Holmes channels Hayne with controversial try

Valentine Holmes' Origin II try was stunningly similar to Jarryd Hayne's effort in 2009. Yet one was awarded and one wasn't.

The Queensland winger tip-toed down the sideline to give Queensland an early lead on Wednesday night, with the bunker failing to find sufficient evidence to overturn the on-field call of try.

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Replays showed his bright yellow boot come perilously close to the chalk before he dived over in the corner, sparking memories of Hayne eight years ago.

The NSW winger was left fuming in 2009 when a brilliant solo effort was overturned.

Hayne also tiptoed down the sideline before scoring in the corner, but back then there was no on-field call and the video referee thought he'd seen enough to say 'no try'.

The irony that one was a try and one wasn't was not lost on NSW fans after the Blues suffered a heartbreaking 18-16 loss:

NSW coach Laurie Daley took a thinly-veiled swipe at the referees after the match but was careful with his words so as not to incur a fine.

He implied they had changed interpretations from the series opener and had erred in green-lighting Holmes' opener.

Even Queensland coach Kevin Walters conceded Holmes' four-pointer was questionable.

with AAP