Welcome to The Roar’s NSW State of Origin Game 3 player ratings, where the cold hard light of day intrudes despite a victory.
That’s because despite all the explosions of joy and sentimentality last night, the reality is that NSW didn’t actually play all that well. Not at all.
Yes, it’s great for NSW fans that they were finally the team to steal victory at the death. But the worry is that this lucky, and many Queensland fans would argue, referee assisted, victory will only further delay the clearly necessary changes to the coaching set up and roster.
With all that being said, here’s how I saw the performances:
James Tedesco – 8
The long awaited debut for the Tigers fullback was very nearly the fairytale everyone wanted as he came oh so close to scoring the game-winning try. Overall Tedesco was very good and among the best players on the field. He will be odds on to hold his spot next year, perhaps even with the return of the Hayne mass transit system.
Josh Mansour – 6
Had a mostly solid night so it is justice in some ways that his slip and fall before Darius Boyd’s try didn’t end up costing NSW the game. As with Tedesco should be favoured to hold his spot in 2017.
Michael Jennings – 6
Ok so he scored the winning try but aside from that he was mostly terrible and one good play doesn’t make up for 78 minutes of mediocre performance
Josh Dugan – 4
Had a poor game even before his night was prematurely ended by a Greg Inglis super-duper-mega shoulder charge. Forgot how to defend for Queensland’s soft opening try. Must improve.
Blake Ferguson – 5
After somehow holding his spot after an awful Game 2, Ferguson was largely awful for all but the last two minutes.
As with Jennings, one great run doesn’t make up for the rest of the game. He will be another under the microscope for next year.
Matt Moylan – 5
It was billed as Laurie’s bold and gutsy selection gamble but in the end it was… kinda nothing really. Moylan didn’t embarrass himself in the halves in attack, and indeed he defended quite well when NSW didn’t hide him. But he also didn’t excel as a playmaker and its hard not to wonder what that 15 minutes before half time would have looked like with a genuine half instead.
James Maloney – 7
The selection of Moylan at six left Maloney as the only recognised half for NSW, which meant he shouldered virtually all of the playmaking and kicking load. Overall its fair to say he had a good game but if the result had gone the other way serious questions would have been asked about the first half stretch where NSW had 58 tackles to 17 and still couldn’t score. Likes to needle.
Aaron Woods – 7
Another very strong game from the longhaired Tiger. Woods was particularly good through a huge opening stint of 34 minutes. Although as has often been the case Daley’s insistence on wringing a big first stint out of him left him a bit short on energy for the second
Robbie Farah – 5
Made lots of tackles and ran the ball a handful of times but was a bit of a nothing game overall. Many people want Farah out of the team and frankly this performance won’t be one his defenders use to help his case.
Paul Gallen – 6.5
Made some strong carries early and the offload to set up the Frizell try was excellent. But overall Gallen’s work rate was down for him and he was used bizarrely in the second half for one ten minute stint and one three minute stint. Kicked conversion gives him a bonus half point.
Josh Jackson – 7
Had a strong first half and even his second half was going swimmingly until he dropped one ball in the tackle and was forced over the sideline in another late on in his stint. A strong series overall for Jackson who did a lot of the dirty work for NSW.
Wade Graham – 6
Another long awaited debut but Graham was distinctly less effective than Tedesco. Some of that was lack of ball and some was perhaps a level of unfocused urgency. Will be in the running for a return next year but no sure thing. Origin isn’t easy on debut.
Tyson Frizell – 7.5
The raw numbers may not be impressive at ten carries for 73m but the raw power certainly was. Another player who suffered from Laurie’s poor use of his bench Frizell waited far too long to rejoin the game, only returning in the 67th minute. He used his time well however and projects as a NSW linchpin for years to come.
Bench:
James Tamou – 5
Relegated to the bench for this one and didn’t exactly rise to the occasion. Ten carries for 85 minutes and never especially threatening.
David Klemmer – 5.5
A quiet game for Klemmer with the highlight perhaps being blowing his top after Jennings had scored the winning try.
Andrew Fifita – 4
If you’re after some rocks or some diamonds then Andrew Fifita is the man to take a guess on. Combined some terrific power running and some sublime passing at times with a truly idiotic sin binning that confirmed all of the worst impressions of him. Questions will be asked in 2017 if he is worth the risk.
Jack Bird – 4
Forced into the right centre role after Dugan’s injury Bird never really got a chance to show his wares, but covered out-of-position.
Chris
Guest
Do believe the team for next year should look like this. Hayne Tedesco Roberts/Trobojevic J Bird Mansour BBQ Reynolds Woods Peats Tolman Jackson Cordner Graham Klemmer Frizell Cartwright Fifita I van give reason for my selection But this team would be great now and in a few years time
The Barry
Roar Guru
I've watched again as suggested Lachlan and I've found plenty of instances of Moylan making ineffective contact and getting dragged downfield. I don't want to sound too down on him as he was sharp with the ball but his front line defence is a massive concern. The list below doesn't include the tackles where his contact was poor but the tackle was effected before Moylan got carried downfield. He makes few, if any one on one tackles. Queensland will send plenty of traffic his way next year if he's playing 6. I'm not suggesting don't pick him...just there needs to be a plan to help him. This was also a game where NSW dominated possession. Queensland barely touched the ball between the 20th and 45th minute. It could have been much worse. 1' - Inglis runs over Moylan. Moylan and Dugan make the tackle but Inglis makes five metres after Moylan's initial contact. 4' - Thaiday runs at Moylan. Moylan lets him past and then grabs him one handed. Thaiday makes at least five metres before Jackson comes in and cleans up. 13' - Farah and Moylan just manage to hang onto Inglis. I'll give Moylan the benefit of the doubt but hardly an inspiring tackle. 20' - Thaiday runs at Moylan who goes high and gets shoved away. Moylan comes again as Gallen and Dugan clean up. 47' - Oates gets the ball out wide - Moylan comes across in cover and grabs Oates high. Oates carries him for 10 metres. 51' - Moylan makes one on one contact with Cooper five metres out, again going high. Cooper carries him across the line and scores easily. 57' - Cooper runs at Moylan who goes high again. Cooper walks him downfield for five until Jackson cleans up on the 20 metre line.
Ches
Guest
Pearce at 9? Maybe. We would have to see him do it club level for the rest of the season before that dice is rolled. You think that is gonna happen? Can't throw him in there one off. In an emerging and inexperienced team he could be good choice. Worth considering.
Lachlan Bickley
Roar Guru
TB I'm sure this reflects your sincere impression of the game but I'd recommend you go back and watch because it's simply not accurate. Early on Thaiday almost gets past him but he pulls him down. Then early in the second he does get dragged by Oates but only because moylan had to come across in cover after Fergo missed him. Honestly mate if you can find an occasion where he gives up 5m I'll be surprised That being said they were defending him outside the centre a lot which suggests they were worried about him
James T
Guest
Ferguson didn't have a great series, but he didn't get much to work with. I'm struggling to remember his centre even passing him the ball, having Jackson inside doesn't help either. If the forwards do their job Maloney will do a good job, but for the size of them they're relatively ineffective, maybe someone should give the trainer a cattle prod to follow them around. Apart from the obvious I didn't think fafita was terrible, but tamou and klemmer just dropped a couple of spots. I thought Moylan looked a lot better in the halves than at the back. 2017 Tedesco Jennings Hayne? Bird Trobojevic Maloney Reynolds Woods Pearce Fafita Cordner Graham Trobojevic/Jackson Mannah/paulo Frizzell Cartwright Klemmer Can't see why Pearce couldn't make a good 9.
Leviathan
Roar Rookie
Can put a few kegs of muscle on if the decision is made to move him into the frontline
Leviathan
Roar Rookie
Moylan put Jackson into space while Dugan was out there
Leviathan
Roar Rookie
Klemmer bends the line every hit up. He's an offload short of being a top level front rower but has the ability to play big minutes, full of passion and is a damaging ball runner. Worth persisting with
Leviathan
Roar Rookie
Agreed wholeheartedly Lachlan
AlanKC
Guest
G'Day Lachlan, I enjoy your analyses and generally agree. A couple points where we disagree are: I'd knock 1.5 off Tedesco for a 6.5 Jennings - 5 at best but probably 4.5 Ferguson - same as Jennings 4.5 (although he deserves an 11 for celebrating, chest bumping, fist pumping and strutting) Frizell - I'd give him an 8 (factoring in his inexperience) as his intensity with calmness is great (he doesn't need to do the macho c#@p that some of the others indulge in) Klemmer was a 4 during the game and a giggle afterwards Fititta deserves a 5.5 (without the brain f@rt he was woth a 7 for mine)
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Some thoughts... Tedesco ran a lot, supported well, and didn't do much else which is all that could be reasonably expected, a solid 7 or 7.5 depending on how you look at it I thought. Maroons didn't really put him under a lot of high ball pressure. Moylan looked a lot better when Bird got out there and made a couple of important plays putting runners into gaps; this could be a version of the Jamie Lyon effect (named for Lyon's ability to create in the centres making DCE look more effective than he is), it could be that Moylan settled into the job, or it could be that having a good centre outside Moylan gave him better options and made the defence think. Maloney had some shocking passes that were just not good enough, that bullet he launched at Matt Moylan's noggin that was knocked on chief among them, I'm not sure how he rates higher than 6 -- especially if he was directing traffic in the first half, because the Blues were far too side to side. Gallen did everything that could be reasonably asked of him; 100+ meters up the middle, 35 tackles, a great offload to put Frizell into position to score, and a nice pass under pressure to Jennings at the end when the play after the break was going to hell in a hand basket. Frizell should've been brought back about 20 minutes earlier than he was; though I'm not sold on him at lock -- the tighter concentration of defence in the middle of the pitch blunted his ability to get one on one with defenders.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Name me a halfback for whom that wouldn't happen though TB, especially with the Thaiday/Cooper, GI, and Oates all taking turns to line him up.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Maloney for me was one of the best on the field, it’s a pity that he hasn't got a great players working with him and forwards going off him. The breaks that he made should have all resulted in a try that is if NSW had the gun players that could have and would have backed him up. Tedesco was outstanding (and that is why we were all ‘jumping up and down’ for him to be picked) and will be the future Aussie fullback. Moylan for me was very disappointing (as he was all series) and doesn't deserve a spot in the NSW SOO side. Tamou, Jennings and Dugan for me should also not be in the side (next year) and Farah of course, and he won’t be. NSW should start their SOO campaign afresh with a new squad, coach and officials so that there is new blood there to spur these series on, if they don’t and Qld still win than I’m afraid the SOO series will die off year by year. These series are at a crutial point since its inception and the next few years will determine if ‘it survives or dies off’!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Queensland ran over him repeatedly. He might not have 'missed' tackles but his initial contact was poor and Queensland made 10-15 metres every time they ran at him. I think he played well overall but either needs more exposure defending in the front line or a minder.
ten four
Guest
I thought Ferguson went well except for the turnover at the start of the game.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Daley seems to not want to make changes if the Blues are winning, which is not what the best coaches do, they make changes to make sure of the win. Probably would have been a different game if Bird had started, over by half time. Instead Daley made Bird do a Walker. Perhaps Daley thinks NSW needs a Gidley (ie utility player who is no good but has their own fan club).
Lachlan Bickley
Roar Guru
A few people are down on Farah and on reflection I perhaps could have gone a little lower on him. Dummy half games are often hard to assess immediately after the game though as its only on re-watching that you see the little things they got right or wrong
Rob
Guest
The NSW forwards were solid but will be even stronger next year with Farrah, Bird and Gallon out. With Tedesco, Mansour, Bird, Hayne and Trbojevic out back, it gets back to the halves. Although Moloney was very good, Moylan looked like a lost puppy. We have the framework to dominate QLD in 2017 but I'm still looking over my shoulder for a better halves pairing.
The eye
Guest
I think Jack is a centre and should be on Inglis..the bottom line is the Blues suddenly have a backline Tedesco,Bird and Moylan will be the focal point,Tom T on Fergo's wing...and you can understand why they were celebrating at the end of the game..
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Agree with most of this Lachlan but Farah was 3 and Tamou brings nothing to the table. For Fifita to claim he was looking after team mates shows exactly his mindset, selfish player who i think will never mature and he was lucky to only get the sin bin.