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Player ratings: 'Worst game of the season' for two Maroons guns
The NSW Blues have confounded their critics to win the 2026 State of Origin series after springing a massive boilover at Suncorp Stadium.
The Blues were hammered from pillar to post in the lead-up to game three but they stood up when it mattered most to run away with a 30-12 victory.
NSW Blues celebrate their Origin series victory. Getty Images
Some played more of a part than others, while the Maroons also had a mixed bag of performances.
Several of Queensland’s biggest names struggled to live up to their reputations and Phil Gould suggested after the game they didn’t cope with favouritism.
Some may have played their final Origin game, with a brutal post-mortem bound to follow.
Nine.com.au runs the rule over every player who took the field in game three to separate the studs from the duds.
Queensland Maroons
1 Kalyn Ponga
A real danger with his pace when he chimed into the backline but missing a tackle on Knights teammate Bradman Best at a vital moment will haunt him.
Rating: 7
2 Selwyn Cobbo
Was targeted by the Blues and came up with a couple of crucial handling errors that cost the Maroons in the first half but then put his team back into the game with a clever grubber and score effort early in the second.
Rating: 6.5
3 Robert Toia
Dangerous with limited chances, setting up Fifita’s try with a smart move near the Blues’ try line midway through the second half.
Rating: 6
4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Kept up his remarkable record - 14 Origins, 14 tries.
As usual he worried the Blues with his speed out wide, scoring the Maroons’ only first half try.
Rating: 7
5 Jojo Fifita
Got one opportunity and nailed it with a try in the corner off a smart Toia pass. Ran the ball from the back strongly.
Rating: 6.5
6 Cameron Munster
His attacking game was shut down by the Blues and he allowed NSW muscle man Liam Martin put him off his game with the niggle.
Not one of his most memorable Origin performances.
Rating: 6
Cameron Munster protests to referee Ashley Klein. Bradley Kanaris
7 Sam Walker
Like Munster, saved his worst game of the season for the finale - not a single try assist between them.
Rating: 5.5
8 Thomas Flegler
A quiet 30 minutes on the field, not causing the Blues any trouble in the vital early exchanges.
Rating: 5
9 Harry Grant
Topped the Maroons tackle count but his main job was to run the ball and the Blues restricted him to a mere 39 metres.
Rating: 6.5
10 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Led the Maroons pack in go forward but his tally of 92 metres showed just how dominant the Blues were up front.
Rating: 7
11 Briton Nikora
Appeared to be looking for Cronulla ball players Nicho Hynes or Braydon Trindall to run off - got nothing in the way of chances with the ball from his halves.
Rating: 5.5
12 Kurt Capewell
One of the Maroons’ senior citizens may be nearing the end of his Origin career, missing a key tackle that allowed Cleary to score the opening try and looking a little off the pace.
At 32, time is not on his side.
Rating: 5
13 Reuben Cotter
Full of energy in his 70 minutes of game time but the Blues defence never let him get any steam up taking the ball forward.
Rating: 5
Reuben Cotter and Kurt Capewell tackle Reece Robson. Getty Images
14 Max Plath
Simply couldn’t replicate the energy he brought to the Maroons in game two when he got his chance off the bench and cost his team a try by being offside from a bomb.
Rating: 4.5
16 Jeremiah Nanai
Looked dangerous a couple of times in his limited game time.
Will be a Maroon for many years to come.
Rating: 5.5
17 Trent Loiero
The first bench player from either side to see action and worked solidly without making any massive impact.
Rating: 6
18 Reece Walsh
Came onto the field at an ideal time when the Maroons needed points and tried hard - but things just didn’t happen for him.
Rating: 5
NSW Blues
1 James Tedesco
Was going strongly before a brutal head clash with Briton Nikora just before halftime brought an early end to his night.
Rating: 4.5
2 Jack Bostock
Debut nerves saw him bomb an early try and drop another ball in the first half but ran strongly before a head knock forced him off with 15 minutes to play.
Rating: 5
3 Bradman Best
Ensured the Blues would take the series with a 95-metre try after he picked up a loose ball midway through the second half and raced away from the chasing horde.
Rating: 7.5
4 Stephen Crichton
Struggled at times with the Hammer’s pace but played a big role in Cleary’s second try.
Rating: 7
5 Mark Nawaqanitawase
Saw little quality ball in the Queensland half of the field but showed his class by putting Cleary over for his second try.
Rating: 6.5
6 Mitchell Moses
Didn’t run the ball much but his booming kicking game was a huge factor in the New South Wales turnaround, pinning the Maroons deep in their own territory time and again.
Rating: 7
7 Nathan Cleary
Smashed his many critics by scoring the Blues’ first two tries and directing the attack superbly, as well as landing several pressure shots at goal.
Rating: 8.5
Nathan Cleary celebrates with girlfriend Mary Fowler. Getty Images
8 Payne Haas
His best game of the series, running for 130 metres and getting away some telling offloads.
Rating: 7.5
9 Reece Robson
Did his job well at dummy half for the first 50 minutes, giving his halves time and space from dummy half and tackling well up the middle.
Rating: 7
10 Mitchell Barnett
Fairly quiet game by his standards - 12 runs for just 74 metres but made no mistakes.
Rating: 5
11 Hudson Young
The Blues’ best forward throughout the series, playing every minute of all three games and being rewarded with a try as the siren sounded.
Rating: 8
12 Liam Martin
Justified his selection by bringing some mongrel into the Blues defence and creating Cleary’s second try.
Rating: 7.5
13 Isaah Yeo
A typical Yeo performance, running for 120 metres and proving the pivot man between the forwards and backs with his ball distribution.
Rating: 7
14 Cameron Murray
Super off the bench, lifting the Blues’ intensity midway through the first half and scoring a determined try from close to the Queensland line.
Rating: 7
15 Addin Fonua-Blake
Only got 27 minutes and made a couple of big runs but not too involved apart from that.
Rating: 5
17 Blayke Brailey
Lively at dummy half when he got his chance, the perfect foil for the more conservative Robson. Set up the final try for Young.
Rating: 6.5
18 Ethan Strange
Got an unexpected cameo in the final 15 minutes when a HIA forced Bostock from the field but didn’t have much to do with the game already won and lost.
Rating: 4
19 Tolu Koula
Replaced Tedesco just before halftime and got lucky when the bunker disallowed a Queensland try after he let one ball bounce. Solid at fullback apart from that.
Rating: 5
