Queensland have lost two straight games at Suncorp Stadium for the first time since 1998 following a below-par performance to lose the series opener 18-6 on Wednesday night.
The Maroons have now lost four of their past five games against New South Wales and they face a huge task to win back the shield from here.
Read on for all the QLD Maroons player ratings from Game 1.
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1. KALYN PONGA – 6.5
Courageously put his head down to pounce on a loose ball close to the line in the opening minutes of the game. But knocked on early in the second half bringing the ball back off his own line with the scores locked at 14-8. Still had some classy touches and finished with 126 metres from 18 carries.
2. XAVIER COATES – 7.5
Made a mini-break in the 15th minute that created Queensland’s first real attacking chance and then should arguably have been awarded a penalty try on the stroke of halftime but had to settle for his opposite man Brian To’o getting binned for tackling him in the air. Still scored the Maroons’ only try with a strong finish in the corner in the 46th minute. Ran for the most metres in his side, with 149m from 18 carries that produced four tackle busts.
3. ROBERT TOIA – 6.5
Dummied when he should have passed with an unmarked man outside him in the first half but the first NRL rookie in 30 years produced a nice flick pass to set up Maroons only first try. The rookie was was solid in defence making 20 tackles and missing just two. The 20-year-old would have learnt more in that 80 minutes than all of his 10 NRL games combined.
4. HAMISO TABUAI-FIDOW – 4.5
Got given a bath by Stephen Crichton in the first half and struggled to inject himself into the game in attack. Ran for 93 metres from 11 carries but conceded a penalty and missed two tackles while making just six.
CLUTCH link-up delivers Blues the dagger | 00:48
5. VALENTINE HOLMES – 5
Dropped a bomb early after feeling the pressure from Zac Lomax and then got beaten by Stephen Crichton which allowed the Blues’ first try. Missed his assignment on the visitor’s third try as well. Did hit a clutch sideline penalty goal with no time left in the first half but got dragged out from 10 metres inside the field in the Maroons’ first attacking chance of the second half. Lost the ball in the 64th minute on his own 30-metre line with the game still in the balance and then got done by Zac Lomax which allowed the match-sealing try. Ran for 126 metres from 19 carries but also finished with three errors on his stats sheet. A night to forget for the veteran who will be under pressure to keep his spot.
6. CAMERON MUNSTER – 5
Not his best night. A great kick early in the game got Queensland out of trouble when they were on the back foot but that was probably his highlight. Conceded a penalty and made an error while also missing a whopping nine tackles but he also made 24.
7. DALY CHERRY-EVANS – 5.5
The oldest man ever to play Origin pounced in a loose ball to intercept the Blues when they were tracking the line early. Threw a forward pass in the second half with the game still in the balance. Ran for 57 metres from six carries and made 19 tackles while missing three. Will be under pressure to hold his spot for Game 2, with Tom Dearden hot on his heels.
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8. MOEAKI FOTUAIKA – 5
The big man laid out Blues half Mitch Moses early in the game but then gave away a stripping penalty in the ninth minute to gift NSW the opening two points. Made another epic tackle on Moses before halftime but knocked on with his side attacking the line at 14-8 with 12 minutes to play. Ran for just 37 metres but made 34 tackles while missing two.
9. HARRY GRANT – 4
Came into the game underdone and was targeted from the outset. Fell short of scoring the opening try after trying to burrow his way over from dummyhalf on the fifth tackle. Dropped the ball one halfway which led to the Blues’ second try. Gave away a silly penalty putting his foot in the ruck in the 33rd minute and it led to the third NSW try. Got replaced by Dearden after 53 minutes and finished with 38 tackles and four misses. “That was probably the worst game I’ve seen Harry play,” Andrew Johns said on Channel 9.
10. TINO FA’ASUAMALEAUI – 5.5
Gave away the second penalty of the match for attacking the head in a tackle. Forced an offload inside his own half in the 65th minute that got intercepted. Ran for 102 metres from 14 carries and produced 27 tackles but missed three.
11. REUBEN COTTER – 6.5
Stopped Blues hooker Reece Robson from slicing through close to the line early in the game with a legs-and-all tackle. Finished with 38 tackles without a miss and ran for 48 metres from seven carries but conceded a penalty.
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12. JEREMIAH NANAI – 6.5
Cleaned up Brian To’o early to show his intent and forced a knock on from Brian To’o with a strong chase of a bomb. Crunched Latrell Mitchell coming off his own line which forced a knock on and his side scored moments later. But a silly strip on Mitchell five minutes later took away all Queensland’s momentum. Ran for 43 metres from six carries and made 25 tackles while missing four.
13. PATRICK CARRIGAN – 7
Strong start in defence and ran hard but got a little carried away and gave away the first penalty of the game for attacking the head in a tackle. Gave away another penalty in the second half but topped the Maroons forwards with 105 run metres from 14 carries. Also topped the tackle count at 49 but missed six.
INTERCHANGE BENCH:
14. TOM DEARDEN – 6
Tried hard to inject himself into the game when he came on in the 54th minute and made 17 tackles playing hooker but also missed six. Tried to throw a Harbour Bridge ball at the death that was forward and the try was rubbed out. Could still find himself in the starting side for Game 2 if Billy Slater makes the big call to drop his skipper DCE. “I think he needs to come into the team,” Andrew Johns said on Channel 9.
15. LINDSAY COLLINS – 6.5
Best of the Maroons bench players with 73 metres from eight carries while also making 19 tackles and missing just one.
16. BEAU FERMOR – 6
Not a bad debut. Tried hard in limited minutes and ran for 23 metres from four carries while making eight tackles without a miss.
17. TRENT LOIERO – 6.5
Another reasonable debut, ran for 40 metres from seven carries and made 26 tackles while missing just two.
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