State of Origin: Vote for your NSW Blues and Sky Blues player of the series
After a hoodoo-breaking NSW Blues series win at Suncorp Stadium and a record-breaking Women’s Origin series for the Sky Blues, we’ve picked our nominations for the player of the series. CAST YOUR VOTE.
The NSW Blues emerged as dramatic winners of the 2024 Origin series at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night in what was an instant Origin classic.
With 52,000 Maroons fans and a loathsome Queensland record against them, the Blues showed incredible grit and determination to come out on top and claim the shield.
While Michael Maguire can be praised for his overall squad selection in which everyone performed their roles to get the job done, there were some definite standout players.
For the women, it was a record-breaking State of Origin series, packed full of history-making moments for women’s rugby league.
Although NSW were outdone by Queensland in the first ever three game series, a handful of Sky Blues players were stand out performers across the series.
A couple of experienced stars and two rising young talents in the game can hold their heads high after a wonderful series for the Sky Blues.
Read our nomination for the NSW Blues and Sky Blues players of the series, before casting your vote as to who you think deserves top honours.
DYLAN EDWARDS
Only the fiercest of Penrith fans were adamant that this would be the year long-time skipper James Tedesco would be tapped on the shoulder. And while a dramatic quad injury to Edwards meant Tedesco answered an SOS for Origin I – which they lost – Edwards vindicated his selection with an average 206m and 7 tackle busts in their two wins, including a deserving man-of-the-match effort in Origin III. In doing so, he’s unequivocally separated himself as the best fullback in the league.
ZAC LOMAX
The debate over whether Lomax is a centre, winger, fullback or even a good player can rest for now. The Dragons star is a bona fide State of Origin hero, putting aside all the consternation over his contract decision with a series debut for the ages. It began with a 205-metre showing in Origin I, an 18-point individual haul – which included a ‘speccie’ at the MCG – in Origin II, and two clutch sideline goals in the decider. Could be a career-defining series for the future Eels marquee.
STEPHEN CRICHTON
If he isn’t already regarded as the game’s best centre, Crichton cemented his status as the best defensive three-quarter the minute he switched from the left side to the right to almost single-handedly stem the Maroons’ avalanche in Origin I. From there the Maroons struggled to broach the Blues’ defences again and, with his ever-present threat on the ball or in the air, Crichton proved a constant headache every time Queensland went down his channel.
JAROME LUAI
Love him or loathe him, Luai went from antagonist to protagonist when he baited Origin nemesis Daly Cherry-Evans into a scuffle then etched his name into Origin folklore by providing the decisive moment in the decider. After an opening 65 minutes of attrition, Luai broke the game open when he split the Queensland defence and put Bradman Best over, capping off a strong series from the Panthers star hellbent on being the Wests Tigers’ saviour.
MITCHELL MOSES
Injured in game one, Moses’ return coincided with the Blues’ resurrection. Having produced one of the all-time individual displays in Melbourne where he had a hand in six of their seven tries, Moses backed it up by steering the side to an unlikely win in Brisbane that included a solo try to clinch the series and put him alongside Ricky Stuart and Andrew Johns as winning NSW halfbacks of a decider in Brisbane. He also delivered a handful of momentum-turning defensive plays, only to finish with a torn bicep that has prematurely ended his season.
LIAM MARTIN
Never has the most carries or metres or offloads, and even makes the odd error and penalty. But what the Blues second-rower lacks in quantity he makes up for in quality. His highlight reel will be overflowing with a series of jarring hits, including one particular shot on former Panthers teammate J’maine Hopgood, who hasn’t played since, and bullocking runs that makes the Temora Terror one of the most popular Blues among his teammates and fans alike.
ANGUS CRICHTON
Has there been a bigger rugby league fairytale over the past 12 months? From battling manic episodes, playing reserve grade, then being overlooked for David Fifita as little as a couple of months ago. But after making more metres than any other forward this series (429), as well as tallying a total 14 tackle busts and 10 offloads, Crichton completed his career renaissance with the honour of being named Wally Lewis medallist. Arguably the rugby league story of the year.
YASMIN CLYDSDALE
The Newcastle second-rower is quickly becoming one of the most respected players in the women’s game, which was further endorsed by her performance across the three-game series. The 30-year-old was named player of the match in Origin I after a wholehearted game, running for 137 metres (the most of any forward on the paddock) as well as two tackle-breaks and a linebreak to stay busy in attack.
Her energy was infectious in leading the Blues to a 22-12 win at Suncorp Stadium, and she backed it up a few weeks later on home soil in Newcastle with more of the same. In pouring rain, the Blues went within a whisker of wrapping up the series in an 11-10 loss, and while game three was a disaster for NSW, Clydsdale was still fighting to change the game.
JAIME CHAPMAN
Her star is rapidly rising and rightly so.
The Gold Coast speedster was electric across all three games, scoring one of the best tries in women’s State of Origin history in game one, and another in the decider against the run of play. In the series opener she wreaked havoc on her edge with her signature power game. The 22-year-old finished with 162 running metres, six tackle-breaks and two line-breaks, getting the Blues on a roll with some aggressive runs early in the set.
She didn’t see enough ball in the rain-impacted Origin II, but remained a constant threat in game three when she had the opportunity. Another long-range try late in the game kept the Blues in the hunt, and she again finished with the highest run metres of any Sky Blues player as well as a new found respect from NSW fans all over.
OLIVIA KERNICK
Like Clydsdale, the Sky Blues second-rower never stopped trying.
Kernick, just 23, has quickly risen to become one of the most consistent players in the women’s game and has taken that effort to the State of Origin stage with the Blues.
In game one she was everywhere, smothering the Maroons’ attack with precise defence while proving a handful in attack. She kept up the same level of intensity across all three games, and despite a series of defensive mistakes in the decider, the Roosters star can hold her head high after a quality series.
ISABELLE KELLY
The Sky Blues captain is always one of the best on the field and this historic series was no different.
The 27-year-old is one of the most experienced Origin stars there is, and game three was her 12th appearance for the state.
She never lets NSW down.
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A lethal attacking weapon on her edge, Kelly combined with wing partner Tiana Penitani on the left to shut down the channel, daring Queensland to find another way through.
She stayed busy in the decider when the state needed her most, racking up the most running metres for any NSW player with 138, as well as four tacklebreaks and no missed tackles.
She also topped the running metres for game two (158) and was just behind Chapman in the series opener at Suncorp Stadium.
Originally published as State of Origin: Vote for your NSW Blues and Sky Blues player of the series
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