State of Origin player ratings: Who starred, who struggled in Game Three

QUEENSLAND got the win but the result threw up a big question mark for one key player’s State of Origin future. Check out how all the players rated.

Dane Gagai tries to beat Blues centre James Roberts. Picture: Annette Dew

QUEENSLAND prevented a Blues clean sweep and sent Billy Slater out a winner, in the final State of Origin clash for 2018.

Check out who starred and who struggled in Origin III at Suncorp Stadium.

BILLY SLATER

Headache in his last Origin game whenever he loomed on either side of the ruck and his quick hands helped free his winger for Queensland’s second try. Named man of the match. Rating: 8.5.

VALENTINE HOLMES

Gambled and won with his second intercept try of the series and later made a diving catch for a second intercept when NSW raided with four minutes to go. Should have won over fans with all the hard metres made in the series.

Rating: 8.5.

Valentine Holmes continued his strong form for Queensland. Picture: Phil Hillyard

DANE GAGAI

Did the job defensively in his new centre position and competed his best on almost every play. Linked with Slater for one of the game’s most brilliant forays.

Rating: 7.5.

WILL CHAMBERS

Best game of the series but was unable to straighten the attack in key plays. Missed only two tackles.

Rating: 7.

COREY OATES

His big workrate game was spoiled by two errors in consecutive sets when NSW were vulnerable midway through the second half.

Rating: 6.5.

CAMERON MUNSTER

Rebounded maturely from the setback of his lofted intercept pass which conceded NSW’s first try. Made the line break which put Queensland ahead with the decisive try and also made 23 tackles.

Rating: 8.

DALY CHERRY-EVANS

Brilliant game management in the first half with his short-kicking game, allied to Munster’s, getting five first-half restarts. Backed up smartly for the winning try and enhanced his chances of an invitation back next year.

Rating: 7.5.

Daly Cherry-Evans races away to score a try for the Maroons.

JAI ARROW

Kept motoring gamely despite absorbing a big hit by Paul Vaughan early.

Rating: 7.

ANDREW MCCULLOUGH

Will wonder if he fits in Queensland’s plans after playing only the first 31 minutes. Defended well, but ran once only

Rating: 5.

JOSH PAPALII

Delivered for his selectors in a new starting role with 75m from his first five runs and was as good as any prop on the field.

Rating: 7.5.

GAVIN COOPER

Very good in the last two games, making 125m from 18 carries and persisting with his lines run off Munster to provide the linking pass for Cherry-Evans’s try.

Rating: 8.

FELISE KAUFUSI

Made a couple of key tackles in the second half when his side was rocking on the ropes and finished his first series with much credit.

Rating: 7.

JOSH MCGUIRE

Made a bad defensive read in NSW’s second try but he and Cooper topped their side’s tackle count with 31 apiece.

Rating: 7.

State of Origin 2018 Game 3

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INTERCHANGE

BEN HUNT

Came on after 31 minutes to play dummy-half. Made two ineffective short kicking options in the second half, but finishing on the winning side could see him be an Origin player next year.

Rating: 6.

JARROD WALLACE

More suited to this bench role, carting it for 80m from his first nine runs.

Rating: 6.5.

COEN HESS

Much more vigorous than in previous two outings and a big hit-up laid the platform for Holmes’s second try. Finished with 96m from 10 runs.

Rating: 7.5.

TIM GLASBY

Has a 3-0 win-loss record in Origin and contributed 22 tackles and 53m here, making the case he should have been there in the first two games.

Rating: 6.5.

NEW SOUTH WALES

JAMES TEDESCO

Prospective new Test fullback fought back well after his pass was intercepted for the first Queensland try, although held to 135 run metres.

Rating: 6.5.

TOM TRBOJEVIC

Helped out his inside teammates by hauling in an 85m intercept try when his side was down to 12 men and made a game-high five tackle busts.

Rating: 8.

Tom Trbojevic scores a try for the Blues.

LATRELL MITCHELL

Not credited with a run in the first half, but delivered a big early tackle on Slater and kept the NSW left side tight. Missed the elusive Slater in the second Maroons try.

Rating: 6.

JAMES ROBERTS

Credited with no line breaks for the series but did well in defence again and was one of the more dangerous Blues in the last 15 minutes.

Rating: 7.

JOSH ADDO-CARR

Not overburdened with opportunities at the end of an impressive first series but made 150m from 14 touches.

Rating: 7.

JAMES MALONEY

For a questionable defender, he made two top tackles in the first half. Owed his team in the second half for his professional-foul sin bin, but could not give his tiring side structure. Did get a grubbered ball back into the field of play with 10 minutes to go.

Rating: 6.

NATHAN CLEARY

Had trouble defending at times on Munster’s side of the field. But was a handful in attack and will be back even better next year.

Rating: 6.5.

DAVID KLEMMER

Fooled by Munster’s footwork in the lead-up to Queensland’s third try and must have created some sort of record for giving a penalty away for tripping when his side was 5m from the Maroons’ line. But still made 107m.

Rating: 6.5.

DAMIEN COOK

Deserves to be Test hooker in October for a big workrate series and two more destructive moments from dummy-half in the first half before being quieter thereafter.

Rating: 7.

Damien Cook has had a superb series for NSW.

PAUL VAUGHAN

Defended well, making 23 tackles, but ran the ball once only.

Rating: 5.5.

BOYD CORDNER

Went into the game under a fitness cloud, making 91m and contributing 23 tackles.

Rating: 6.5.

TYSON FRIZELL

One of the best in the series, making 28 tackles and carving out 68m.

Rating: 7.

JAKE TRBOJEVIC

Game-high 28 tackles to halftime and in plenty of those he hit to hurt. His ball skills gave NSW a point of difference in the ruck.

Rating: 7.5.

Jake Trbojevic takes on the Maroons defence.

INTERCHANGE

JACK DE BELIN

Busy again in defence and made 53 run metres from seven carries.

Rating: 6.5.

TARIQ SIMS

Announced himself by lining up a falling Oates and making big contact. Foolishly gave a penalty away by tackling a defender in his own half, but competed well.

Rating: 6.

ANGUS CRICHTON

Impressive debut series off the bench, but offloaded over the sideline at 12-all and Cherry-Evans scored from the next set.

Rating: 5.5.

TYRONE PEACHEY

Kept the ball alive well when he came on with 17 minutes, but his grubber on NSW’s last set was ill advised.

No rating.