Origin 2 Player Ratings

NSW

James Tedesco (8/10)

Minutes: 80

259 Run Metres, 10 Tackle breaks

The blues skipper would be sitting pretty for the Wally Lewis medal if NSW are able to go on to win the series. His stats look amazing by way of run metres and tackle breaks (as per usual), however the consistent slipping over, which IMO caused issues in their attack, is the key reason as to why he’s only rated an eight.

Brian To’o (9/10)

Minutes: 80

261 Run Metres, 100 Post Contact, 2 Line breaks, 1 Try

To’o was definitely the most overlooked player from game II, he absolutely killed it, ran for over 250 metres again, 100 post contact, 2 line breaks, and a brilliant try off a great Matt Burton pass. He looked unstoppable off the back fence and was a key reason to the blues success, particularly at the start of sets.

Matt Burton (9.5/10)

Minutes: 80

105 Run Metres, 1 Try, 2 LB assists, 1 Try assist, 5 Deadly bombs, 1-on-1 strip

What a debut. Burton killed it, the early try setting the tone for NSW was a magic moment for the debutant but he just kept going. He followed it up with some beautiful touches, one of which put To’o over the line. Then to top it off, the Burton bomb got a brilliant run causing all kinds of trouble to the queensland back three.

Stephen Crichton (5.5/10)

Minutes: 80

17 Tackles (3 missed), 43 Run Metres, 1 Try assist

I was disappointed by how Critta was used in game I but he had no excuses this time around. He got burned by Ponga to concede the lead, which was probably the main blemish on his game. His defence was actually solid if you leave that bad miss out. He also managed to bounce off a tackle and put Angus Crichton through for a try, so maybe he was just outdone by a team full of superb performances.

Daniel Tupou (8/10)

Minutes: 80

200 Run Metres, 70 Post Contact Metres, 1 Try

Once again extremely solid. 200 Run Metres as part of a sensational effort from the back three. He also got over the chalk and didn’t have a single error, once again proving his consistency. Brilliant stuff from the Roosters winger.

Jarome Luai (6.5/10)

Minutes: 80

62 Run metres, 6 Runs, 1 Try, 1 Line break, 14 Tackles (5 missed)

I can’t decide whether I was a fan of Luai’s performance or if I think Burton should be the five-eighth next game. He let in the Kaufusi try, and wasn’t quite there defensively, yet his running game was destructive whenever he used it, and his try was phenomenal.

Nathan Cleary (10/10)

Minutes: 80

102 Run Metres, 2 Try assists, 2 Tries, 24 Points, 446 Run Metres

What a superb bounce back from Cleary. He proved to the average fan how good he is in the big games. A clive-churchill medal winner, Grand final winner and three time origin series winner stepped up in a do-or-die game with a near perfect performance. He tore Queensland apart from the opening kick off and led the blues to a commanding win.

Payne Haas (6/10)

Minutes: 37

12 Runs, 109 Run Metres, 21 Tackles (1 missed)

A suspected syndesmosis injury (but hopefully cork) reduced his minutes. He was effective without being at his destructive best, you can’t bag him for this performance at all.

Api Koroisau (4/10)

Minutes: 34

23 Tackles (1 missed), 13 Run Metres

The hooker experiment will be called successful due to the change in result, however I think the result was more due to other changes than this particular one. Api wasn’t great, his defence was solid, but so is Cook’s. Also why did he only play 34 minutes as the starting hooker? It still doesn’t make sense to me.

Jake Trbojevic (8.5/10)

Minutes: 71

17 Runs, 148 Run Metres, 31 Tackles (0 missed)

Folded Queenslanders for 71 minutes then came off and described it as “nice”. Jake was what the Blues were missing in game I, and personally I don't think the excuse of him being too slow can hold up in the origin arena. He brought so much fire to that middle and his defence was nearly perfect.

Cameron Murray (6.5/10)

Minutes: 58

9 Runs, 74 Run Metres, 28 Tackles (1 missed)

Wasn’t his best day out, but he was solid enough and an early concussion gives him the same excuse Yeo had the last time around.

Liam Martin (6/10)

Minutes: 70

9 runs, 86 Run Metres, 20 Tackles (3 missed)

He was definitely better than the last game. He kept finding his front and I couldn’t help but notice every single one of the bone crunching tackles he made. He missed three but it didn’t feel like it since every single tackle seemed to rattle the opponent.

Isaah Yeo (7.5/10)

Minutes: 70

13 Runs, 105 Run Metres, 35 Tackles (1 missed)

Isaah Yeo’s contribution to the team can’t really be put into stats but he’s so important to the blues attack. Digging into the line just to put it out the back for Cleary gives him so much space, then he also gets through so much work in the form of tackles and hit ups. Solid performance.

Damien Cook (4/10)

Minutes: 46

18 Run Metres, 15 Tackles (2 missed)

Copy and paste of api’s rating.

Angus Crichton (7/10)

Minutes: 34

67 Run Metres, 1 Try, 1 Line break

Brilliant return to the origin arena for Angus, each of his runs were damaging and he scored a great supporting try to put the icing on the cake in a short 34 minute game.

Junior Paulo (8/10)

Minutes: 43

123 Run Metres, 2 offloads, 1-on-1 strip

One of if not the best forward on the ground, Paulo bounced back brilliantly from a disappointing game I. He put some big shots on, created space through offloading and passing, ran the ball brilliantly and even added a 1-on-1 strip to that resume.

Siosifa Talakai (3.5/10)

Minutes: 17

4 Runs, 33 Run Metres

Not much to say here, he only played 17 minutes. If NSW weren’t up by 30 I don’t even know if he gets on the field. Surely RCG could’ve used this bench spot?

QLD

Kalyn Ponga (6/10)

Minutes: 71

2 LB assists, 1 Try assist, 123 Run Metres, 3 missed tackles

His first half was elite, his second half was one to forget. He put on both of the Maroons tries, was damaging whenever he had the ball in hand, and was defensively sound at fullback. The second half that all flipped on its head, he didn’t have an impact in attack and he let in some crucial tries. Hot and cold performance for Ponga.

Selwyn Cobbo (2/10)

Minutes: 80

2 Tackles (5 missed), 4 Errors

Jersey numbers 2-5 for Queensland were horrible last night. One to forget. Enough said.

Valentine Holmes (5/10)

Minutes: 80

73 Run Metres, 1 Line break, 1 Try assist

Take away the support play leading to that Munster try and you’d have asked where Holmes was last night. He wasn’t up to the same standard as game I but that can be forgiven, they all weren’t up to standard.

Dane Gagai (3/10)

Minutes: 80

24 Tackles (8 missed), 1 error, 9 Runs, 41 Run Metres

Eight missed tackles is unforgivable in the origin arena. His runs were poor too. This wasn’t origin Gagai unfortunately.

Murray Taulagi (5/10)

Minutes: 80

108 Run Metres, 1 Error

Not a horrible debut for Taulagi. It wasn’t great, and the Burton bomb put him under a lot of pressure, however he was nearly the best of the QLD outside edge. I still personally would’ve gone for Oates.

Cameron Munster (7.5/10)

Minutes: 80

11 Runs, 102 Run Metres, 1 Try

The only bloke in the starting side who performed for the full 80. Say what you want about Munster but the bloke is a big game player, and he won’t ever leave anything out on the field in origin. If QLD win game III, it’s his Wally Lewis medal to lose.

Daly Cherry-Evans (4/10)

Minutes: 80

487 Kick metres, 26 Run Metres, 24 Tackles (1 missed)

Disappointing, but not as disappointing as people made out. Kicking wise he wasn’t too far off the ball with a couple of near 40/20s and he seemed to find turf fairly often. His game management maybe not so much there, but it’s to be forgiven due to how poor the side was as a whole.

Lindsay Collins (5/10)

Minutes: 51

7 Runs, 47 Run Metres, 28 Tackles (3 missed)

Not nearly as impressive as game I but he still had a crack. I can’t fault the guy too much if you put into context the punishment Queensland received last night. On to game III.

Ben Hunt (3.5/10)

Minutes: 68

58 Run Metres, 23 Tackles (5 missed)

Starting hooker with five missed tackles is disappointing. Two of which gave Nathan Cleary his four-pointers. He was quiet throughout the whole game but I don’t expect that trend to push its way into game III. He’ll be back.

Josh Papalii (5.5/10)

Minutes: 26

37 Run Metres, 17 Tackles (0 missed)

I cannot for the life of me understand why he’s only playing around 25 minutes per game. His intensity and effort through the opening 20 was great, then he comes back on when all's said and done? I understand they have a lot of high quality forwards but this bloke has to be nearly the best of them doesn’t he?

Kurt Capewell (4.5/10)

Minutes: 61

30 Run Metres, 34 Tackles (4 missed)

Quiet again. Can’t say much about the guys whose main contribution was in defence. He had a crack, but the whole pack was just out muscled tonight. Expect a better showing in game III.

Felise Kaufusi (5.5/10)

Minutes: 70

1 Try, 1 Line break, 41 Run Metres

A try off a brilliant line and what I thought was a good opening stint, until he was sin binned and it all went downhill from there. Not just for himself but for the whole team.

Tino Fa’asuamaleuai (6/10)

Minutes: 38

78 Run Metres, 34 Post Contact

Typical Tino performance to be honest. He did a lot of tough stuff and was simply just reliable. He didn’t set the world on fire but I think the fact the blues dominate the periods he was off the field tells you a little something about his importance.

Harry Grant (5/10)

Minutes: 48

31 Run Metres, 37 Tackles (5 missed)

Underwhelming. Even the commentators expected him to inject life into the side during his second stint but unfortunately even the best hooker in the game couldn’t turn this around. Will be better next game.

Jai Arrow (3.5/10)

Minutes: 25

36 Run Metres, 18 Tackles (3 missed)

Concussion excuse valid here. He puts his heart on his sleeve and gets through work, it just wasn’t there tonight. Add a HIA and only 25 minutes of play and it just wasn’t his day.

Pat Carrigan (8/10)

Minutes: 63

103 Run Metres, 51 Post Contact, 43 Tackles (1 missed)

The best bloke in a Maroon jersey last night. This bloke just gets origin. Took a whole heap of tough carries and was the only guy who looked like he could take the NSW pack on. Add to that the 43 tackles for only one missed and he was certainly the best for QLD.

Jeremiah Nanai (2.5/10)

Minutes: 29

30 Run Metres, 12 Tackles (3 missed)

Very disappointing. Only 29 minutes on the field but that 29 minutes saw 24 points scored, 12 of which came off the back of his defensive errors. He’s a great player but it just wasn’t there for him tonight.