Right on time, Queensland have run out winners of the 2017 State of Origin series, defeating New South Wales 22-6 at Suncorp Stadium.
Despite a brief Blue flutter in the second half, Queensland never looked like losing, making fools of those who dared to dream of the shield going anywhere else than its rightful home.
More Origin 3 coverage:
» GORE: Hang your heads in shame, NSW
» Liebke Ratings: State of Origin Game 3
» ELDRIDGE: Queensland own us, now and forever
»NSW Blues Player Ratings
» Queensland Maroons Player Ratings
» Game 3 match report: Maroons keep their dynasty alive
» Five talking points from Origin Game 3
» WATCH: Highlights from Origin Game 3
» How it happened: Re-live Game 3 with our live blog
Here are The Roar‘s Queensland player ratings.
1. Billy Slater: 9
In a perfect world, the Queensland selectors would be punished for overlooking Billy in Origin 1. But unless you hail from north of the Tweed, this is not a perfect world.
Billy Slater was predictably spectacular in Origin 3, catching every ball on the full and linking with his Melbourne teammates in attack.
2. Valentine Holmes: 8.5
Another case of egg on the face for Game 1 selectors, Holmes finished with three tries and could have had more. Excellent finishing from the Shark.
3. Will Chambers: 7
Wasn’t the best man in Maroon, but didn’t let anyone down. Like most of the Storm squad, can basically select himself in the side each year.
4. Michael Morgan: 7
Out of position and under pressure, Morgan performed in attack and defence. Holmes’ first try was pure MM.
5. Dane Gagai: 8
Continues to be the best man in maroon who isn’t otherwise in purple. The future Rabbitoh was excellent for the Maroons, certainly the man of the series.
6. Cameron Munster: 8
Apparently being on debut doesn’t matter when you turn up to Queensland camp in your Melbourne Storm undies. Looks like a Maroon mainstay.
7. Cooper Cronk: 8.5
There were doubts about how Cronk would perform without Thurston next to him, but again he was perfect. An excellent kicking game and a superb effort in defence. Reckon Queensland will pick him next year even if he doesn’t have a club?
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
8. Dylan Napa: 7
Napa was great in Game 2, and backed that up again. What is it about red heads in Maroon?
9. Cameron Smith: 8.5
Too old. Too slow. Past it. The NSW media’s predictions of Smith’s demise have come a tad premature.
10. Jarrod Wallace: 7
Gave some great runs from the engine room. Another Maroon that could be in for a long career.
11. Gavin Cooper: 7.5
There were some who suggested Cooper only looks good outside JT. They would be wrong.
12. Matt Gillet: 7
The widest man on the field, Mach 3 sliced down the Blues as he’s been known to do.
13. Josh McGuire: 7
The NSW Blues were hoping for an excellent performance from Josh with the tattoos. Too bad it was the wrong one.
14. Ben Hunt: 4
Did what he was asked to do, but even I could’ve come on with ten minutes to go for the Maroons. Good thing it didn’t go to golden point.
15. Josh Papalii: 6
Big. Strong. Tough. Papalii doesn’t even need Paul Gallen out there to fire him up these days.
16. Coen Hess: 6
Solid game from the giant Cowboy.
17. Tim Glasby: 5.5
Oh how the Sydney media were wrong about Glasby. Played well early, wasn’t needed later.
Johnathan Thurston: 7.5
Didn’t play, but his bearded presence in the coaches’ box melted my stony Blue heart. Queensland, and Origin as a whole, will miss Thurston – Cam Smith’s best ever for the Maroons.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Reminds me of the Globo Gym ads. 'We're better than you'
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Costing a try means you have to score 2 to make up for it.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
9s a bit much. Maybe an 8. Helped wrestle back momentum when he came back on and the game was in the balance.
Gray-Hand
Guest
Not sure that Papali deserves even a 6. I can't really recall him making a good run or a crunching tackle across all 3 games - and that's what he's supposed to be there for. I generally rate him very highly, but that move into the middle really didn't suit him this year.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Yes, agree with this. Both Cooper and Gillette were massive in defense and nullified the Blues go forward. Cooper was a huge plus since coming into the side for game 2.
Craig
Guest
I thought McGuire was nearly best on the ground for me, in the middle period just after half-time QLD struggled a bit he was off the field. I'd give him 8-8.5 Gillett was also unreal. 8 for me too. He got more ball than usual and his defence was awesome.
Andrew
Guest
Smith could have got a nine or more from me. He kept the Blues defence flat footed and was shredding them early.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Lost count of the number of times Gillett, Cooper, and McGuire sprinted up and put massive contact and pressure on the NSW forwards. At one point they pretty much had Fifita playing centre in an effort to get him running at smaller players.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Also scored a freakish one. But Scott Minto could've scored the first two and there wouldn't have been any doubt over the first.
Nat
Roar Guru
Same comment another article. Grow up Bert
Rod
Guest
I thought Cam Smith in first 20mins was incredible . I would have given him a 10. His ability to lift , control tempo, identify weakness and positioning of attack is second to one. Slater what can be said just incredible and Munster was superb ( has pearce had a game like his in Origin ?) and Cronk does what he does best and that is executing plays
Long Black
Roar Rookie
I was thinking the same. If it were a genuine trial (and I'm well aware it isn't), you'd probably only take Klemmer, Turbo and maybe Friz from NSW in a starting 17.
Raugeee
Guest
Josh McGuire 7? I thought he was close to MoM, except they give those to locks. He made an impact on the soft NSW line all night. Made huge post contact metres. Went down low on NSW big mummy boys. I would give him 9!
Big Daddy
Guest
If last night's players were candidates for world cup I wonder who gets picked allowing Thurston won't be there but Boyd will be.
Big Daddy
Guest
I think the back 3 forwards although not man of match were probably Qld s best . They were instrumental in shutting out NSW's attack. Qld forwards won the match and backs finished them off. Munster MOM due to his superb attacking display on his debut.
Ross
Guest
He doesn't get the wraps, but Gavin Cooper was huge again. He has to be one of the best one on one defenders in the game, and the way he covers those inside passes nullified what the blues did so well in game 1. Cooper and Gillette in particular controlled the middle, so Fifita et al started going sideways before going forwards.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Spruce - I made the same comparison in Tim Gores article. In many ways it summed up the game, the series and the past 12 years.
The Barry
Roar Guru
If you want an argument from me you'll have to change the subject...?
Wayne
Guest
Slater = Best ever - That's all
The Barry
Roar Guru
Slater was outstanding last night. Not sure who was MOM but he gets my vote. Great ball from Morgan for Holmes' first (?) try but it was Slater that laid it on and created the space. He got on the outside of three NSW defenders. By the time the ball got to Holmes NSW were out of numbers and out of hope. I've never seen a fullback get to the ball on the full like Slater. Even when Pearce hit one out of the screws and it looked like going past him, he somehow gets there. Boyd is a very good player and better than most but Slater is a class above again.