What a game. What a decider. Queensland started hard, looked a little wobbly then pulled away for a 22-12 win bathing in that classic Queensland Origin atmosphere. Here’s how your 2022 State of Origin winners played.
1. Kalyn Ponga: Brilliant again at fullback. Everything good Queensland did had something to do with him. A fitting end to his fantastic series with 299 metres, a decisive try and 18 tackle breaks, if you can believe that. Score: 9.5/10.
2. Selwyn Cobbo: Knocked into next year by the hip of team mate Pat Carrigan and was gone in the second minute. Hopefully he makes a full recovery, because it looked savage. Score: N/A.
3. Valentine Holmes: Made an unbelievable play to retrieve a short dropout with 11 to go, which may well have saved Queensland’s skin. He lifted immensely when the team needed him. Score: 7/10.
4. Dane Gagai: Binned for fighting Matt Burton but did his job, which is all you could have asked after the problems he had handling the Blues in Perth. Score: 5/10.
5. Corey Oates: Hardly touched the ball in the first 40, but made critical tough metres to get the Maroons out of their own half in the second. Score: 7/10.
6. Tom Dearden: Magnificent in his Origin debut. A nifty piece of work to send Holmes over for the first try, and was giving it everything in attack and defence all night. Score: 8/10.
7. Daly Cherry-Evans: His game silenced all doubters. A massive second half, owning the field by kicking the New South Wales backs around again and again, and taking on the line to cause havoc. Score: 9/10.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
8. Lindsay Collins: Another victim of a head knock, taking a huge blow as he tried to tackle his clubmate Daniel Tupou. Was gone inside four minutes. Score: N/A.
9. Ben Hunt: His runaway try to seal the series will be replayed over and over for decades, capping another influential game as starting hooker. Score: 8.5/10.
10. Josh Papalii: With Collins going down, still only played 33 minutes but remained a constant attacking threat. Score: 6/10.
11. Kurt Capewell: Strong work down the right edge was rewarded with a try just on halftime. Score: 7/10.
12. Jeremiah Nanai: Was targeted by the Blues but acquitted himself well after some early defensive issues. Also caused problems for the Blues in attack. Score: 7/10.
16. Patrick Carrigan: Awarded the Wally Lewis medal as Queensland’s best player for the series and justified it with another barnstormer here. Ran 130 metres and made a game high 45 tackles. He’ll play Origin forever. Score: 8.5/10.
Interchange
13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui: A post contact beast and 33 tackles without a miss capped a mighty series. Placed on report for a high shot on Matt Burton. Score: 7.5/10.
14. Harry Grant: Again brought nous, energy and a little luck to Queensland’s attack, especially on the play on halftime for Capewell’s try. New South Wales had no idea how to handle him. Score: 8.5/10.
15. Jai Arrow: Came on 5 minutes into the second half to sure up Queensland’s edge, his 26 tackles without a miss was just what was needed as the Maroons walked a one score tightrope across the second half. Score: 7/10.
17. Tom Gilbert: Called into action early after Collins’ head knock and showed he can be relied upon on the big stage. A good swap for Felise Kafusi’s workload with little ball, but great defence and 36 tackles. Score: 7/10.
snoopy
Guest
I didn't mean Cooper and those others weren't good players. He was the type of player who knew how to do his job without the "look at me, how great am I" attitude. Those type of players are not the ones who are written up in the papers as being superstars, but they are the type of players that teammates looks across the field at them and know they have their back and will give it 100% every time.
Adam
Roar Guru
Sorry...
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Don't remind me.. No Hunt and we got schooled by Bronco baby brigade
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I also have never been big on puffing up Cleary's rep, I think he gets a blessed run sometimes in ref protection, judiciary favours and guaranteed selections. However, while his kicking may not have had the same potency as Perth, I though he put in a big effort and one of the better game he's played when he hasn't been able to impose himself. Some of the criticism is a bit unjustified.
Adam
Roar Guru
He's one of the few million dollar men that I can emphatically say has been money well spent (just a pity for him the rest of the Dragons are terrible)
Adam
Roar Guru
He should have won two!
Don
Roar Rookie
No worries. I was responding to; He was also targeted in defence but did not falter. He was good but his defence still needs work. He faltered…
GD
Roar Rookie
Gilbert could be the Nate Myles of the new millenium
Dan Nix
Roar Rookie
Gavin Cooper scored more tries in consecutive matches than any other forward ever. That's pretty flashy.
Greg
Roar Pro
Not all missed tackles are equal. Did Angus, Burton or Luai break the line running through Nanai? All those missed tackles were either from leading the line speed and shutting down the play but dropping off the tackle or being bumped off by To'o running back in field. I agree his defence generally speaking needs to improve. But I thought it was pretty good last night, despite a clear NSW plan to attack him and DCE. And without his attack in the first half Qld would have been camped at their own end.
Pete
Guest
That was a great performance from Ponga. Easily the best of his career. Knight's fans must be wondering where that's been the last few years.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
The pirouette and kick and the end of H1 kept us in the game. It was a planned move but so well executed.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You and I are both sentimentalist RN. I have felt bad for Ben Hunt since 2015.. He could have lost the plot after that but instead he has become one of the most consistent players in the NRL and he is the first player I pick for Origin ( at 14). He deserved last night.
R N
Roar Rookie
Its a bit sad Jimmmy but I genuinely get exited to watch him play, such a talent. I am also man enough to admit I slightly welled up when Ben Hunt scored that try, he thoroughly deserved it... hopefully highlight reels at the end of his career start with that try and not the grand final drop!
Badseed
Roar Rookie
Ponga’s performance dropped Teddy back to number 4. Cherry should be Australian captain unless ch9 pick the team
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
19 OMG! He has the touch RN. The rare talent that creates something from nothing. I get out the prayer book every night and pray we don't end up keeping Luciano ( who I do think will be good for us) and losing Jeremiah. One will be great ,the other will be a superstar.
Blairos
Guest
I would add Harry Grant to the unbelievably awesome category. He was fantastic and made a noticeable difference vwhen he cane on. Always a threat with ball in hand.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I wasn't going to comment except about Hunt but I'm in a good mood so... Congrats to the two debutants. Tommy D is a rare jewel and is my favourite player in the game. He's everything that's good about League and why I keep watching. From game one at the Cows I knew we had something special. He's got his limitations but that just means he will end up bloody fantastic instead of fn brilliant. Tommy G. What can you say? Another QLD hard head. Guys like him are why we keep winning. I'm very sad to see him leave NQ but he's a Brissy boy and he's going to the right club. They have done well.
R N
Roar Rookie
Qld player ratings: Unbelievably awesome - Hunt, Carrigan and Ponga Awesome awesome - the rest Special mention - 19 year old Nanai. I don't care about the missed tackles (edge forward next to a inexperienced centre) the young man played great. Some of those off loads, just sublime.
Nat
Roar Guru
Wighton was 18th man. He wasn’t in normal bench rotation.