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Opinion
Queensland were yet again rated the underdogs and they revived their famous Maroons spirit to win the State of Origin series opener with a rousing 26-18 comeback victory.
You’ve heard this song before – a good start, a wobbly middle and yet another classic escape to victory by Queensland.
Here’s how the players rated in game one at the Adelaide Oval.
1. Reece Walsh
Quite good in his Origin debut. A fantastic cutout to Cobbo for the winger’s second try and he assisted a couple of line breaks too. Threw himself into his work and handled everything coming his way. 7.5/10
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow celebrates scoring his first try. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
2. Selwyn Cobbo
Scored a nice finisher’s try in the first half and a fantastic try in the second when left with plenty to do. Also scrambled well in defence and was pretty good under the high ball. 7/10
3. Valentine Holmes
Reliable as ever with ball in hand and on the kicking tee. Made a bad decision to offload under huge pressure which spilled and gifted the Blues a second half lead, but shook it off and dug back in. 6.5/10
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
On the spot to open the scoring from a Munster kick, then a fantastic long range finish from more Munster work. Ran hard and broke tackles like a Queensland centre does, while getting through his defence without a blemish. 8/10
5. Murray Taulagi
His game is remembered as two unbelievable defensive plays to stop James Tedesco, then Tyson Frizell, when both seemed certain to score. They were two of the four tackles he made. 6/10
6. Cameron Munster
Conceded a bad penalty in the shadows of halftime which put his side under pressure, was pretty well contained in general but as usual broke the game open anyway, making a great move to unleash Tabuai-Fidow for the go ahead try then icing the game with his own try poaching from Lindsay Collins. 7/10
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
A crucial 40/20 to wake his team up after they’d conceded the lead, decent enough field kicking throughout the game but really lifted his play when Flegler was binned and Queensland needed leadership. 7/10
15. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Very good early, a long break then good again when he returned in the second half. 6.5/10
9. Ben Hunt
Crisp, fast service early to let the forwards set the pace, then tackled like a maniac to keep his team in it when things looked grim. 7/10
16. Reuben Cotter
Queensland’s best, Origin one’s best. Shifted across early to cover Gilbert’s absence, which upped his workload but he still cut down attack after attack. Played the full 80 getting stronger as the game wore on. Put on report for a crusher tackle on Josh Addo-Carr. 8.5/10
11. David Fifita
Drove hard with the ball in hand and was pretty good all up, defending well and making good post contact metres. His late hit penalty led to NSW retaking the lead which was almost a disaster. Spent time off for an HIA. 7/10
12. Tom Gilbert
Got himself involved in a few early fracas before dislocating his shoulder trying to tackle Brian To’o in the 18th minute, taking no further part. 3/10
13. Patrick Carrigan
He loves the Origin stage. Big, bolshy, buffeting runs from the second he took the field. Led the forwards with 140 run metres and sized them up well in defence. 8/10
Interchange:
14. Harry Grant
Consistent service when he arrived, backed by solid defence. 39 tackles with just one miss. 7/10
8. Thomas Flegler
Unused in the first half, was OK when he came on but got put on report and sin binned for what looked like a head clash with Tom Trbojevic, we’ll see how that’s judged. 4/10
10. Lindsay Collins
Started badly, finished brilliantly. Entered the play before Tom Gilbert had left the field and conceded a penalty, spilled the ball on tackle one after a Cherry-Evans 40/20… then won the game for his state by leaping, catching a bomb and passing to Cam Munster. Classic Queensland. 6/10
17. Jai Arrow
Covered a heap of positions and space with all the injuries and acquitted himself well with the chances he had. 90 run metres and no missed tackles. 6/10