Origin II is was yet another example of the Maroons coming through in the crunch while NSW never really got out of first gear.
Queensland had an unlikely man of the match in the form of Lindsay Collins put Blues players on their backsides, Daly Cherry-Evans turned in a masterclass at halfback while their outside backs roamed free on the Suncorp Stadium’s turf.
Billy Slater has turned the state’s fortunes around after they were obliterated in 2021.
The 17 players who shone in this game will celebrate long and hard but will be just as determined to complete a clean sweep in Sydney next month.
Here is how the Queensland Origin players rated.
1. Reece Walsh: This dude is a seriously good player. An ever present menace with ball in hand and a key player in coach Slater’s attacking moves. Quality sass at the end with Jarome Luai, but he really didn’t need to throw a headbutt which will likely see him given a spell. 8/10
2. Xavier Coates: Did what he was there to do – put the game away with a great finish in the 65th minute. Was good in defence when the Blues came his way. 6.5/10
3. Valentine Holmes: Scored twice and was reliable as ever in attack but had his hands full with the amount of business NSW threw at him, missing seven tackles. 6.5/10
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow: Scored his obligatory Origin try to almost put the game out of reach, worked well with Taulagi to corral and keep the Blues out on their side. 6.5/10
5. Murray Taulagi: Scored his first Origin try in the shadows of halftime. This year he’s played two of the best defensive games from a winger I’ve seen, shutting out the NSW right side who persist on coming at him. 7/10
6. Cameron Munster: A great game. Kept the Blues off balance mixing up tricky runs, good kicking and well judged passes. 7.5/10
Daly Cherry-Evans celebrates. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
7. Daly Cherry-Evans: Another Origin special from DCE. Fantastic work to chase down Crichton on the breakaway, then made a break of his own to scatter the NSW defence for his state’s second try. Kicking game was good. 8.5/10
15. Thomas Flegler: Didn’t get a lot of opportunities on the attacking side of the ball, but stuck 20 tackles without a miss. 6.5/10
9. Ben Hunt: Fast service to keep things rolling early, but didn’t take a run in the first half. It looked like he took an early knock because after some treatment out the back of the line, he went off after 22 minutes and only ended up playing 30. 6/10
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui: Huge in the first half but got a little bit scrappy in the second before aiming up properly again. 28 tackles without a miss. 7.5/10
11. David Fifita: Did dirty work in the first half to keep the ball moving forward. got away with a sniffy pass in the lead to Taulagi’s first try. 7.5/10
16. Reuben Cotter: Probably needed to be taken for an early HIA after getting smashed by Brian To’o, but we move on. Cotter was great again with 118 metres and 44 tackles. 8/10
Murray Taulagi celebrates with teammates after scoring. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
13. Patrick Carrigan: With 106 metres and 40 tackles, Carrigan was again a workhorse for his state and a key part of them being able to keep NSW out when blue tried to up the pressure. 8/10
14. Harry Grant: Played big minutes with Hunt maybe a little dinged up. As usual he delivered well, tackled well, went well. Set the scene for the halves and forwards to keep rolling. 7/10
8. Lindsay Collins: A beast of a game. Ate up Jarome Luai to force an error with a huge hit, but his best was scooping a Moses grubber when the Blues were all over them. His 135 metres was Queensland’s most from a forward. 9/10
12. Jeremiah Nanai: Scored a try during party time. Wasn’t called on a lot, but he did well when the moments arrived.
6.5/10
17. Moeaki Fotuaika: Injected in the second half for power running, made some good ground and tackled well too. 6/10
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Yeah , I go to the Strand for Dinner and a drink , pre game , then walk to the stadium. I love it .
Nat
Roar Guru
Yeah nice. I missed you by a week. I flew into Townsville last week and went down to Mackay. All work though. Should a planned the opposite way to catch the Panthers game. The Ville is such a nice place, the whole Strand is amazing.
Emcie
Roar Guru
17/34 of qlds tackle breaks were by either forwards or halves. 7 of the rest were from Walsh all over the park
johnno 2
Roar Rookie
may have something to do with the coaching staff, the Roosters haven't much to gloat about
Cam
Roar Rookie
Spot on with the stat, but NSW missed their tackles on the outside and that is a big difference.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I need to let go Rob but you, me and the cleaning lady at Kirwin High knew how good he would be but............
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Hi Nat , for four weeks I have been travelling around CQ and NQ catching red claw and fishing for Mackerel and Trout, plus revisiting some old haunts. Found myself having lunch in Alan McIndoe park in Emerald . You know you are in a good place when things are named after Origin players. Made my way to Townsville for the Penrith game and the boys didn't let me down then back to camp on a property in CQ a long way from anywhere . No internet for me so I thought I would miss the game . Then the property owner came down and invited me up to the station house for the game. Had a great night with great people . A memorable Origin indeed.
NQR
Roar Rookie
What if Hammer had replaced Hiku last year before the finals? Lord Jesus he’s a special talent.
NQR
Roar Rookie
You know they’ve worked Tedesco out. Jam up and he goes back to the middle or panics. Same with Luai they like to crab and Creighton isn’t really a ball player. Hammer, Holmes and Walsh have hand and feet (football) skills those against them just don’t possess IMO.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Oh and trapping Cook in goal. Those plays inspire team mates and when you’re a leader it gives the youngsters so much confidence.
Nat
Roar Guru
What a night alright. Did you go? That was probably the best team performance I've seen in a long while, peak decade of dominance. No one moves in isolation and Grant, similar to his predecessor, holds the markers up and brings the forwards on beautifully. The only time they looked like breaking the line was through chaos.
R N
Roar Rookie
:laughing: yep There should sports psychology for the fans. It's wasted on the athletes.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Gee I thought Mo was good when he came off the bench . Gave us some renewed punch and Collins , just WOW. Cotter and Carrigan I just don't notice any more . They just rock every game. Oh what a night .
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Im trying to let it go RN. It was eating me up . Can you imagine if we made Hammer a decent offer to play centre with the long term option of playing FB. But no we were , dumb , dumb, dumb , dumb , dumb. Damn , the therapy is obviously not working .
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Fifita and Fotu would be under 8 and Ben Hunt wasn't in there enough
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
well, JAC got binned for his. Couldn't have been that weak excuse for a punch.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
we'll have him.. wanna swap?
Nat
Roar Guru
The difference between the two teams is where origin is always won - in the forwards. I cannot think of the last time a forward won their MoM. Qld have had 2 off the bench.
Nat
Roar Guru
Get rid of Freddy and things will get tight. NSW have some exceptional players and they are still mostly mid 20s young. Get rid of this “Penrith connection”, keep Cleary and Martin. Start Murray at 13. Not sure who the next Hooker/s they have coming through. Robson is a great worker but who is the #14?
NQR
Roar Rookie
We even have the coaching GOAT from NQ. Yippee yippee