Origin 3: NSW Blues player ratings

Shocking performance from NSW once again! It is not from lack of effort, but poor game plan and execution that let us down. You were generous with Mitchell Pearce, Ryan; he is the major problem with NSW. His role as General is to organise his forwards and get the roll on but fails every time. With so much pressure it understandable players like Giddley, Gasnier etc made mistakes. NSW needs to do the following it we ever going to improve; Replace Ricky Stuart with Andrew Johns who at least has a football brain. Replace Michael Ennis and Mitchell Pearce as both do not have the football brains to be in the positions they are in. We also need to slot players like Giddley, Lewis and Hayne in their roles, instead of changing in every game. Hayne should be centre or fullback, not on the wing. With so many fullbacks we can choose from I would keep him in the centres and I think it his best position.

Official, Gasnier is a dud at this level. Inglis went over the top for the series sealing try. Stewart and Hayne, egotistical nut jobsin need of attitude and anger management. Watmough, psychotic

I watched the game where Hayne was useless until the game was dead! Regardless of the possession figures - he gave his team nothing.

These ratings are pretty close to the mark Ryan. Mini had a very unhappy night which is surprising given how solid he generally is at the back. Gas defended well however doesn't offer a lot in attack at this level. Uate and Morris tried hard with limited ball, ditto Hayne. Soward had a solid game with a couple of half breaks, he proved he is an Origin player. For me the biggest disappointment in the backline was Pearce. Early in the second half the Blues had good field position and needed a try to close the gap. Instead we got rudderless attack. I put that on the halfback, he has to organise and marshall his troops and Pearce didn't do any of that. They guy went MIA when his team desperately needed him. Granted his forwards didn't lay a great platform for most of the game, it was the crucial first 20 minutes in the 2nd half where he needed to step up. As for the piggies, not a lot of go forward, the Qld big boppers dominated the field position stakes. Every Qld set coming out of there own line would end up close to the half way line for a great kicking position. Gallen carried the load again, Stewart was everywhere, Bird & Gidley tried hard however the star was Watmough, great thrust off the bench. The scoreline flattered the Blues, Qld way too good. I have not seen a better first 30 minutes in an Origin game than last night. Brilliant.

To be the best halfback in the game you can't have shockers. The best players must be up week in week out and in the big games at their best. Pierce is a long way off as shown last night and in game 1

Agreed - I thought Gidley was actually alright last year after being pretty ineffective in 07 and 08. This time, he returned to his old habit of trying to do everything himself, to the detriment of the team.

Gallen: " If you’re looking for a reason that the Blues lost this series, look elsewhere." He sure did. Blamed the ref for the loss. Gallen had a great game, but until we get players who collectively stand up and take responsibility rather than point the finger at others we won't have a chance.

Eh?? What game were you watching?!? Hard for Hayne to "come to life" when NSW had no ball. When NSW did have the ball in the 1st half guys like Morris & Creagh gave up possession through poor ball security & pushing the pass!

Is that what Brian Smith has been doing too? Come on, he's a grown man - one good game in every four is not good enough.

Maybe Stuart was on to something when he said Hayne should be at five eighth. It might force him to do something - every time he does decide to get involved he looks good.

Agree with you on each and every point. Surely the Morris myth can now be laid to rest, he is worth 6 point each game - to the other team. He and Creagh have had so many chances its not worth mentioning and apart from Creagh's game in Orign 2, they haven't played a decent game between them. You could almost add Soward to that list - he went missing in Game 1 but was excused as he was "still finding his feet" and that he "would be better for the run". At half time in Game 2 you would struggle to confirm he was on the field, that is unless you were Slater who was more than happy with Soward's kicking game. Granted, in the second half he killed QLD and was instrumental in the win. But again last night he went missing, in Game 3 of a live series no less. He has played 1 good half of football in 6. NSW can't afford to tread water for most of the series next year hoping he decides to play. Surely if he fails to fire in Game 1 in 2012 he will also have his "papers stamped". His Dragons team-mate Merrin would also have to be in the "one more chance" category. Accordingly of the 6 St. George players selected in the team - Creagh, Gasnier, Soward, Merrin, Morris and Scott, only Scott could be described as having been the right man for the job, or having had a good series. Given the Dragons were far and away the best side in 2010 and look like winning again in 2011, you've got to wonder just how good Bennett is - he takes these, well, sub-Origin standard players and makes them look like they are on a par with the blokes from Melbourne or Brisbane. Bennett is worth every cent, it's just a shame he's not a New South Welshman.

I disagree with Kurt gidley... I thought he was rubbish. Too often he tried too much from dummy half and lost the ball or got us tackled on the last. He needs to trust the halves instead of trying to do it all himself -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.

Hayne was garbage when the game was on the line - when it was over and the Queenslanders were in party mode all of a sudden he came to life.

pearce is not the best halfback in the game. But when he plays well he isn't far away. He had an absolute shocker last night. Ricky put way too much pressure on him

I agree totally. NSW halves were M. I. A. Mitchell Pearce had a shocker, but was he ever really that good. For 2012 give us Carney and Farah please. Gasnier can go.

Ryan, I reckon you could take a point each off Soward and Pearce and give them both to Gidley, because in the last 20 minutes and despite the game being well and truly lost, the halves were nowhere to be seen. It was Gidley that attempted to give the team some direction, along with the likes of Bird and Uate and Hayne. I can't recall the last SOO game where I've wondered out loud where a team's playmakers were...

Gasnier - Seems to have lost a yard of pace, which has dulled his brilliance and attacking threat. Thanks for the memories Gaz, but we won't be needing you in future. Morris - He's a bit of a one-trick pony at the best of times, and that sort of one dimensional (zero dimensional really, given how much he relies on others to create for him) player will always get found out at this level. Thanks for your help Brett, but you can watch next year's series on the couch with your brother. Pearce - Went missing completely. Hard to say whether it's a lack of skill or lack of heart that holds him back the most. I am punting on lack of heart. His Dad - one of the bravest and toughest players in history - must be ashamed. Ennis - Has been completely hopeless throughout the series. Luckily for NSW he tore a heartlidge early and went off. Can't escape the fact that the Blues would have loved the direction and creativity of Robbie Farah - especially in the second half. No doubt the selectors will see that too. Mannah - He's an honest plodder at NRL level, so I have absolutely no idea why the Blues selectors think he's an Origin player. Gave away a soft penalty in the first half, and NSW didn't see the ball for another 20 minutes. Creagh - Flat track bully. Another Dragon who is made to look good by the structures of his team, but lacks the skill and intelligence to adapt to a change in surroundings, structure and tactics. One dimensional is over stating things. Minichiello - Had a shocker, but he was really only a stand in player anyway. The rest of them went OK, and should form part of the 2012 Blues. Throw in a few injured players - Scott, Lawrence, Hopoate, Jennings - pick the right blokes in key positions - Farah - and find a half back, and the Blues will be ready to win the series.