QUEENSLAND PLAYER RATINGS FOR STATE OF ORIGIN I AT SUNCORP STADIUM:
1. BILLY SLATER – Dangerous with the ball in hand all night. Made a great tackle in the second half to stop a runaway Jarryd Hayne and also came up with the ball. 8.5
2. DARIUS BOYD – Scored both Queensland’s tries to continue his phenomenal Origin strike rate. Nearly got a third in the dying stages which could’ve won the match. 8
3. GREG INGLIS – Everything he always is: strong, quick and continually dangerous. Has found a willing opponent in Josh Morris. 8
4. JUSTIN HODGES – The wily veteran defied the ankle knock he struggled with in the build-up. Busy and always trying to find chinks in the Blues’ defence. 7
5. BRENT TATE – always tries hard and his endeavour was ever-present throughout. Highlight was a brilliant tap back to find Thurston after Tupou dropped a bomb. 7.5
6. JOHNATHAN THURSTON – A mixed night for the champion five-eighth. Physically beaten twice by Jarryd Hayne for NSW tries, Thurston did all he could to salvage the situation in the second half. 7
7. COOPER CRONK – Only lasted 10 minutes before breaking his arm. 5
8. MATT SCOTT – Immense. The Kangaroos prop ran hard, tackled hard and was easily Queensland’s best during NSW’s first-half dominance. 9
9. CAMERON SMITH – Battled with an ankle injury in the second half. Finished with 46 tackles as he worked himself into the ground. 8
10. NATE MYLES – Sparked the Maroons second-half fightback. Made some big shots and also made some notable hit-ups. First half highlight was a bomb which played a role in Queensland’s opening try. 8
18. CHRIS McQUEEN – Made six runs, 42 metres and 15 tackles. Was lucky to retain his Origin jersey given his club form and will be sweating on selection again coming into game two. 5.5
12. MATT GILLETT – Worked hard and nearly had a try but spilled a Daly Cherry-Evans pass with the line begging just before halftime. 7
13. COREY PARKER – Tried his best to lift Queensland at the start of the second-half. Run-in with Paul Gallen made him the most popular man in the stadium. 7.5
Interchange:
14. DALY CHERRY-EVANS – Played 70 minutes after Cronk’s injury. Tried hard but lacked polish in attack with few of his passes and kicks coming to anything. 6.5
15. BEN TE’O – Held back until early in the second half and played a key role in Queensland’s fightback. Made several solid runs in his limited opportunity. 7.5
16. AIDAN GUERRA – Denied a try on debut by a great Josh Morris tackle. Other than that didn’t have much impact. 6.5
17. JOSH PAPALII – Failed to offer much in attack but worked hard in defence. Rattled Gallen with a hit which left the Blues skipper clutching at his neck. 6.5
