Queensland coach Kevin Walters insisted he had "no dramas" with the referees following the Maroons' defeat to New South Wales in the first game of this year's State of Origin series despite the Blues' clinching try appearing dubious.

The Maroons have won 11 of the last 12 series but their dynasty appears under threat after they slipped to a 22-12 loss in Melbourne. 

Josh Addo-Carr crossed for the try that put the game beyond doubt, but James Maloney's looping pass to the winger following James Tedesco's break looked as though it strayed forward.

Walters was not asked directly about that pass but pressed for his appraisal of the match officials, he told a media conference: "I thought they were really good, we've got no dramas with the referees, we thought there might have been a few more penalties but there weren't so 5-1, that's the way it goes with Origin, we've probably got to look at ourselves there, look at our discipline and get that better for game two."

Queensland's preparations for the opening game were disrupted by injuries, including one to full-back Billy Slater, and were also playing without the trio of Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith, who have all retired from representative rugby, the latter doing so two weeks before game one.

Walters added: "We had sort of a mixed preparation with Benny Hunt not training all week with him being in his second game of Origin, certainly [half-backs] Benny and Cameron [Munster] haven't played a lot of footy together, it's not an excuse, they're good players, we love what they do, we love what they bring and they'll be better in Origin two."

Victory marked a strong start to Blues great Brad Fittler's career as coach, but the ex-Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters stand-off felt his side were fortunate to run into a Maroons side with so many pre-game problems.

"I always felt we were going to win the game, I was very excited about the team and the way they handled themselves during the week," Fittler said.

"I don't think Queensland will be in that position again, what went on with their camps, players pulling out, losing so much experience, having blokes play with some pretty severe injuries as well, I don't think we'll get an opportunity to play a team so underdone as that.

"If they weren't as underdone, we just spent so much time on our own line, I'm not sure with a side that's got a rhythm, I don't know if we would've held them out.

"But our defence, for blokes that have just seen each other for 10 days, was pretty impressive really."