It was a tale of two halves at ANZ Stadium – but not in the way you may think. While the Blues halves pairing dominated the talk in the lead-up to the game, instead it was halftime that was the most crucial factor in the outcome.
Here are the player ratings for the New South Wales Blues.
Click here for the Queensland ratings
Full State of Origin 1 wrap:
>> ORIGIN 1 MATCH REPORT
>> FULL ORIGIN RESULTS
>> Live blog and highlights
>> Cameron Smith given man of the match
Josh Dugan 7.5
NSW’s best, other than Aaron Woods, Dugan laid on a try for Brett Morris and kept the defence second-guessing throughout the game.
His missed shot later on was unfortunate, but he really shouldn’t have been the one to get the ball in that situation. Dugan will be better for the run.
Will Hopoate 4
Largely quiet, much like his season so far. Why the selectors opted for him over Alex Johnston remains a mystery.
Josh Morris 7
Good. Reliable. Solid. Mistake-free. Makes Greg Inglis look like a human. What more could you want from an Origin centre?
Scored one of the best Origin tries of all time, regathering a Josh Dugan kick and putting it down before giving the cameras a Manu Vatuvei.
Michael Jennings 6.5
Always quick, always sharp, but unfortunately for Blues fans Jenko didn’t find much space. He looks a different player at Origin level (but in the opposite way to Mitch Pearce).
Daniel Tupou 4
Came up with an early dropped ball which could have been costly, but was fortunate that Billy Slater’s try was disallowed.
A breakdown in communication with club-mate Jennings led to Will Chambers’ second-half try.
Mitch Pearce 7
Unfortunately a game of halves for the game’s most maligned half.
Pearce was good in the early stages, checked for broken nose after 10 or so minutes, and laid on a try for Beau Scott – only his third try assist at Origin level.
“There’s the Pearce we know from club footy,” screamed NSW fans.
In the second half he dropped the ball with his first touch, then failed to find grass from his kicks for the rest of the game.
“There’s the Pearce we know from Origin,” screamed NSW fans.
Trent Hodkinson 6
Good kicks where needed in the first half, although his second-half failure to find the line was a huge mistake.
While he didn’t have a shot at field goal, he is the best in the biz for the Blues, and so he should have been there when it mattered – Cronk would have been.
James Tamou 7
Tamou will feature on future highlight reels as an integral part of the game’s most exciting moment, providing an offload to Josh Dugan for Josh Morris’ first-half try.
He appeared to run out of puff in the second stanza.
Robbie Farah 7.5 (c)
Along with Dugan, Farah posed the biggest threat in attack for the Blues and was a target for Queensland throughout the match.
Copped a (supposedly) legal knock from Justin Hodges late in the first half, and from then on focused on defence, making a game-high 61 tackles.
Aaron Woods 8.5
Along with Tamou, Woods fired out of the blocks to put the Maroons on the back foot. Along with the rest of the Blues pack, he went missing in the second half – 100 of his total 146 metres came in his first stint on the park.
Made the Blues’ most tackles after Farah, with 42.
While he may have lost the game, Woods definitely won the battle of the Twitter memes.
Beau Scott 7.5
Lived up to the pre-match promise that he would target Johnathan Thurston early, but after that the Queensland halfback was too quick.
Brought plenty of niggle and was strong early to claim a try.
Ryan Hoffman 6.5
Like many of the other Blues forwards, didn’t get the ball on the edge as often as he would have liked, but was solid in defence.
Josh Jackson 5.5
Jackson was largely ineffective in the limited time has was given on the paddock.
Interchange
Trent Merrin 4.5
Merrin didn’t make it on until later in the game, in what was probably a tactical move from coach Daley. While the Blues definitely needed some fresh legs, Merrin’s seemed lethargic and couldn’t get into the match when the Blues really needed him.
Boyd Cordner 5
His edge running is one of his strong suits for his club, but this was unfortunately missing today.
David Klemmer 6
Billed by Brad Fittler as “the man with no fear”, debutant Klemmer fit in at Origin level seamlessly.
Made plenty of metres and fortunately for Blues fans he decided not to talk to the referees.
Andrew Fifita 6
Solid if not spectacular for the Blues. Made 102 metres and 25 tackles after coming off the bench.
Coach: Laurie Daley 6
While Daley is at a disadvantage in that – unlike his counterpart – he actually has to select a team each year, he appears to have not done that super well, with the side not threatening at all in attack in the second half. He has reaffirmed that Pearce and Hodkinson will play in Melbourne.
Also, he probably should review whatever it is he tells the players at halftime.
Total: 112 (Queensland 118.5)
Honourable Mention: Phil Gould 4
While Gould’s one-sided commentary is legendary, he managed to put a real hex on the Blues in the second half by pointing out that they had left their form and spirit in the sheds at halftime.
His expertise is second to none, but his obvious doubting of Laurie Daley’s coaching talent is reaching Shane Warne-John Buchanan levels.
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
That's true - Dugan can certainly kick them (and almost did) so I wonder if it was on purpose from Farah. That said, the NSW captain really should have found Hodkinson at that moment.
3 Hats
Guest
Sack Hodkinson and Pearce, both are useless, kicking games and organization is Pathetic. Why didn't Hodkinson CALL the ball? Why did Pearce run the BALL, instead of the field goal? ORGANIZATION is PATHETIC! Defence and running the ball are good though. Origin 2 is 10th of June Adam Reynolds will be fit for Origin 2, that is the mail coming out of the Souths Medicos! the best in the business. Broken bones in your hand does NOT affect your fitness! Bring in Blake Austin also. We need spark in attack. Luke Keary at the moment is not ready for the step up...maybe next year? Jamie Soward is way too hot and cold.
3 Hats
Guest
How the HELL do you give Pearce a 7? Ridiculous. Unfortunately a game of halves for the game’s most maligned half. “There’s the Pearce we know from club footy,” screamed NSW fans. In the second half he dropped the ball with his first touch, then failed to find grass from his kicks for the rest of the game. We need Adam REYNOLDS...simple...
mycall
Guest
I agree. My Origin criticism of Pearce is not a defence of Hodkinson. In the first half, some of Pearce's kicks seemed perfect, except for the fact that, because NSW had no chasers putting pressure on Billy and more importantly bundling him back into his in goal, they were merely just simple bombs easily diffused. The playmaking from both sides was too simple/boring and the kicking game of NSW lacked any originality... it was almost like the game plan was kick it high and wait for Slater to make a mistake. I fear we will have to wait until Game 3 when the series is already decided to see any attacking football. These 2 sides are probably 2 of the best defensive sides ever, but at the same time neither of them are really being asked much by the attack.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Well Hodkinson was in an ideal spot to slot a field goal, but Farah passed to Dugan who was closer to the play the ball.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
No, he came on for Jackson at lock.
john badseed
Guest
All Bulldog and rooster players should be rested from Origin full stop.
HarryT
Guest
Very generous to Jennings. He conceded two tries with woeful defence.
Sean
Guest
Gus went full 12th Man, lock the other commentators out the box and go on endless rant, scene in the 2nd half. The sad thing is Nine must think this is what the audience wants.
Tom G
Guest
all of the points in the rankings must have been for the first half because you would be hard pressed to award anything at all to any of them for that insipid second half. Love the comment on the merits of Hopoate v Johnstone though.. yes mate that is where the game was lost... not picking a bloody winger from Souths(Nathan Merritt all over again??!!). Agree that Hopoate is a shadow of the player he was in 2011 but that is what pounding the pavement in a short sleeved shirt and tie for two years will do to you. And there is his commitment to believing in a myth..I am referring to the Eels not the Mormons
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
Mansour and Morris in for the wingers, and Gal in as well if he's fit. Other than that no changes. Also Gould's commentary was terrible in the second half.
ten four
Guest
where were pearce and hodgkinson when they should have een kicking the field goal to put the blues ahead .A big mistake and the game changer for the blues,
Wise MOzey
Guest
NSW lacks creativity.It's illogical we pick a big forward pack to run all over Qld and then a defence backline, with no one that provides quality ball to the outside back to capitalise when were dominating. Matt Moylan has to be in the team. Postionally as a fullback he's better than Dugan. Dugan wasn't even near Cronk or Chambers when they scored. Moylan's first up contact might not be that strong but just being there and having another person in the tackle will save trys. Thurston and Lockyer when he played cant/couldn't defend but their used to create points.Dugan can play centre or 5/8 and run hard and still support offloads. We picked an explosive young team and told them to grind out a win against an older more experience Qld team. Doesn't make sense to me!
Jerry
Guest
Nsw lost because of bad coaching....
MAX
Guest
All Bulldog and Rooster players should be rested from Origin to be ready for the g f. Slater's elbow to the kidneys of a defenceless Josh Morris was cowardly and will probably pass by the MRC without comment. A dour struggle heralding the arrival of David Klemmer and confirmation that Laurie can maybe coach but not select.
DiploMatt
Guest
Pearce a 7? You have got to be kidding. He really is the media's darling.
QConners
Roar Pro
If Pearce has a 6 then Hodkinsom deserves a 4.5 or 5.
QConners
Roar Pro
If that's your reasoning then Hodkinson should be dropped too. He was no where to be seen last night and didn't put his hand up at all when he was needed. Pearce's strength is his running game, while Hodkinson's is his kicking game. Yet Hodkinson didn't demand the ball for kicks at all. In the first half NSW's kick were inch perfect from Pearce, yes he didn't do as well in 2nd half but I must ask again - Where was Hodkinson???
mycall
Guest
Blake Austin or Luke Keary on the bench to add some spark without the penalties (and suspensions).
mycall
Guest
Pearce has played 13 Origins because he doesn't appear to play badly, but origin is about players playing exceptionally and if he can't play exceptional for at least 2 games in a row to take a series, then his time in the NSW should be over. His kicking game just really is not up to the challenge. It's not that he lacks talent or heart, but he lacks the intelligence needed in the halves. In 2013, NSW dominated Qld in the forwards but, like last night, the kicking game of Pearce wasn't good enough. He doesn't make glaring errors except that he can never avoid the back 3 and never gets repeat sets. A reynolds' or Soward's kicking game would have made all the difference (unfortunately Reynolds is injured and Soward's missed tackles probably would have made even more of a difference).