Live coverage: State of Origin 2018 game three

BILLY Slater didn't even play in the first Origin match of 2018 and was part of a losing Queensland side in game two. It's no wonder the Australian public - and even the man himself -reacted with sheer disbelief as Slater was named man of the series.

BILLY Slater has robbed NSW players for so much during his decorated Origin career. But the Maroons fullback and fill-in skipper had one last parting gift for the Blues by becoming the first player to win the Wally Lewis Medal in a losing side.

To downplay Slater’s legacy would be disrespectful to one of the game’s all-time greats. But many pundits were left shaking their heads at the decision to award Slater the player of the series considering how good the Blues were in the opening two games.

Coupled with the fact Slater failed to play in the Origin opener having been ruled out through injury. While Slater was among the Maroons best last night, he was challenged for man of the match honours by the returning Daly Cherry-Evans who starred after ending his Origin exodus.

NSW fullback James Tedesco won man of the match honours in game one following the best solo performance of the series while Blues skipper Boyd Cordner took the honours out in Sydney.

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Slater was named man of the series and even he couldn't believe it.

The likes of Tedesco, Cordner and Blues hooker Damien Cook could count themselves unlucky for missing out on the award.

The announcement of the medal also coincided with former Blues coach Laurie Daley’s first task as Australian selector. Daley became a Kangaroos selector earlier this year replacing Bob McCarthy.

The medal is decided by a 4-3-2-1 poll system voted on by Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga, as well as national selectors Daley and Darren Lockyer. 

Regardless it caps a remarkable end to a glittering career for Slater who also became the first player to win the medal twice. He won it 2010.

“This is really special,” Slater said. “Wally was a hero when I was growing up. To win this award for the second time it will go down as one of the biggest achievements.”

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Billy Slater after leading his team onto the field of play in his last game for Queensland. Picture: Getty

Former Blues skipper Paul Gallen was the last New South Welshman to win when the Blues had last won a series in 2014.

Maroons have rightly dominated the medal winning it all but three times since it was introduced in 2004.

Gallen was disappointed with the decision to overlook a player from the series-winning Blues side.

"I can't help but feel sorry for a NSW player not to win the Wally Lewis Medal," Gallen said on Channel 9.

"It's a big deal to win the Wally Lewis Medal, I thought someone like Boyd Cordner thoroughly deserved it."

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COMMENT: SLATER AS MoS IS A FARCE

By PHIL ROTHFIELD

BILLY Slater is an all-time great rugby league player and possibly even a future immortal.

But the decision to name him as the Wally Lewis Medal winner as player of the series at Suncorp Stadium last night was a farce.

Take nothing away from this champion fullback but what were the Australian selectors Darren Lockyer and Laurie Daley thinking?

Even the man-of-the-match award should have gone to half-back Daly Cherry Evans ahead of the champion Melbourne Storm fullback.

This was a decision that appears to have been made on the emotion of Slater’s final game.

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Queensland's Billy Slater was denied a try in the first half after being ruled to have knocked on. Picture: Phil Hillyard

A decision that sent social media into meltdown last night with NSW Blues fans rightly questioning how the award had gone to the Maroons skipper.

Surely James Tedesco, Damien Cook or Boyd Cordner from the series winning Blues side would have been better choices for the Wally Lewis Medal.

In an enthralling, physical, back and forth game the Blues held off a Queensland onslaught to lead 12-8 at halftime.

Two Maroons tries in the second half, one to Valentine Holmes and one to Daly Cherry-Evans, who was superb on return, won them the day as a final Blues attack fell short.

QUEENSLAND 18 (V Holmes 2 D Cherry-Evans tries V Holmes 3 goals) bt NEW SOUTH WALES 12 (J Tedesco T Trbojevic tries N Cleary 2 goals) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 51,214.

Game 1: NSW 22 bt QLD 12

Game 2: NSW 18 bt QLD 14

Game 3: QLD 18 bt NSW 12

Series: NSW win series 2-1

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