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Looking to debate all the ins and outs of Queensland’s win in the 2015 State of Origin decider? Here are player ratings for the Maroons and NSW Blues, so fire away!
All players get a mark out of 10.
1. Greg Inglis – 9.5
One of the more unbelievable plays saw Inglis pull the ball back from, as Gus Gould said, the Gold Coast from beyond the dead ball line. It came to naught, but it showed Inglis was a constant threat, even when everyone else thinks there’s nothing on.
He is the best fullback in the game, and showed it tonight. Big. Strong. Skilful. Scored a try, and did plenty to present himself as a threat in attack. That was his 17th Origin try – and he builds on his own record in that stat.
2. Darius Boyd – 8
Boyd played plenty of time at fullback in attack early on, and looks to have fully recovered from that injury that hurt his performance in Game 1. Scored his 16th Origin try, and did some good things in both attack and defence.
3. Will Chambers – 9
Queensland fans will be assured that there is life after Hodges and Inglis in the centres. He scores a try, but was very impressive in general play on the left side.
Gave Josh Morris more problems in one night than Greg Inglis did in two, which is saying something.
4. Justin Hodges – 9
Dropped the ball in the first set of the match, an unforgivable error, but he more than made up for it. Several probing runs in the first half, and a starring moment early in the second half to set up a try for Gillett.
Kicked a goal as his final action in a Queensland jumper. The only more fitting way to send him off would have been a try.
5. Dane Gagai – 8.5
A dropped ball early saw him cost his team two points. After that, it was the best debut you could imagine for an Origin player.
A try. Plenty of metres. Defused some dangerous situations in defence. Happy debut for the winger!
6. Johnathan Thurston – 9.5
Brilliant.
Two quiet games in the Origin series until today had some wondering when Thurston would step up. Today was the day.
Sparked plenty in attack, and was faultless in his goal-kicking. Now owns the record for most goals in an Origin match.
7. Cooper Cronk – 8.5
It’s hard not to identify Cronk as the common factor in this tremendous Maroons performance. Whenever he’s not there, you feel as if there’s something slightly wrong with the Queenslanders. Enter Cronk, and they’re different team.
Pulled the strings expertly.
8. Matt Scott – 10
Forced an error early, then proceeded to set up the try for Dane Gagai. Asserted Queensland’s dominance up front early, and they never relinquished it. Earns a lot of credit for this win, and he reasserts himself as the premier prop in Australia.
9. Cameron Smith (c) – 9
Inspirational in big games.
Cameron Smith worked hard in attack and defence, and worked plenty of angles out of dummy half. A clever kick set up a try, and he tackled his heart out as always.
Deserving winner of a ninth Origin series in ten years.
10. Nate Myles – 9
Was exceptionally strong early, forcing plenty of Blues to think twice about running at his shoulder.
Seemed to have picked up a yard of pace that he didn’t have in Games 1 and 2, adding plenty of energy into his performance. A vintage Origin performance from Myles.
11. Aidan Guerra – 8.5
Worked hard all night, and was solid if unspectacular. Good with the ball, and showed lots of steel in defence. You wouldn’t want to run at that shoulder too often. Finished with a try too.
A good night for the backrower.
12. Sam Thaiday – 9
Thaiday epitomised Queensland’s performance. It seemed like every time the ball was on the ground after the Blues dropped it, big Sam came up with it.
Hit hard in defence, as usual, and would just be a pain to play against.
13. Corey Parker – 9.5
Who knew ‘offload’ was actually Corey Parker’s first, middle and last time. Creating second phase play was crucial in hurting the Blues in the first half. And when he didn’t offload, he just made metres up the middle. A very good game from the Queensland veteran.
Interchange:
14. Michael Morgan – 8
Scored a very nifty try in the second half, and was a constant threat poking around holes on the fringe. Also threw a brilliant pass to Darius Boyd to put him in the corner.
Showed the spark he’s supposed to provide
15. Josh Papalii – 8
Big Josh played to his weight today, with a number of runs that you felt the impact of behind the box.
Gave the Maroons oomph off the bench in attack and defence.
16. Matt Gillett – 8
Was found to be offside in the midst of what would have been the Origin try of the decade. Aside from that was brilliant off the bench, with his presence of mind proving handy on second-phase play.
17. Jacon Lillyman – 9
For a man who had a quiet series up until the third game, Lillyman showed plenty of energy from the moment he got onto the field. A near line break, a few busted tackles, and metres every time he touched the ball.
A wow of a game off the bench.
Queensland’s Johnathan Thurston reacts towards Blues player Mitchell Pearce. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
1. Josh Dugan – 2
Was given no ball in attack, and had plenty to do in defence.
Not necessarily at fault with some of the errors he made, but still had to go through a torrid night. When you lose by 46, that’s what happens to fullbacks.
2. Will Hopoate – 3
Was just another Blue who had very little to work with in attack, and was terrorised on his edge. Not a lot to say about Hopoate’s performance unfortunately.
3. Michael Jennings – 5
Scored a good runaway try from a Queensland error, but was well contained by Justin Hodges unlike Game 2. His edge was much more brittle than in Games 1 and 2, but when you concede a half century, that’s part of what happens.
4. Josh Morris – 3
Had the job of containing Will Chambers tonight, and didn’t pass the test like he has against Inglis in the past. Looked bamboozled at time by the step of the Queensland centre.
5. Brett Morris – 3
Not awful. Not great. Had nothing to do except scramble in defence and work out of his own end in attack.
6. Mitchell Pearce – 2
Was put through plenty of defensive work early, and didn’t exactly get through it with flying colours.
The Blues had very little ball, but when they did it was on the turf more often than in safe hands. Failed to play the roll of organiser, and along with his halves partner Hodkinson has to share a portion of the blame for the loss.
7. Trent Hodkinson – 2
He’s generally a strong defender, but like the rest of the Blues had a horrid time tonight. Couldn’t direct the troops when the Blues had the ball in hand, so it’s hard to see where he’s earning points for this game.
8. Aaron Woods – 2
Woods had an opportunity to prove he was the best prop in the game tonight. He didn’t.
Was thoroughly outplayed by his opposites Scott and Myles, and ceded dominance too early for Origin, allowing the Maroons to run rampant.
18. Michael Ennis – 4
All the old complaints came back with Ennis. Talks to the referees too much, and does too much niggling.
He wasn’t the Blues’ worst tonight though, and kicked okay out of dummy half. Manned up in defence, but struggled in a well-beaten side.
10. James Tamou – 1
Was the starting prop in a team that was completely dominated. Gave away a stupid penalty by smacking Jacob Lillyman high and then with a swinging forearm at a crucial time.
Clearly frustration had a part to play in this, but you thought this was going to be his making as an Origin hero. Just like Woods, it wasn’t.
11. Beau Scott – 5
You can always be assured that Scott will try hard but in a well beaten side it was hard for Scott to do anything to turn NSW’s fortunes around. Not the worst player on the field, by any stretch.
12. Ryan Hoffman – 2
Went off early in the first half, and wasn’t sighted after. Not good to see him leave the field with an injury concern.
13. Paul Gallen (c) – 3
Tried to rally the troops, but failed. Was on the wrong side of the refs all night, with Blues players showing lapses in discipline at crucial times.
Was a cannon ball in attack, but you need more from the captain in a decider.
Interchange:
14. Trent Merrin – 5
One of the Blues who worked hard when he came on the field. Unfortunately for the Dragons’ utility, the game was almost gone by the time he had time to make a meaningful contribution.
15. Boyd Cordner – 2
Wasn’t sighted with ball in hand. Coming off the bench, he needed to do more to take the game to the Queenslanders.
16. David Klemmer – 3
For all the talk about how damaging he was going to be, there was no talk about being error-prone. He came on in an awful position, with the NSW pack well-beaten, but errors were costly. Couldn’t do anything to resurrect the Blues chances.
17. Josh Jackson – 2
There are two Josh Jacksons. The one from Game 1 this year, and the one from Game 2 this year. This was the one from Game 1. Largely invisible off the bench, though was sighted in the stinks at times.
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