenslanders and they will do whatever is necessary.’’

Down the race towards a television camera on the way back for the second half came Billy Moore.

The “Queenslander’’ call was reported to have been used by Maroons players as far back as 1987, when Gary Belcher hollered it to marshall flagging defenders. But Moore made this the night absolutely everyone was let in on the catchcry’s existence.

Teammates yelled it so often as the second half wore on that one Blues player snapped at them to “shut up’’.

Later, we had the first and last reported instance of a NSWRL president kissing a Queensland coach on the cheek after a Maroons win. “This shows State of Origin is alive and well,’’ Ken Arthurson said that night.

Overnight, Queensland had a new collection of household names.

“I’m still old Dudley Terry Cook. But people don’t say `Terry Who’ now, do they?,’’ reserve Terry Cook quipped when they reconvened for Game Two.

Teams:

Queensland: Robbie O’Davis, Brett Dallas, Mark Coyne, Danny Moore, Matt Sing, Dale Shearer, Adrian Lam, Tony Hearn, Wayne Bartrim, Gavin Allen, Trevor Gillmeister ©, Gary Larson, Billy Moore. Int: Terry Cook, Ben Ikin, Mark Hohn, Craig Teevan.

NSW: Tim Brasher; Rod Wishart, Terry Hill, Paul McGregor, Craig Hancock; Matthew Johns, Andrew Johns, Dean Pay, Jim Serdaris, Mark Carroll, Brad Mackay, Steve Menzies, Brad Fittler ©. Int: Greg Florimo, David Fairleigh, Matthew Seers, Adam Muir.

Queensland 2 (Bartrim goal) d NSW 0.

Referee: Eddie Ward. Crowd 39,841 at Sydney Football Stadium.

Tuesday: Game Two