State of Origin 2018 Game II player ratings for NSW, Queensland
Who starred and who flopped in 2018 State of Origin II at ANZ Stadium? Here are our player ratings for the match.
Who starred and who flopped in 2018 State of Origin II at ANZ Stadium? Here are our player ratings for the match.
NEW SOUTH WALES
JAMES TEDESCO: Safe as houses at the back and topped the Blues’ run metres in another typically dynamic display. 7.5
TOM TRBOJEVIC: Strayed from his wing twice to gift Queensland an early try but stepped up big time defensively when Roberts was in the bin late on with the game on the line. 7
LATRELL MITCHELL: Terrorised the Maroons all night as a menacing presence both with ball and without, powering over Chambers for a decisive second-half try. 8
JAMES ROBERTS: The Jet never found open space in a relatively quiet game and would have been sweating bullets while in the bin for unnecessarily taking out Cooper. 6
JOSH ADDO-CARR: Scored his side’s first four-pointer with some brilliant footwork and made a try-saver on Gagai and missed Chambers cold to set up the grandstand finish. 7
JAMES MALONEY: Broke the Maroons open yet again with a superb double cut-out pass for Blues’ opening try and crucially slotted three from three including two from the sideline. 8
NATHAN CLEARY: Played his role perfectly, quietly patrolling while allowing Maloney to be the attacking architect before pulling off a telling cover tackle on Holmes late-on. 7.5
DAVID KLEMMER: The Blues’ biggest unit and one of the few survivors from 2017 had a massive first half to vindicate the faith shown in him by coach Fittler. 7
DAMIEN COOK: Outpointed his Queensland opposite with a lively dummy-half display as well as contributing a Blues-best 42 tackles. 8
MATT PRIOR: Didn’t have as much impact as he would have hoped but the veteran debutant was characteristically reliable in the time he was on the park. 6.5
BOYD CORDNER: The skipper led from the front with more runs and metres than any Blues forward while collecting a vital penalty try to put his side in front for the first time. 8.5
TYSON FRIZELL: Took a power of stopping while running for more than a metre a minute and hitting like a sledgehammer in defence. 7.5
JACK DE BELIN: An ironman in defence and NSW’s busiest forward in the frenetic early exchanges. 7.5
PAUL VAUGHAN: A typically powerful performance from the 2018 debutant to prove again he belongs in the Origin cauldron. 7
JAKE TRBOJEVIC: Provided huge impact after coming off the bench with the Blues down on the scoreboard late in the first half. 8
ANGUS CRICHTON: Limited game time but the young superstar confirmed himself as another Origin natural. 6
TYRONE PEACHEY: Also not given much time to impress but didn’t let his teammates down. 6
QUEENSLAND
BILLY SLATER: Another superb display from the 35-year-old future Immortal, setting up Queensland’s first two tries and trying his heart out all night. 8
VALENTINE HOLMES: Ran for more than 200 metres and was a constant threat to the Blues defence, especially in broken play. 7.5
GREG INGLIS: Delivered an inspirational captain’s knock with a try assist, some heavy hits in defence and big yards every time he touched the ball. 7.5
WILL CHAMBERS: Scored the second-half four-pointer to keep his side in the contest and made a try-saver early but took some terrible options and also cost the Maroons with ill-discipline. 5.5
DANE GAGAI: Suspect at times in defence but produced some fine finishing to bag yet another Origin try and was unlucky not to collect a double. 7
CAMERON MUNSTER: Created doubt in NSW defence with every touch to confirm himself as a Maroons mainstay in the new era without Thurston, Cronk, Smith and soon-to-be-retired Slater. 7.5
BEN HUNT: The chief playmaker had a stinker, misreading for NSW’s first try, then obstructing Cordner to concede a penalty try and generally taking wrong options all night. 3
DYLAN NAPA: Proved to his many doubters he belongs in the Origin arena with a passionate performance highlighted by a heavy hit on his Roosters teammate Cordner. 7
ANDREW MCCULLOUGH: Topped the tackle count with 49 but lacked the dummy-half spark of Cook. 7
JARROD WALLACE: Enjoyed plenty of game time without offering too much impact for coach Walters. 6
GAVIN COOPER: Got through a mountain of defensive work but never really troubled the Blues with ball in hand. 7
FELISE KAUFUSI: One of Queensland’s best forwards with a high work rate highlighted by 26 first-half tackles and a late try-saver on Mitchell. 7.5
JOSH MCGUIRE: Lived up to his reputation as the Maroons hardman with some heavy duty action in the middle. 7.5
KAYLN PONGA: The budding superstar was a tad eager early but ultimately left fans wondering why he wasn’t used in game one with a sizzling Origin debut off the bench. 8
JOSH PAPALII: Largely ineffective display in attack and defence from a usually destructive performer. 4.5
COHEN HESS: Tried hard to lift teammates with a rugged effort off the bench. 6
JAI ARROW: Staked his claim for a start in game three with an energetic exhibition when injected into the fray. 6.5
AAP
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