Glamorous Savannah Fynn turns heads when performing Welcome to Country at Origin - as footy fans rubbish rendition of Advance Australia Fair

Savannah Fynn turned heads performing Welcome to Country at the State of Origin opener on Wednesday night in Sydney - but footy fans slammed Dylan Wright's 'hipster' rendition of the national anthem.

Fynn, 21, spoke with maturity beyond her years when she acknowledged the traditional owners of the land, before declaring 'may the best team win' while kitted out in Blues gear.

Not everyone was raving about Fynn however, with one fan posting 'that Welcome to Country felt so corporate', with another stating it was 'painful and drawn out.'

This year's Australian Idol winner Wright provided a country music rendition of Advance Australia Fair - and it wasn't well received by many supporters on social media.

'The Blues have already lost #Origin because of that anthem,' one NSW fan fumed on X.

Another posted: 'Not a fan of artists putting their spin on the national anthem. 

'Either sing it properly, or just play the Julie Anthony recording.'

A third weighed in with: 'I hate to sound like a boomer but can't they just sing the anthem normally.'

'What is this the Hipster Anthem? Diabolical,' posted one viewer.

'Could be the worst anthem rendition in recent memory,' quipped another.

Fynn did garner some support online, with one footy follower labelling her 'awesome.'

'Welcome to country defeats Anthem by some margin,' one fan said.

'What a gorgeous welcome to country from that young woman!' wrote another.

Another expressed her pride at Fynn acknowledging her Dubbo roots, a city in the Orana Region of NSW.

In a wild opening to the contest, veteran hooker Ben Hunt crossed early for the Maroons and then young gun Reece Walsh was knocked out senseless following a sickening collision with Joseph Sua'ali'i. 

The Blues centre - who will play for the Wallabies next year and was a controversial selection in the eyes of many - was sent off by referee Ashley Klein for direct contact to the head in just the seventh minute.

Recalled fullback James Tedesco made it 6-6 moments later as the hosts quickly adjusted to having 12 men, only for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to then cross for his sixth Origin try in as many matches for Billy Slater's men.

When the Queensland flyer grabbed his second moments later in the 23rd minute, the contest was effectively over.