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Queensland Maroons player ratings vs NSW | State of Origin III
By
AAP
Queensland captured the State of Origin series 2-1 with a 22-12 win in Game III at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
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The Maroons were fast out of the blocks scoring the opening try to centre Valentine Holmes before the Blues struck back through five-eighth Jerome Luai.
NSW scored again to take a 12-4 lead but a try to Kurt Capewell on the stroke of halftime gave the home side hope heading into the sheds before Kalyn Ponga starred in the second half to lead the Maroons to victory.
Here’s how Queensland rated in Origin III:
1 Kalyn Ponga – 9.5
An all-time best display saw him threaten to break the line every time he had the ball, with a slick try to grab the lead highlighting an extraordinary 226m, 16-tackle break and four-offload outing.
2 Selwyn Cobbo – N/A
Copped friendly fire from Patrick Carrigan just two minutes in and didn’t return after taking a huge knock to the head.
3 Valentine Holmes – 8
Burst through the NSW line to open the scoring and busted seven tackles, while his diving effort to keep a goal-line dropout in might be remembered as a classic Origin moment.
4 Dane Gagai – 3
Decked Matt Burton in back play to potentially cost his side a try and cracked the NSW centre with a punch to earn himself 10 minutes in the bin, and didn’t get too involved outside that passage.
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5 Corey Oates – 4
Smashed Cameron Murray with his first run didn’t get much done deep in attack.
6 Tom Dearden – 7.5
Brilliant assist for Holmes’ opener to start his debut and didn’t look out of place in any way, dashing for 74m and busting three tackles too.
7 Daly Cherry-Evans – 8.5
A true kicking masterclass, absolutely changing the flow of the game with a number of bombs on early tackles, finishing with 644m kicking.
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8 Lindsay Collins – N/A
Another of the early HIA candidates four minutes in, leaving without a run of the ball.
9 Ben Hunt – 8.5
Changed momentum with both a one-on-one strip and a 40-20 in the second half that led to a try, then his length-of-the-field try sealed Queensland’s famous win.
10 Josh Papalii – 7
Easily his most impactful game of the series with 101m and it could have been even better, twice grounding tries that were called back by the bunker.
11 Kurt Capewell – 7
Moved into the centres through injuries and scored a game-changing try on half-time just when the Maroons needed it.
12 Jeremiah Nanai – 5
A real mixed bag saw him look threatening with the ball and find five offloads, but finished with a whopping 11 missed tackles.
16 Patrick Carrigan – 8
Got the start at lock and was once again as solid as a rock with 120m and 40 tackles.
13 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui – 5.5
Was on early after being shifted to the bench and brought some serious fire in his 96m running.
14 Harry Grant – 7
His outrageous grubber seconds before halftime gave his side the lifeline it needed, with his presence always keeping the Maroons headed in the right direction.
15 Jai Arrow – 7
Flawless defensively off the bench as part of his side’s huge stand that saw them shut the Blues out in the second half.
17 Tom Gilbert – 4
Gave a huge 79 minutes after the early injuries without having any standout moments.
