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This is not a joke, nor a faulty keyboard – Queensland have parted with the Origin championship belt for the first time in four Prime Ministers after a 6-4 loss to the Blues at ANZ Stadium.
Here is how their players rated.
(You can also see the NSW player ratings.)
Billy Slater – 6
Despite a shoulder fettered with theatrical tape after a week of bogus injury talk and a relatively quiet shift in attack, was still a rock at the back in a points-starved affair. And it was his birthday- c’mon man, who works on their birthday?
Darius Boyd – 6
The man with the extremist beard looked likely to be the Inglis benefactor on a few occasions again, however this time he was unable to infiltrate enemy lines. Showed good vigour in defence when required.
Justin Hodges – 7
Stated pre-game that there will be no representative retirement in 2015 as he plans to play on in to his 40s. Showed that he’s still got the game to cause headaches with some slippery runs and enough dialogue to fill a 26-hour talkback shift.
Greg Inglis – 8
Another man who will be on ASADA’s radar after Maroons propagandists had his funeral booked in the early stages of camp. Was back to his storming best in a game of two benign offenses and looked the most threatening of the Maroons backs.
Brent Tate – 6
Was once again tireless in the trenches and had 12 gut-busting runs for 108 metres before being cruelly struck down with another leg injury. Another unsung performance from a fine state soldier.
Johnathan Thurston – 7
A marked improvement on Game 1 where he was stale prawns. Bookended the breaking of Mal Meninga’s point-scoring record with a Benny Hill slap on Beau Scott and a Liverpool kiss on Josh Reynolds.
Daly Cherry-Evans – 6
Looked proppy after being mercilessly bashed in the first half and then totally buggered after being forced to make a gruelling 28 tackles. He did his best, but the corner tip was that he was carrying an injury? Can anyone confirm this?
Matt Scott – 7
Big Thumper from Ilfracombe was once again hard as concrete and never gave an inch in a first half dominated by the middle-third Neanderthals.
Cameron Smith – 7
Was said to have flown the equivalent of 9698 kilometres in the 22 days prior to this match – that’s the equivalent of a flight to India or an east-west trip across Sam Backo’s waistline. Despite this gruelling lead-in, he never shirked the task and made a colossal 40 tackles in a gallant performance.
Nate Myles – 8
This man is like an Adam Sandler movie – you always know what you are going to get, except in Myles’ case it’s quality. After another superb performance in the mud pit, his name now surely deserves to be mentioned alongside Maroon front-row royalty like Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva.
Aidan Guerra – 6
Another honest performance from the self-appointed stud of Maroons Origin camp. Missed a few tackles in the early stages but was tireless throughout and finished with nine runs, 30 tackles and seven debonair fringe flicks.
Should carve-up in the carefree environment of a dead rubber Origin camp and all of the nightclub action it brings.
Matt Gillett – 8
This guy has quietly established himself as a proven performer at Origin level and Game 2 was another one of his workmanlike best. He’s the man who mops up in defence and backs up in attack. Potential future leader once Smith is pensioned-off for cryogenic freezing.
Sam Thaiday – 7
Provided some much-needed thrust for the Maroons after his unavailability for Game 1. Revelled in the back-alley scuffling and went within a whisker of a hot-stepping try that would’ve blown the game wide open for his side.
Interchange
Jacob Lillyman – 5
The amateur country music artist was solid but unspectacular. Let’s help the man out for his next song. How does a lost dog and a broken-down truck rhyme with seven runs and 11 tackles?
Ben Te’o – 6
Mal and his crew will be lamenting the loss of this man to rugby next year. He produced an energetic 32-tackle performance for his state to show his worth once again.
Chris McQueen – 5
Slogged it out in the middle with six runs and 32 tackles before showing his versatility by replacing Tate on the wing after his knee injury. However, may struggle to retain his position when all hands return to deck.
Dave Taylor – 6
After a week of lambasting from various former greats, looked the goods when he produced some enthusiastic charges. Looked especially handy when not passing the ball, then he decided to pass the ball. In fairness, on tonight’s performance, probably just nudged ahead of Tony Williams in the frustrating giant stakes.