Game 1 of the 2022 State of Origin series kicks off on Wednesday night, and is set to be a cracker.

The battle between the NSW Blues and QLD Maroons never seems to disappoint... unless it's 2021 and you're a Queenslander. Nevertheless, there is a special kind of excitement that comes with the greatest rivalry in Australian sport.

We have Billy Slater up against Brad Fittler in the coaches box, Junior Paulo and Payne Haas facing off against Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Josh Papalii and that isn't even the best of the match-ups.

While every game has its features whether it's a decider in Game 3 or a pivotal Game 2, there is a special electricity that comes with the unknown of the first game in a series.

There have been some fantastic games in the 42 years the series has been running. Most of the greats, like James Tedesco scoring in the final seconds of 2019's Game 3, come in series-winning games, but what about series openers?

Here are ten of the greatest Game 1s in State of Origin History.

2. 2005 - 'Mango' Magic

While it is near number one on the list of worst memories as a NSW Blues fan, there is no doubting the excellence that is the first game of the 2005 series.

Ending in heartbreak as Matt Bowen races away to score, the entire game is a classic.

Queensland jumped out to a 19-nil lead with only 30 minutes to play, but a try to Luke Rooney in the 52nd minute reinvigorated the Blues to storm to victory. Mark Gasnier followed suit less than ten minutes later, while Craig Fitzgibbon found his way to the line with 13 minutes to play.

Off a beautiful backline spread from Trent Barrett to Mark Gasnier, Matt King raced down the sideline before sky-hooking the ball back inside to Danny Buderus. The NSW Blues captain scored his first try as the Blues took the lead 20-19.

Leading by one point with a handful of minutes to play, the Blues gave a penalty away through Luke Bailey and Darren Lockyer elected to take the kick to win. While he missed, the Maroons quickly made their way back up the field and Thurston slotted the field goal to send it to overtime.

After a ferocious eighty minutes, with each and every player gasping for breath, the Blues had the advantage. While a poor kick from Trent Barrett gave the maroons field position, they quickly wasted it.

Unfortunately for NSW Fans and Brett Kimmorley, it was a desperate and lazy pass that was the difference.

Firing a ball out to Matt King, it was Matt Bowen who plucked it out of the air and won the game for Queensland in the 84th minute.