Queensland captain Billy Slater has capped off his State of Origin career by becoming the first player to claim the Wally Lewis medal from a losing state.
Slater missed the series-opener with injury but was one of the Maroons’ best in their game-two defeat, and was again superb in his farewell match in game three.
He finished Wednesday night with 136 metres, three line break assists and a try assist.
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» WATCH: All the highlights as Queensland send Billy Slater out a winner
He also became just the second player after Arthur Beetson to captain an Origin side after his 35th birthday, having been appointed to the role following an injury to Greg Inglis.
“This is really special. Wally was a hero while I was growing up. To win this award for the second time will go down as one of my biggest achievements,” Slater said after the match.
The medal is decided by Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga and national selectors Darren Lockyer and Laurie Daley.
NSW fullback James Tedesco was man of the match in game one, while Blues skipper Boyd Cordner took the honours in game two.
But having the player of the series come from a side that only won a dead rubber and by someone that didn’t play the first game didn’t go down well across the board.
Former Blues captain Paul Gallen said Cordner was unlucky not to win the medal.
“I cant help but feel sorry for a NSW player not to win the Wally Lewis Medal. They (NSW) won the series. Someone like Boyd Cordner thoroughly deserved it,” he said on the Nine Network.
“He was the best forward on the field in game one.
“Cordner was man of the match in game two and I thought he played well tonight – 80 minutes in those two games. I’m a little bit disappointed for a Blues player not to win it”.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yeah, that was a big mistake Billy getting the medal, it should have been C. Smith, Cameron and Billy were the best players (in Lockyer's, Meninga's minds) in game 1 as they were in games 2 and 3! Hang on, Billy and Cameron didn't play in game 1! That is the thought of selection for those two for the WL medal lol
Brendon
Guest
All credit to Tedesco I think he is a great player and played a hell of a game. Last night he had a fairly quiet game. Of course he did, for 1 half of footy his team held the ball for 10 minutes? He couldn't have scored as well as cook, who defended brilliantly, Slater who ran QLD, and DCE. Add Turbo who had a great game and he potentially gets nothing from game 3. Game 2 he had a great game but can you say from all of NSW, he was the best player? Cordner was obviously better, mom, Slater must have scored higher. So looking at these numbers, sure Tedesco could get 27, but could also get as low as 18 (12 game 1, 6 game 2). Not defending the end result, I don't see how it's fair Slater got it, but again, mathematically, it makes sense.
At work
Roar Rookie
Sorry Brendo I think you might actually be right, I forgot about the 3 voters. We're talking about the exact same thing. Mal Meninga said they all put in their votes independently so it's probably 3 sets of 4-3-2-1 for each match
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
if that's the case, Teddy gets motm in game 1 so obviously it's 4 points, he puts in another mammoth performance in game 2 and that probably puts him at around 3 points, then last night's effort would see him land 2 points at the least, that's a total of 9 points over 3 games (and I've scored that on the lower side of the system because he easily gets at least 11 points from his efforts just looking in from the outside) the stats that come with these performances makes Slater look like a jersey flegg player yet it somehow goes to him. Wait, it's called the Wally Lewis player of the series..aaah yes yes
Brendon
Guest
Oh, I assumed it was 4-3-2-1 by each judge for each game, not a collective 4-3-2-1. Yeah your method is a lot easier!
Fight Fair
Guest
2 of the three judges are Queenslanders. 1 his ex captain the other his ex coach. Just saying!
Matt H
Roar Guru
Well I haven't heard a single person from either side of the border agree with awarding the medal to Slater. It should have been Cook for mine. And there is also universal agreement that if a team wins the series in Game 2 at home that common sense prevail and they should give the trophy straight away.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Just saw these numbers posted on Facebook so I claim no credit for putting them together (or blame if they’re incorrect ?) It’s a comparison of Tedesco’s stats for the series versus Slater’s. They’re pretty compelling. Tries: Tedesco 2, Slater 0 Try Assists: Tedesco 2, Slater 0 Runs: Tedesco 54, Slater 30 Run Meters: Tedesco 502, Slater 254 Tackle Breaks: Tedesco 25, Slater 6 Line Breaks: Tedesco 4, Slater 0 Line Break Assists: Tedesco 3, Slater 2 Tackles: Tedesco 20, Slater 8 Errors: Tedesco 1, Slater 3
At work
Roar Rookie
I feel like you've totally over complicated and incorrectly outlined how the points system works. Slater was probably judged best in games 2 and 3, which would have given him 8 points. No other player would have received that many points over the 3 matches so Slater wins it. I don't think this way of judging is entirely fair, good intentions but outcome doesn't work in practice.
Brendon
Guest
So the maths has been reveaeled whereby the judges score on a 4-3-2-1 voting matric. If Slater was the best in games 2 and 3, he has a maximum of 24 point (4x3x2). If a single player was identified as best in game 1 and 2nd best in games 2 and 3, they score 30 (4 x 3 and 3x6). But as everyone is pointing out. The question is, outside of Slater, who stood out for QLD in games 2 and 3, who was an amazing blues player? Tedesco, Cordner, I've seen Cook mentioned about. If just 1 person doesn't feel Tedesco, for example, was best player, he only gets 24 or less (game 3 there was no stand out Blues player was there)? Its a crappy scoring system, but entirely plausible. Plus easy as well to rig if you assume the QLD selectors knew Tedesco was rated high, you score him crap in games 2 and 3, and Cordner crap in games 1 and 3. So possibly a travesty, possible creative voting, but also plausible....
SteveSyd
Guest
It was a toss up between Billy Slater and Cameron Smith.
SteveSyd
Guest
The Wally Lewis medal has now lost its credibility after that. So Billy Slater was more influential than Damien Cook over the entire series? Really? LOL.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Hey Lance, we finally agree about something!!
Dutski
Roar Guru
Cheers. Thanks for clarifying. Slater has been an Origin legend, no doubt. Great to hear him applauded. Not player of the series though.
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
I thought Tedesco was head and shoulders above everyone else and maybe Damien Cook or Turbo just behind him. Those 3 court jesters Meninga, Daley, Lockyer should be ashamed of themselves..
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
Aah it's a typo can't change it now :)
At work
Roar Rookie
The entire after match things was a disgrace. Slater winning the award proves how useless Meninga, Daley and Lockyer are, they should be stripped of the honour. And by the time Cordner lifted the shield it was all a bit ho hum. The shield presentation should have been after game 2.
Dutski
Roar Guru
I’m hoping that’s a typo and was meant to say Queenslanders
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
for a while there after the game I though Qld won the series until Cordner hoisted the shield to remind me NSW won. they did everything they could to make it about the queers. The way the tributes came in you woulda thought Slater had died, they might as have well been reading out his eulogy..
steve b
Roar Guru
How did Slater win the award for best player of the series when he only played 2 games.Cmon its a joke what were they thinking . Its just another total stuffup it lessons the awards credibility to the max.Dont get me wrong Slater is a great player and is probably the best fullback weve seen but this favouritism because of his retirement not because he was the best over the series .Its a slap in the face for NSW .