‘Robbed’: Fans fume at player of the match verdict in State of Origin Game 1

Rugby league fans were left scratching their heads and crying foul after a NSW star was “robbed” of an honour in the Origin series opener.

Rugby league fans have questioned whether Zac Lomax was robbed of player of the match honours in NSW’s Game 1 State of Origin victory.

The Blues won 18-6 but the score flattered Queensland given NSW missed four conversion kicks and could have piled on more points if they were at their best.

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The results marks the first time since 1998 that NSW have won consecutive games at Suncorp Stadium, putting the Blues in the box seat to retain the Origin shield as the series heads to Perth for Game 2.

Broncos prop Payne Haas was a force in the middle for the Blues as NSW dominated Queensland in the battle between the two forward packs.

Haas finished with 18 runs for 156 metres, five tackle busts, three offloads and 30 tackles without a miss.

It was a trademark game from Haas who set the tone, but Lomax was arguably even more special on the right wing for NSW.

Payne Haas was at his barnstorming best for NSW. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Lomax ran for 209 metres (including 75 post contact metres) from 25 carries and scored two tries to take his tally to five tries from just four State of Origin games.

His effort to set up the match-sealing try was spectacular too.

Nathan Cleary put up a short kick and Lomax grabbed the ball out of the air and flicked it on to Connor Watson, who bobbled it up for an offload just as he was about to be tackled.

Dylan Edwards grabbed the footy and dived over to score an epic team try.

Haas had a stellar game but footy fans made the case that Lomax was robbed of player of the match.

The Daily Telegraph described Lomax as the “early favourite for the Wally Lewis Medal” as player of the series.

The NRL commentator behind the popular “The Oracle” X account wrote: “Difficult choice for man of the match. When was the last time a winger was MOM? Zac Lomax for me ahead of Haas & Angus Crichton.”

Payne Haas was named player of the match in Game 1.

Zac Lomax was sensational on the wing for NSW. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

One fan wrote: “Lomax was phenomenal. He was my MOM. I could have handled Yeo. Can’t agree with Haas.”

A second said: “Lomax robbed of MOM, Best on ground by a country mile!”

A third said: “Haas as man of the match was more of a joke then Qld’s attack.”

A fourth added: “He played well but how anyone apart from Lomax got it is a mystery.”

There was plenty of praise for Haas’ performance too.

George Rose said: “Payne Haas man of the match well deserved. Beast! Blues clean sweep inbound.”

Penrith premiership winner Scott Sattler said on SEN: “He was amazing. His physical attributes. I don’t think I’ve seen in a front rower since Paul Harragon.”

One fan said: “Should have been Lomax imo but Payne was immense too so nothing wrong with this call.”

Was Zac Lomax robbed of player of the match? Picture: NRL Photos.

NSW captain Isaah Yeo was full of praise for his wingers Lomax and Brian To’o after the game.

“They’re fantastic players, they help you so much in sort of yardage coming out of trouble,” Yeo told Nine.

“They just never seem tired, the pair of them. But then off the back of that, their carries are so powerful and you gain momentum often, particularly early.

“It’s hard to do in this arena to get early momentum in sets, and they certainly do a wonderful job for us.”

It was a dominant performance by NSW in a game free of much controversy apart from the Blues trainer’s sneaky tactics and Brian To’o’s sin bin.

Originally published as ‘Robbed’: Fans fume at player of the match verdict in State of Origin Game 1