New South Wales Blues player ratings vs QLD | Origin I
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.
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.
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.
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
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments