The Blues have suffered a disappointing 24-12 Game III loss, unable to fight back after falling in a 20-0 half time hole.
Here’s how the Blues performed.
1. Dylan Edwards – 6.5
Worked like a Trojan but unfortunately no highlights to show for it. Still finished with 26 runs for 234m, the most of any player on the field.
2. Brian To’o – 7
Can’t blame this bloke for NSW’s series defeat. Another non-stop effort from NSW’s best player of the series who had 23 runs for 230m. Denied a try by a desperate Tom Dearden tackle.
3. Stephen Crichton – 5.5
Limited opportunities but you can’t deny that the man rated the world’s best centre was upstaged by Queensland’s Origin debutant Gehamat Shibasaki.
4. Latrell Mitchell – 6.5
NSW’s most dangerous player but let down by a game plan that just didn’t get Latrell enough chances to make his presence felt, especially in the first half.
5. Zac Lomax – 4.5
Queensland did a great job containing the leaping winger who also came up with a couple of costly errors.
6. Jarome Luai – 4.5
Got off to a horrible start when a poor early kick gave up seven tackle set which became the theme for the Blues’ night. Had some moments in the second half but overall just didn’t deliver in the two games since taking over from Mitchell Moses.
7. Nathan Cleary – 4.5
If you were picking the Australian side on the back of this Origin series you’d be hard pressed giving Cleary the No 7 jumper ahead of Tom Dearden. As for the pre-match debate about whether Cleary was ready to conquer his final frontier, that now becomes the storyline for next year.
8. Max King – 4
Didn’t get a lot of game time and in fairness didn’t make much of an impact with six runs for 40 metres and 16 tackles.
9. Reece Robson – 5
Worked himself to a standstill but his creativity out of dummy half is questionable at this level when you consider what Harry Grant provides Queensland.
10. Payne Haas – 7
No surprise had most metres of any forward on the field with 15 runs for 113m and throw in 33 tackles. Haas gave the Blues enough momentum to build on but his playmakers just didn’t make the most of it.
11. Liam Martin – 4.5
Defended strongly but had little impact.
12. Angus Crichton – 5
Caught out badly when he went to sleep and allowed Hammer space to set up Dearden’s first half try that blew margin out to 14-0. Crucial moment that summed up how Queensland’s all-over effort was the difference on the night.
13. Isaah Yeo – 6
Tried his heart out with 11 runs for 93m and 43 tackles but not the dominant performance Blues fans would have been hoping for.
14. Connor Watson – 4
Provided some spark but the game was gone before Watson arrived.
15. Spencer Leniu – 5
It wasn’t Spencer’s fault he didn’t get into the game until the 32nd minute. Another decision that was baffling when it came to the Blues’ bench rotation.
16. Hudson Young – 4
Like Leniu, left to catch a cold on the bench. Entered the game in the 53min, and with the Blues chasing points it was just madness Young wasn’t brought on earlier.
17. Stefano Utoikamanu – 4
Was lucky to keep his spot after game two and in hindsight the NSW pack probably needed a shake-up.
