NSW PLAYER RATINGS FROM ORIGIN I
Two defensive errors for Queensland’s match-winning tries scarred an otherwise tidy night. Delivered 164m running and threatened the line regularly but couldn’t lift his side.
The Penrith flyer kept putting his side on the front foot with a typically big yardage effort, finishing with a game-high 209m.
An up-and-down night. He looked to have scored the match-winning try when he gave the Blues an 18-16 lead. Was constantly threatening and finished with 118m.
Manly’s magician looked at home back on the Origin field but faded after a bright start and didn’t have the attacking involvements NSW needed.
Very quiet night on his return to State of Origin, constantly struggling to get involved. Delivered 99m, mostly yardage carries that didn’t create much in attack.
Had a sharp assist for Liam Martin’s try and a nice hand in Crichton’s, but wasn’t helped by NSW’s overall lack of creativity deep in Queensland territory.
Queensland found a way to deal with his kicking game which neutralised one of his biggest assets. Had some nice defensive moments and a no-look pass helped create Martin’s try, but just couldn’t stamp his authority.
Didn’t look out of place on NSW debut but also didn’t set the world on fire. 87m, two errors and two missed tackles weren’t anything to write home about.
The game’s craftiest hooker lent on his awareness to pick Queensland’s pocket and score a go-ahead try and he also delivered a game-high 42 tackles.
Controlled the middle in typical fashion without producing the game-breaking moments he can at club level. Running for 115m is the minimum you’d expect from a player of Haas’ elite calibre.
Nearly scored in the first half and was a defensive rock, but didn’t shine the way he has in the past at Origin level.
Two early errors didn’t help the debutant find his feet at Origin level. Found 33m before he was hooked on 31 minutes and didn’t return.
Did more grunt work than his usual link play, but couldn’t put his fingerprints on the game the way he’s capable of in a 101m and 37-tackle display.
Immediately asserted himself off the bench, but ran for 91m without truly changing the game.
Part of the bench push NSW needed when down 10-0, but 88m and 23 tackles was the bare minimum required.
Capped off the Penrith connection by running a perfect line for NSW’s first try and generally changed the game off the bench with his energy, making some monster tackles and violent runs. NSW’s best player by some distance.
Sat on the bench for 69 minutes and then filled in for Trbojevic after his head knock. No ability to assert his prodigious talent in that limited time.
Australian Associated Press