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Queensland legend Mal Meninga has launched a scathing assessment of his former team's performance in Wednesday night's State of Origin opener, pinpointing several critical areas of concern following their 18-6 defeat to New South Wales. Meninga didn't mince words, suggesting some Queensland players need to seriously reflect on their effort and commitment after a performance he described as “unacceptable.”

The Maroons, widely tipped to dominate the series, were outplayed in almost every department, struggling to generate attacking opportunities and repeatedly failing to capitalise on limited momentum. Meninga, a three-time Origin winner and former Queensland coach, believes the defeat exposes deeper issues within the squad than simply a bad night at the office.

“There are some serious questions that need to be asked,” Meninga told Channel Nine. “I watched the game and I saw a team that didn’t want to be there. That's a harsh statement, but that's what it looked like to me. You need to be prepared to put your body on the line, and I didn't see enough of that.”

Specifically, Meninga highlighted concerns over Queensland’s attacking execution and their ability to adapt to the Blues’ defensive pressure. “Their attack was non-existent. They couldn't break down the NSW defence. They needed to be more creative, more expansive. They just played straight into the hands of the NSW team.”

The criticism extends beyond the team's overall performance to individual players. While Meninga was reluctant to single out specific names, he hinted that some players failed to meet the standards expected of them in an Origin setting. “There were a few players out there who just didn’t look like they were ready for State of Origin football. The intensity, the physicality, it just seemed to pass them by.”

The loss puts immense pressure on Queensland heading into Game Two in Brisbane. Meninga insists the Maroons need a dramatic turnaround in attitude and performance if they are to keep the series alive. “They have a lot of work to do. They need to go back to the drawing board and figure out what went wrong. And more importantly, they need to fix it, and fix it quickly.”

The comments from Meninga, a respected and influential figure in the Queensland rugby league community, are sure to send shockwaves through the Maroons camp. The team faces a significant challenge to respond to the criticism and regain their reputation as a dominant force in State of Origin.

With the series now at 1-0 to New South Wales, Queensland's hopes rest on a significant improvement in Game Two. Can they heed Meninga’s warnings and deliver the performance needed to level the series, or will the Blues march on to another Origin triumph?