NSW Player Ratings
Josh Dugan
Looked surprisingly comfortable early on, especially under the high ball. But as the game wore on, his tendency for mental lapses became more apparent. No one questions his uncanny attacking ability, but equally, no one is surprised when he has the proverbial ‘brain fart’, especially in defence. The NSW selectors and Ricky Stuart need to decide whether his positives outweigh his negatives, because in his short career, there has been little to suggest his mental mistakes are ever going to be a thing of the past.
Rating: 4
Brett Morris
Didn’t see a lot of ball, but always looked threatening in the limited opportunities he was given. His lack of communication and familiarity with Dugan gifted Queensland a try, but overall the Dragons winger was solid.
Rating: 6
Mark Gasnier
Wasn’t given anywhere near enough attacking opportunities, and even when he was, Dragons teammate Darius Boyd relished in coming off his wing to hammer him. Was solid in defence, especially considering he was playing one man in, to allow Soward to defend in the centres. But he failed to show off his immense abilities.
Rating: 6
Michael Jennings
Though I thought he was lucky to be selected over Idris, he was unquestionably one of NSW’s best players. A constant threat in attack, and excellent in defence, there was much to like in Jennings performance, particularly him ending his try scoring drought.
Rating: 8
Akuila Uate
Looked right at home in Origin football, and ran the ball hard and strong. NSW could do much worse than getting the right side of their attack more involved in game two.
Rating: 7.5
Jamie Soward
When you consider his forwards didn’t provide him with a lot of go-forward, nor did his dummy halves provide him with a lot of quality ball, Soward had a pretty good debut. He was excellent in defence, long considered his major weakness, and now that he has that first game under his belt, I expect him to have a monster of a game two. Went a long way to answering the question of whether or not he is up to this level of football.
Rating: 7
Mitchell Pearce
Whilst he backed up well to score the try that put NSW on the board, for the most part, Pearce struggled. His kicking game was well off the pace, and it was his poor kick that led to fantastic Queensland field position for their first try. He also failed to threaten the Queensland defensive line.
Rating: 4
Paul Gallen (c)
Apart from a mind-boggling decision to throw a pass in-goal, which luckily went unpunished, the NSW skipper had a very good game. Tackled with gusto, took the ball up hard, and led from the front.
Rating: 7
Greg Bird
Floated in and out of the game a little bit too much, yet when he did have an impact, it was decisive and influential. Dangerous in attack, bruising in defence, and showed after the final siren that he has just as much passion as the Maroons.
Rating: 7.5
Beau Scott
Absolutely brilliant. I questioned his inclusion when the NSW team was announced, but the egg is firmly on my face. Was the standout defensive forward from either side, and was up in Queensland’s faces all game long.
Rating: 9
Kade Snowden
I honestly can’t recall Snowden doing anything of note. Needless to say, my analysis would be that he lacked impact. Or maybe I was getting a beer whenever he did something.
Rating: 2
Michael Ennis
After interchanging on for Young, and entering the game cold, he lacked his usual impact. Tackled as hard as ever, but made some crucial errors in attack, none more so than his decision to kick from dummy-half on the fourth tackle, with NSW in command of the game and the scoreboard. The kick was neither attacking nor defensive, and directly led to Queensland scoring the winning try.
Rating: 3
Jason King
Has struggled for fitness with Manly all year, so I’m not sure why anyone was surprised when he ran out of gas after just 15 minutes in the toughest standard of football. Though he had made an impressive 16 tackles by that stage. A questionable selection, and a questionable result.
Rating: 4
Interchange:
Ben Creagh
In my Origin preview, I wrote that Creagh is better suited to starting the game. I saw nothing in Origin one to sway me from that opinion. Creagh is a great player, but he is not an immediate impact-type forward. Playing off the bench is a skill in and of itself, and some players are not made for it. Evidently, it seems Creagh is one of them.
Rating: 5
Trent Merrin
The rookie wasn’t terrible, but he lacked the impact required of a prop with supposed fresh legs. However, he will be all the better for the experience.
Rating: 5.5
Tim Mannah
Defended strongly, and ran the ball hard. When the Origin teams were announced, I wrote that Mannah could expect some early game time considering King’s fitness, and that’s exactly how it played out. Should start in the second Origin match.
Rating: 6.5
Dean Young
Didn’t do much wrong, but didn’t have an impact either. I fail to see the point of having a starting hooker that interchanges after 25 minutes. Especially when he and Ennis are similar in their style of play. If you’re going to pick two dummy-halves, surely it’s best to pick two contrasting styles? In other words, the attacking prowess of Farrah, coupled with either Young or Ennis. Better still, just pick one, and play them 80 minutes.
Rating: 5
Bradster
Guest
I can not believe you gave Pearce a 4, but spears a 7. You don't know much about league or you are a rooster hater. he made game changing tackles on the line to stop 2tries.every sports reporter gave Pearce the best rating in the game for the blues. Hi kicking game was not good due to balls he was given due to no go foward from the fowards. He made twice as many tackles as soward and tried to get involved in as much as possible unlike soward who did not. And on top of that he has more passion for the blues than most of the team put together, watch him next origin.
Kjin
Guest
No more than 3 or 4 of this NSW side should be retained QLD will take it seriously in Sydney 30 plus is in store Phil Gould should be great to listen to. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Damo
Guest
NSW didn't score until the 65th minute. And as soon as they hit the lead, they surrendered it. Queensland were the better side by a far margin and I'm not surprised that the ratings add up like that.
Mark Young
Roar Guru
Nope! I don't think either of them are the answer. It's like Kurt Gidley, he is great bloke, a very good player and loves his state... But that doesn't make him a game winner.
kick to kick
Guest
By my quick count the ratings in these two articles total 117.5 to Queensland and 97 to NSW - a huge margin. Was Queensland that much better? From what I saw, the Northerners were lucky to get away with a close win. A case of the victors reaping the spoils but hardly a clear headed analysis.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
“[Bird] showed after the final siren that he has just as much passion as the Maroons.” It’s a shame he couldn’t/wouldn’t show it when it mattered.
matthewthorpe
Roar Pro
surely snowden and ennis deserve better ratings than jason king
Charles
Guest
NSW falsely believe they are close but if you analyse the game they are nowhere in sight. You can guarantee Qld will improve 1 or 2 notches without a doubt. Therefore NSW has to be prepared to try some drastic measures and go all out on attack using someone like Jamal Idris as a strike weapon. I felt he was not ready at this stage because of his defence but he can make life difficult for QLD. Here is my revamped team on that basis. 1. Jarrod Hayne 2. Akuilla Uate 3. Mark Gasnier 4. Josh Morris 5. Brett Morris 6. Jamie Soward 7. Todd Carney 8. Paul Gallen 9. Ryan Hinchcliffe 10. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs 11. Greg Bird 12. Anthony Watmough 13. Dean Young 14. Tim Mannah 15. Jamal Idris 16. Luke Lewis 17. Kurt Gidley
Whites
Guest
I agree it was a tactic of Stuarts. I just think it was a dumb tactic. If you've picked Soward for Origin you shouldn't feel the need to protect him for the first 20 minutes by preventing him from doing a key part of his game. As I said, he's a player who kicks from the deep a long way as seen in his 60m line drop out. If he'd been allowed to put in kicks like that in the first 20 minutes NSW would have had far better field position. In fact I would say that tactic was one of the key reasons NSW was on the back foot for much of the first 20 minutes of the game.
Charles
Guest
Sometimes I wonder by some of the comments if some were watching a different game. Ryan O'Connell made a very good assement of the game, perhaps some did not care to read it. There is a difference of a personal dislike of a player and to form an opinion on how they really played. Also thought has to be to what opportuinties were available, what the game plan was and so forth. Brett Morris is safe where he is! Soward had a great game under the circumstances, just in defence alone he saved Dugan some embarrassment a number of times. Young is not a hooker despite being used in that role, he is a lock, Ken, made some good points about these players! Carney must really be back in contention to take the place of Pearce. Always probing the full 80 minutes a real origin player who will get the forwards firing, that is if we can get some that will take it forward! Perhaps Gallen, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Tim Mannah the front row and Lewis, Bird, Scott at back row with Young at lock! Farrah or Hinchcliffe hooker and Giddley as a utility. Hayne at full back without a doubt!
josho
Guest
Do you think Ben Creagh had them worried?
Mark Young
Roar Guru
Ok Let me put it a different way, do you think there was a single forward from Queensland quaking in their boots that they had to play against Greg Bird?
M1tch
Roar Guru
He almost did a Justin Hodges ;)
josho
Guest
Ken, Morris has cost NSW 6 points many times either by blowing a certain try or in defence, he's had plenty of opportunities.
josho
Guest
Couldn't agree more. Bird, Gallen and Scott absolutely killed it. Much better than previous years in which Waterhouse and Creagh were in there. The props Snowden, King and Merrin were, well useless. Merrin gets the benefit of the doubt as it was his first game but the other two have got to be nervous about keeping their position in the team.
Jadeous
Guest
Soward was missing for most of the game. He seemed overawed by being there. He was a five at best. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
josho
Guest
Snowden should have been wearing a skirt, how does a guy that size play like that? and King, does he sufgfer from arthrities? whilst he topped the hit-ups just before coming of in the 15th minute! each hit up would have been for no more then 4-5 metres. Mannah was the form prop and you could almost see NSW start to dominate once Mannah was subbed in for King, same thing in the second half. Learoyd Lars if healthy must take Kings spot for Game 2.
josho
Guest
Yep Ihe offered nothing, it was though he needed a tap on the shoulder to say "the game actually started 20 minutes ago, mate". Having said that they need to stick solid with the halves combination for the whole series.
josho
Guest
That stuff up was not unlike Morris either. I think Morris has been given the benefit of the doubt, I'd like to see Hayne in for Morris in Game 2.
don
Guest
Don't kid yourself ,one alright game by jennings don' t make him origin material.jenningd typfies nsw ,they only play well when there not expected to play well.You want to know what makes origin players ,take a look at willie tonga played with a bung shoulder the whole night .