NSW captain Boyd Cordner has been awarded State of Origin’s first penalty try in 36 years in a moment that is sure to dominate discussion following Game II.

With the Blues trailing 10-6 late in the first half, Ben Hunt took Cordner down as he attempted to chase down a James Maloney grubber to score.

The play was sent to the NRL’s bunker with the on-field call of no try, but that was overruled by review officials Steve Chiddy and Ben Galea.

Maloney then slotted over the goal from right in front to make it 12-10, which remained the score at halftime.

It marks the first penalty try given in Origin since the one-off game in 1981, when Mal Meninga was held back by Steve Rogers in the final minutes of the match.

Maroons captain Greg Inglis argued Cordner was offside in his pursuit, but referee Gerard Sutton said that had been cleared by the bunker and the Blues skipper would have scored.

“He’s onside, and he’s ahead of Will Chambers and there is no one else ahead of him,” Sutton said.

“We reckon he would have got there.”

NSW’s David Williams is the only other player to have been given any similar ruling, when he scored a eight-point try in Game III of 2009 when he copped the boot of Johnathan Thurston after scoring.