State of Origin 1 player ratings: Who starred, who struggled at MCG?

THERE were some passionate performances in last night’s defeat, but one or two Queenslanders will be looking over their shoulders ahead of Game II. Who shone for the Maroons and whose place in the side could be under a big cloud now? PLAYER RATINGS

Josh McGuire on the charge for the Maroons against NSW.

THE Blues got the cash and Queensland have their backs against the wall. Find out who starred and who struggled at the MCG.

QUEENSLAND

Michael Morgan 7.5

Made an important aerial bomb catch eight minutes in. The replacement for Billy Slater came closest to a mistake when he put a big shot on James Tedesco but didn’t stop the ball in the leadup to NSW’s fourth try.

Valentine Holmes 6.5

Gave Queensland a foothold when he gambled and won with his 90m intercept try. Aside from that, brought the ball up well, making 122m from 13 runs.

Greg Inglis 8.5

Lifted his side with bellringer tackles on Tom Trbojevic and Nathan Cleary. Had the better of his match-up with James Roberts and took some important hitups without breaking the match open.

Will Chambers 4

Missed eight tackles and is danger of being the man to make way for Slater in Game Two. Was stepped badly by Tedesco, his seventh missed tackle, in the lead-up to NSW’s third try and missed as well for the fourth Blues try.

Dane Gagai 7.5

Ignored his hand injury to make the most tackle busts of his side to halftime (three). Scored his eighth try upon resumption and disputed a crucial error call against him soon after. Ran for 144m.

Cameron Munster 7

His side’s most dangerous ball-runner in the first half, but missed four tackles and then turned the ball over on attack with 18 minutes left. His kicking and running options both need to improve for Game Two.

Cameron Munster was Queensland’s most dangerous ball-runner.

Ben Hunt 7

Worked well into his debut at halfback. Produced encouraging last-tackle kicks either side of halftime, with the second putting his side ahead with a Gagai try and a bomb later gained a dropout.

Dylan Napa 7

Stepped up the potency of his game in the second half after making 26m in the first half, finishing with 94m as well as 36 tackles.

Andrew McCullough 7

Didn’t run from dummy-half until the 39th minute. Taken out with 15 minutes to go with a typically energetic 48 tackles and deserves to be retained.

Jarrod Wallace 5

Made 16m from only two runs in his 20-minute stint and finished with 26m and 21 tackles. Matt Scott gets his chance to come back for Game Two.

Gavin Cooper 6.5

Made 37 tackles, but did not threaten a line break in making 56m from seven runs overall.

Felise Kaufusi 7

Commendable debut, making 43 tackles and missing eight. Ran for 103m and will be in the 17 if Matt Gillett can play Game Two.

Josh McGuire 7.5

Seasoned performer who made light of no football in six weeks by making most metres of any Maroons forward, 122m and 38 tackles.

Josh McGuire on the charge for the Maroons against NSW.

Josh Papalii 7

Unable to adjust laterally to a dummy-half run straight after he replaced Wallace in NSW’s first try, but was his side’s most forceful forward either side of halftime.

Coen Hess 5.5

Well held this time at Origin level in making 51m.

Jai Arrow 5

Like Hess, will learn from the outing, finishing with 54 from seven runs.

Anthony Milford

No rating

Brought into the game late in the second half as a playmaker, with Hunt going to dummy-half and was unable to make an impact.

NEW SOUTH WALES

James Tedesco 9

Another top-shelf game for the Blues fullback, and now the likely Test No. 1 in October. On the spot in support for the game’s first try and played his hand beautifully in NSW’s second and fourth tries.

James Tedesco was superb for the Blues at the MCG. Picture: Brett Costello

Tom Trbojevic 7.5

Carried the ball up 20 times, the most of any outside back. Stripped ball from Holmes in a bomb leap for his try and was faultless under the high ball at his defensive end.

Latrell Mitchell 8

Credited with 11 tackle busts, second only to Tedeso’s 12, and the 20-year-old was one of the best NSW debutants, being too strong for two defenders in NSW’s second try.

James Roberts 6.5

Game didn’t roll his way, but to his credit he managed to not be exposed by the red-hot Inglis, missing only two tackles.

Josh Addo-Carr 7.5

Made 10 tackle busts, although opposite Gagai missed only three, and finished well to score the game-clinching try after Tedesco’s line break.

James Maloney 7.5

His forward pass on his 40m line was punished by Queensland’s second try, but kept scheming and his pinpoint bomb provided the go-ahead try.

Nathan Cleary 7

Defended well on Queensland’s priority side of the field, in which Munster and Inglis were frustrated. Like Hunt, he will be better for the experience.

David Klemmer 8

Set the standard for another busy Origin match, having covered 104m from nine runs in his first stint, double the number of metres than made by anyone else to that point.

Damien Cook 8.5

Put down a strong case to take over Cameron Smith’s Test spot with his dummy-half sorties, including one for NSW’s first try, amounting to 84 run metres. Also made 52 tackles.

Damien Cook was superb for the Blues on his State of Origin debut. Picture: AAP

Reagan Campbell-Gillard 7

Made 91m and effected 23 tackles in a strong Origin debut.

Boyd Cordner 8

Exposed in defence in Game Three last year, but did not miss one tackle last night, also making a game-high 21 runs in a fine captain’s hand.

Tyson Frizell 7.5

Three tackle busts to halftime to leave Queensland’s left-edge uneasy. Second in the NSW count with 35 tackles.

Jack De Belin 6.5

Busy Dragons lock made 26 tackles, missing only one, and made 55m from six runs

Paul Vaughan 6.5

Deputised nicely when Klemmer was off the field, making 64m from seven runs.

Jake Trbojevic 7.5

Again gave a point of difference in a representative match, carting the ball for 78m and making 35 tackles.

Angus Crichton 6.5

Two offloads and made 33 tackles in a promising debut for the Souths forward.

Tyrone Peachey

No rating