1
The favourites heading into the series after last year, the NSW Blues were stunned by Queensland in the opening game of the State of Origin series in Sydney.
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After scoring the opening try of the game through Jack Wighton, the Blues looked in control before the Maroons struck back before halftime through Dane Gagai.
A slow start to the second half by the Blues proved costly with the visitors racing out to a 16-6 lead that the home side could not recover from.
Here’s how the NSW Blues rated in Origin I loss:
1 James Tedesco – 7
Composed and creative as usual while generating big metres, his energy kept his side’s attack relevant in the game’s late stages.
2 Brian To’o – 7.5
In his trademark metre-eating way, he made 173m and busted seven tackles, while passing every test with the high ball.
3 Kotoni Staggs – 3
Took time to find his feet and missed a couple of tackles before succumbing to a shoulder issue.
4 Jack Wighton – 8.5
Vindicated Brad Fittler’s selection call with the game’s opening try and his intensity was huge on both sides of the ball, with some huge tackle-busting runs keeping NSW alive.
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5 Daniel Tupou – 5
Did some great yardage work in his own half with 173m, but really wasn’t at all threatening close to the try line.
6 Jarome Luai – 7
Played his role well and had two strong try assists, but needed his mates around him to lift to really get the best out of him.
7 Nathan Cleary – 3.5
Really struggled to exert the influence you’ve come to expect from him outside of kicking 580m.
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8 Payne Haas – 7.5
Looked happier to be playing against Queensland instead of in it, pumping out a huge 41 tackles with just one miss to go with a gutsy 109m.
9 Damien Cook – 8
Created the opening try with a bullet pass from dummy-half and pulled the strings throughout, while a huge hit on Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was among his 49 tackles.
10 Junior Paulo – 2
Thought he’d used brute strength to cross over minutes after coming over, but the try was taken off him due to an obstruction and failed to do anything else.
11 Cameron Murray – 7.5
Came off the bench to make great metres and scored a late try, but it was his consistent tackling that impressed most.
12 Tariq Sims – 4
Missed four tackles of his 22 and didn’t influence the game much when in possession.
13 Isaah Yeo – 5
Took a monster hit from Josh Papali’i on the first carry of the game but did a mountain of tackling work, and was a metre from a try with the last play of the game.
14 Stephen Crichton – 3
Came on at right centre on 52 minutes and got a bit overexcited dumping Cameron Munster on his head, but was rarely involved.
15 Liam Martin – 4
Really struggled to do anything on attack, but came up with 40 tackles to hold his own.
16 Reagan Campbell-Gillard – 4.5
Solid without being spectacular, coming up with 87m.
17 Ryan Matterson – 4
He was given 37 minutes off the bench and ground out 71m, but didn’t do much
-Alex Mitchell/AAP
