With the 2023 State of Origin series on the line at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, which players shone the brightest in the first half?
New South Wales – First-half ratings
1. James Tedesco – 6
Much maligned after game I, has responded with a more balanced performance. High workrate without overplaying his hand, although he threw one pass to the touch judge.
2. Brian To’o – 6
A typical To’o performance. Strong carries out of his own end, always making metres after contact. Had to trust Moses inside him defensively when the Maroons scored their second try.
3. Stephen Crichton – 6
Again filling in for Latrell Mitchell, surprising he didn’t get more ball given the disruption to the Blues on the other side of the field. Made a great long break.
4. Tom Trbojevic – 4
Gave away a fourth-tackle penalty and then did his pectoral. The game wasn’t even three minutes old and already it was over for ‘Turbo’.
NSW halfback Mitchell Moses.Credit: Getty
5. Josh Addo-Carr – 4.5
Was unable to defuse a Daly Cherry-Evans kick, which led to Queensland’s first try to Valentine Holmes.
6. Jarome Luai – 5.5
Started to look dangerous as fatigue began to set in. Has left most of the decision-making and tactical kicking to Moses.
7. Mitchell Moses – 7.5
Very positive start to the game. Kicked well, took on the Maroons line and handled everything thrown at him when targeted in defence.
8. Junior Paulo – 6.5
Showed why he should have been the starting prop in the opening game. Excellent during the opening exchanges.
17. Reece Robson – 6
Was switched into the starting side and will be forced to play every minute on debut due to Trbojevic’s injury.
10. Payne Haas – 7.5
More runs and metres than any other forward on the park. Could this be the game where Haas makes his mark on the Origin arena?
11. Tyson Frizell – 5
Has had a wonderful resurgence late in his career, but relatively quiet so far.
12. Hudson Young – 5.5
Plenty of energy and eliminated the errors that marred his performance in game one.
13. Isaah Yeo – 6
Rolled up his sleeves and did plenty of tough stuff, rather than just playing a distributing role.
14. Stefano Utoikamanu – 5
Only a couple of involvements to date, will get his chance to shine in the second half.
15. Cameron Murray – N/A
Didn’t get on the field in the first half.
16. Liam Martin – 6
Again bringing plenty of energy off the bench. Not showing any ring-rust after a limited preparation. Why isn’t this bloke starting?
9. Damien Cook – 5.5
Started from the bench but didn’t have to wait long for his chance. Held his nerve after being thrust into left centre to replace the injured Trbojevic.
Queensland – First-half ratings
1. Reece Walsh – 7
Looked sharp and safe again at the back in his second Origin appearance. Put in a poorly directed grubber that led to a NSW line break for Stephen Crichton.
2. Xavier Coates – 7
Returned to the side in place of the injured Selwyn Cobbo on the wing. Safe defusing high balls, strong in defence and ran strongly out of his own end.
3. Valentine Holmes – 7
Opened the scoring with an opportunistic try, pouncing on a bomb that found the turf and getting a generous call from the Bunker. Kicked one conversion from two attempts.
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow – 6
Had the fewest carries in the Maroons backline but gave the final pass for Murray Taulagi’s try.
5. Murray Taulagi – 7
Was taken over the sideline attempting to score in the corner in the early stages, but made no mistake with his second chance. Again defended well when Queensland’s left corner was targeted.
6. Cameron Munster – 7
Made a couple of dangerous runs, including a great effort to clean up a Mitchell Moses grubber and get out of his own in-goal.
7. Daly Cherry-Evans – 8.5
Put up the bomb for Queensland’s opening try and made the line break that led to their second, then chased down a runaway Stephen Crichton in a try-saving effort.
15. Thomas Flegler – 5
Again a late inclusion in the starting side, only had a couple of carries so far.
9. Ben Hunt – 6
Kept things simple out of dummy-half and came close to nailing an early 40-20.
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui – 6
Was kept busy in defence but didn’t make much of an impact with the ball in the early stages.
11. David Fifita – 8
Earned the game’s first penalty after a strong early run, and was one of the primary metre-eaters of the pack along with Pat Carrigan.
16. Reuben Cotter – 8
Starting in the second row for the first time in his career after a man-of-the-match effort in game one, and tackled his heart out again.
13. Patrick Carrigan – 8.5
The busiest Queensland forward in the early stages, and popped a brilliant offload to put Cherry-Evans through a gap ahead of the Maroons’ second try.
8. Lindsay Collins – 6
Forced an error with a brutal tackle on Jarome Luai late in the half after being injected off the bench.
12. Jeremiah Nanai – 5
Missed game one through suspension and came off the bench here. Made an early line break but then sent a flick pass over the sideline to put his team under pressure.
14. Harry Grant – 5
Limited impact off the bench so far.
17. Moeaki Fotuaika – N/A
Didn’t get on the field in the first half.
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