Nathan Cleary and James Tedesco inspired the Blues as they thumped Queensland 44-12 in Origin II to level the series and send it to a decider. Here’s how the Blues rated.
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1. James Tedesco: Played out of his skin. Ran the ball back with vigour all night. 265 metres. Played creator and metre gainer. Superb game. 8.5/10
2. Brian To’o: A massive 261 metres and a massive effort. Safe all night in defence too, and rewarded with a try. 7.5/10
3. Matt Burton: The lad from Dubbo didn’t look out of place at all. Scored a try and was solid in defence. 7/10
4. Stephen Crichton: The Panther was quite ordinary in attack and defence. About the worst game I’ve seen him play, even including his try assist. 3/10
5. Daniel Tupou: The tall Roosters’ usual strong game in attack and defence. Scored a good try and ran 200 metres. 6.5/10
6. Jerome Luai: Scored a good individual try but otherwise had a pretty meh game. Five missed tackles was pretty poor. 4.5/10
Jarome Luai of the Blues drops the ball in a tackle. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
7. Nathan Cleary: Took a little bit of time to warm up but then put in his best-ever performance in Sky Blue, answering all his critics from game one (including myself). Two tries in a 24 point haul was a just reward for a superb organisation, passing, running and kicking game. 9.5/10
8. Payne Haas: The big unit was OK. He wasn’t bad but he didn’t star. He certainly has a few more gears in him. 5.5/10
9. Api Koroisau: Replaced after 37 minutes. Did nothing wrong, but also didn’t shine in a short stint. 4/10
10. Jake Trbojevic: Jake had a big match with 16 runs, 143 metres and 32 tackles. He certainly earned his pay. Like his haircut, it wasn’t flashy but it was effective. 8/10
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
11. Cameron Murray: Hit high by Murray Taulagi in the 8th minute. He was quieter than usual but his effort when he was on was as good as you’d expect. 6.5/10
12. Liam Martin: Not as big as his game one effort but by no means a poor effort. Got replaced by Talakai in the second half. 6/10
13. Isaah Yeo: Worked hard in attack and defence without dominating in either but a strong effort. 6.5/10
14: Damien Cook: Came on after 30 minutes and gave decent service. Conceded two penalties and missed three tackles. 5/10
15. Angus Crichton: Scored a try, set another up in a serviceable performance in his return to the NSW side. 6/10
16. Junior Paulo: Was clearly stung by criticism after game one and really stepped up. Made immediate impact off the bench in attack and was also strong in defence, even stealing a ball. 8/10
17. Siosifa Talakai: Only had a short stint but was willing to hurl himself into the fray. 4/10
Panthers
Guest
I don’t think they can get over the supporters ‘Raiders Clap’. Or the fact that Penrith managed to win a GF lately, when Canberra failed to do so. There’s one of them even saying that Penrith players put in the dirt? As compared to the Raiders forwards! :laughing:
steveng
Roar Rookie
Cook did plenty from dummy half and was constantly making ground, he was part of that To'o try and did some god and just one bad pass, as Korisau did good and I'm not gaving a go at all, lets see what happens as there is still allot of work for both Korisau and Cook to do in game 3, so lets see how it pans out?
Paul
Guest
It was actually Nanai switching off. Then he beat 3 other Queensland players to the try line . Including beating Ponga easily.
Paul
Guest
You’re absolutely correct. The same Ponga who was beaten pointless by Luai once & Cleary twice ( in 2 minutes ). Couldn’t get out of his in goal against Crichton. Was smashed by Cleary . Threw a huge forward pass for a try that should have been disallowed.
Panthers
Guest
By the way. Couple of Raiders forwards are as bad as they come , for putting dirt into tackles, including Horsburgh…Just check on their suspensions.
Panthers
Guest
Won’t happen. As Penrith don’t have the sponsorships to keep many of their players. Look at those that left last season & more again this season. Happens every year. Unfortunately as a Panthers supporter, they will be down the table somewhat next season. Just due to losing their players. You just hate them because they’ve been winning some games for a change. Plus the ‘Raiders Clap’ thing from some supporters . Sorry, as much as you try to believe it. There’s no dirty players at the Panthers. Not one Radley or Mitchell amongst them. Even if you think Kikua puts anything in, he’s not at Penrith next season.
EastOfDivide
Guest
I liked Talakai running hard at the end of the game. Most of all, because Queensland obviously didn’t enjoy it.
Westie
Guest
Looked like it worked for him when he ran straight through the middle of Queensland’s forwards? He still linked well with Burton, especially for the To’o try . Why move Burton when he was superior to the Queensland centres?
Westie
Guest
I’m still waiting for the all 3 games to be played in NSW. After all 3 being played in Queensland last year. Doesn’t matter what the circumstances were, where’s the fairness?
Justin
Guest
Spot on. I can’t see how any Queensland player gets above a 6 based on that game. Before the end of the game , even Darren Lockyer said NSW had missed 4 tackles. Queensland had missed 36.
Justin
Guest
:thumbup: I thought I must have watched a different game or something?
Paul
Guest
Ponga a 7? Was it for the 2 metre forward pass for the try? He got beaten badly by Luai & twice turned inside out by Cleary. Then stopped from getting into the field of play by Crichton. Plus absolutely smashed by Cleary, who’s tackle he couldn’t avoid. Given that Crichton gets a 4 , when he did a good pass for a try & stopped his opposite from doing much. Plus wasn’t allowed a try from a run around, due to a pass that could barely be judged as being forward. You’d have to say that Ponga must be worth a 2. :thumbup: Come on, you know that’s right! :laughing:
Paul
Guest
Where’s the 8 for Munster from? Did it include him running the ball up & passing it to Paulo? :laughing:
EastOfDivide
Guest
I’ve seen them all too. The third game has nothing to do with comments about the second game. How was Cook better than Korisau? Didn’t see any big runs from Cook , even after Queensland players were more tired. Korisau tackling & passing was first class. You should love Korisau, as he did help South’s win a premiership.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Tim, you are letting your green underwear show. Sorry about 91, maybe someday you will get over it. Angus Crichton played 34 minutes and gets 6.5. Korasaiu plays 34 minutes but didn't play long enough to get a proper rating. Eh? Isaah Yeo - 35 tackles for 1 miss, incidentally the most for NSW, 18 passes (the most out side of the hookers and halves. Burton was next closest with 8), 105m and you reckon that's worth the same as Cameron Murray? Crichton, Korasaiu and Luai 3, 4 and 4.5. Terrible marks for three Panthers in a team that won by 32 points. Ok Tim, if you say so. Go the Raiders!
mushi
Roar Guru
I think that was on him holding the pass.
mushi
Roar Guru
But then your points ranking comparison makes no sense?
mushi
Roar Guru
That's pretty common for him to be honest watching him at club. Games where it never works people then say he's trying to do too much. But when it works he then pops out of a cluster of defenders and you either score or the line is shot on the next tackle as he's dragged everyone into one space.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Agree with most and he could be classed as a hog BUT he still made a hell of a lot of meters ,probably more that any forward (with out seeing the Stats)
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah maybe in his first couple of games of the season, but I don’t think that is too relevant for Origin selection. Since the earliest weeks of the comp he’s regularly been performing well for the Bulldogs He has the same number of try assists in the NRL as Luai and Hughes playing in a far worse team that for most of the year has struggled to score points Burton is having a super season and could fill the six role for NSW perfectly well… although as I said, I wouldn’t consider splitting the Panthers players in the slightest