Anthony Quinn (right) marked his NSW debut with a brace of tries

New South Wales drew first blood in the 2008 State of Origin series as a dominant first-half display set them on their way to victory over Queensland.

A brace of tries from Anthony Quinn - the first converted by Craig Fitzgibbon - and a Brett Stewart effort saw the Blues take a 14-0 lead.

Brent Tate's try on the half-time hooter gave Queensland some hope.

But Anthony Laffranchi's try made the game safe for NSW before Israel Folau scored a late consolation.

Queensland claimed the 2007 series 2-1 but they were put under pressure from the opening whistle of the first game of the 2008 edition at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney.

They were behind after just four minutes as Stewart pulled a pass in one-handed before sending the debutant Quinn over down the left.

Fitzgibbon converted and when Quinn grabbed his second quarter of an hour later, leaping above Tate to claim Peter Wallace's kick, the hosts led 10-0.

Manly full-back Stewart latched onto Mark Gasnier's inside pass late in the half to make it 14-0 but the Maroons gave themselves a glimmer of hope on the stroke of the interval.

Jonathan Thurston dabbed a kick through and as the half-time hooter sounded, Tate got his fingertips to the ball to score.

Thurston could not convert from the touchline and any thoughts of a fightback evaporated after the break as the hosts held the Maroons at bay with some ease.

Laffranchi struck for the Blues with 12 minutes to go, again profiting from a one-handed inside pass from Gasnier, and although Folau marked his debut with a last-gasp converted score, New South Wales had long been home and dry.

NSW: Brett Stewart; Jarryd Hayne, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Anthony Quinn; Greg Bird, Peter Wallace; Brett White, Danny Buderus (capt), Ben Cross; Ryan Hoffman, Willie Mason; Paul Gallen.
Replacements: Anthony Laffranchi, Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon, Ben Hornby.

Queensland: Billy Slater; Brent Tate, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Israel Folau; Karmichael Hunt, Johnathan Thurston; Carl Webb, Cameron Smith (captain), Petero Civoniceva; Michael Crocker, Sam Thaiday; Dallas Johnson.
Replacements: PJ Marsh, Ben Hannant, Nate Myles, Jacob Lillyman.