Source :- THE AGE NEWS
We rate the first-half performances of every player who took the field in Wednesday night’s State of Origin decider at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
New South Wales
1. James Tedesco
Led the Blues’ go-forward with a combination of kick returns, dummy-half scoots and old-fashioned hit-ups. Busy as usual, before coming off second best in a head clash with Briton Nikora. 7/10
2. Jack Bostock
The Origin debutant took a confidence-boosting bomb early, but later spilled the ball himself with the tryline wide open. Did very well to get out of his in-goal under plenty of pressure after a Harry Grant kick, then dropped a bomb in the final minute of the half. 5
3. Bradman Best
Was beaten a couple of times defending Robert Toia early on, then created a half-chance with a line break and an offload to Hudson Young. 6
4. Stephen Crichton
Defended well on the right edge to help snuff out Queensland’s first attacking raid, and made the line break that led to Cleary’s second try. Couldn’t stop Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on the way to the tryline. 6
5. Mark Nawaqanitawase
Missed a tricky try-scoring chance when he couldn’t grab a Nathan Cleary kick one-handed, then threw a lovely pass for Cleary’s second try. 6.5
6. Mitchell Moses
Busy start, particularly his clearing kicks, which again showed why his long kicking is the best in the business, getting the Blues out of trouble when they were camped down their own end early. 6.5
7. Nathan Cleary
Silenced the packed crowd with the game’s first try, stepping past two defenders and getting between another two to score a strong solo effort. Then finished a sweeping team try to score his second. Made a one-on-one strip ahead of Cam Murray’s try. Also had a couple of dangerous bombs that forced Queensland errors. 9
8. Payne Haas
Made some big carries through the middle to give NSW the momentum ahead of Cleary’s try, then started bouncing off defenders for fun. His offloads caused really problems for the Maroons defence. 8.5
9. Reece Robson
A brighter start than the opening two games of this series, with decent service and a couple of good dummy-half darts. 7
10. Mitchell Barnett
Took the opening hit-up and was the Blues’ busiest forward in the early stages. 7
11. Hudson Young
Gave away the game’s first two penalties, with a lifting tackle and a high shot, and got close to scoring after running off Best. 6
12. Liam Martin
Made a strong carry then offloaded to Crichton to help set up Cleary’s second try, and flattened Toia with a crunching tackle. 7.5
13. Isaah Yeo
Did the little things right as always – ran hard, didn’t miss a tackle, and had the quickest play-the-balls of the Blues’ big men. 6.5
14. Cameron Murray
Again provided spark off the bench, offloading after his first carry of the game, and showed great strength to score the Blues’ third try. 7.5
15. Addin Fonua-Blake
Came on after half an hour and made some strong carries, and set up a line break for Best. 6.5
16. Haumole Olakau’atu
Yet to take the field.
17. Blayke Brailey
Yet to take the field.
18. Ethan Strange
Yet to take the field.
19. Tolutau Koula
Replaced Tedesco at fullback in the final minute of the first half. N/A
Queensland
1. Kalyn Ponga
The Maroons’ most dangerous player with the Steeden, despite being flattened in a heavy tackle by Young midway through the half. 7/10
2. Selwyn Cobbo
Came back to earth after a dream start the series. Made some crucial errors, including having the ball stripped by Cleary before the Blues’ third try. 4
3. Robert Toia
Great footwork early on opposite number left est clutching at air, but barely sighted afterwards. 5
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Came to life just before half-time, scoring the Maroons’ lone try that cut the deficit to 18-4. 6
5. Jojo Fifita
Knocked on a difficult Cleary bomb but otherwise solid. 5
6. Cameron Munster
Great first long kick put his team on the front foot, but made an uncustomary miss on a hard-running Martin in the lead-up to Cleary’s second try. 6
7. Sam Walker
Quietest half of his first series. Would like to have a few of his kicks over again, including a poor clearing effort straight to Tedesco. 5
8. Thomas Flegler
Helped keep Payne Haas quite early on before coming off for a rest after 17 minutes. 5
9. Harry Grant
Branded a cheat by Phil Gould during the week, but the Maroons wouldn’t swap him for any other No.9. 7
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Came off in the 23rd minute after being well contained by the Blues pack. 5
11. Briton Nikora
Poleaxed Tedesco with head-on-head contact but otherwise inconspicuous. 5
12. Kurt Capewell
Missed the tackle that led to Cleary’s opening try, but he’s not the first player the Blues No.7 has slipped past and he won’t be the last. 5
13. Reuben Cotter
Typically solid, despite a rare simple handing error inside his half after 11 minutes. 6
14. Max Plath
Came on in the 23rd minute but didn’t make the same impact as he did in Origin II. 4
15. Patrick Carrigan
N/A
16. Jeremiah Nanai
N/A
17. Trent Loiero
Entered the fray in the 17th minute and didn’t put a foot wrong. 5
18. Reece Walsh
N/A
19. Murray Taulagi
N/A
