Queensland Maroons player ratings vs NSW | State of Origin III
Queensland captured the State of Origin series 2-1 with a 22-12 win in Game III at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
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.
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.
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.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments