NSW, Queensland player ratings from Origin I
NSW powered to a 1-0 series lead at the MCG, but who were the best performers? Player ratings from the Origin opener.
NSW powered to a 1-0 series lead at the MCG, but who were their best performers? Player ratings for both sides from the Origin opener.
NEW SOUTH WALES
1. JAMES TEDESCO - The man-of-the-match scored the opening try and then played a hand in the other three. Tallied a game-high 221 metres and 12 tackle busts. Superb performance. 10
2. TOM TRBOJEVIC - Took plenty of tough carries in the first half and was rewarded with a spectacular mid-air steal from Valentine Holmes for a second half try. 7.5
3. LATRELL MITCHELL - Busted eight tackles in a dangerous first half and scored a crucial second-half try by running over Dane Gagai. 7
4. JAMES ROBERTS - Looked for opportunities in the middle but couldn’t quite get free, and was eventually substituted with six minutes to go. Passed his defensive assignment on Inglis. 6
5. JOSH ADDO-CARR - Scored a try and could’ve scored another in an electric performance, busting 10 tackles and breaking the line twice. 7.5
6. JAMES MALONEY - His mixed night included throwing the intercept pass for Holmes’ try, as well as the forward pass that led to Gagai’s try, but saved one and set up two others. 7
7. NATHAN CLEARY - Kicked mostly off the back foot but improved as the game went on. Finished with four missed tackles but was mostly solid in defence. 6.5
8. REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD - Was overshadowed by Klemmer in the first half, but was otherwise strong in his opening 30-minute stint and finished just as solidly. 7
9. DAMIEN COOK - Set up the crucial first try with a line break out of dummy half, and showed a surprisingly astute kicking game out of dummy half. Tallied a game-high 52 tackles. 8.5
10. DAVID KLEMMER - Carried the ball for 104m in a barnstorming first stint and also gave the Blues a lift when re-inserted midway through the second half. 7.5
11. BOYD CORDNER (C) - Dug in for plenty of runs from deep in his own half, and then followed it up with numerous big carries in the second half. Arguably the Blues’ best forward. 8
12. TYSON FRIZELL - Moved between the middle and edges as part of the forwards rotation. Was well-contained in attack but rock solid in defence, including a trysaver on Jai Arrow. 7
13. JACK DE BELIN - Came up with his customary folding shots in defence. 6.5 INTERCHANGE
14. PAUL VAUGHAN - Got caught as the Maroons turned momentum in the first half and struggled to translate his dynamic running to the Origin arena. 6
15. JAKE TRBOJEVIC - Showed his trademark work ethic in defence, scrambling for 35 tackles. 6.5
16. ANGUS CRICHTON - Brought on midway through the second half and ran with aplomb, offloading twice. 6.5
17. TYRONE PEACHEY - Came on for the final seven minutes as a replacement for James Roberts but didn’t see much ball. N/A
QUEENSLAND
14. MICHAEL MORGAN - Safe at the back, finishing with 169 metres. Struggled to inject himself in attack. 6
2. VALENTINE HOLMES - Good read on Maloney’s pass for his 90m intercept try, which contributed to his team-high 212 metres. 7
3. GREG INGLIS (C) - Tried to lift his team with a number of jolting shots through the match, including bell-ringers on Tom Trbojevic in the first half, and Cleary in the second. Busted a team-high six tackles 8.5
4. WILL CHAMBERS - Might have finally met his match in his duel with Latrell Mitchell, missing a worrying eight tackles. 6
5. DANE GAGAI - Showed no ill-effects of a busted finger suffered on game eve, scoring a try off a Hunt grubber but was otherwise limited in opportunities with the ball. 6.5
6. CAMERON MUNSTER - Posed a threat with every run in the first half but was contained in the second. 6.5
7. BEN HUNT - Forced a number of line dropouts with his outstanding short kicking game, including a neat grubber for Gagai’s second-half try. Produced another opportunity with a second-half 40-20. 7.5
8. DYLAN NAPA - Maroons pack leader managed just 26m in his first stint but rebounded in his second to finish with 94m. Outplayed by counterpart Klemmer. 6
9. ANDREW McCULLOUGH - Neat service out of dummy half and came up with a team- high 48 tackles, but was outshone by his opposite in Cook. 6.5
10. JARROD WALLACE - Limited to just 16m in his first stint and finished with just 26m for the match in an almost invisible performance. 5
11. GAVIN COOPER - Didn’t put a foot wrong in defence but was not a threat in attack. 5.5 12. FELISE KAUFUSI - Went searching for the ball but was well-contained by the rushing Blues defence, and also missed eight tackles as the Maroons right edge defence was worked over. 6
13. JOSH McGUIRE - Tried hard to lift his team, making more metres than any other Queensland forward but needed more help from his pack. 7
INTERCHANGE
14. JOSH PAPALII - Lifted the Maroons when he came on midway through the first half, with most of his runs coming over the advantage line. Arguably the Maroons’ best forward. 7.5
15. COEN HESS - His power game was dented by being used in the middle. 5.5
16. JAI ARROW - Got overpowered by the Blues’ relentless pressure in the middle of the field, making little impact. 5.5
19. ANTHONY MILFORD - Came on midway through the second half but had no influence. N/A
AAP
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