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Opinion
As a Blues fan, it is so good to bask in the glory of a NSW series win after Queensland’s recent dominance in the Origin arena.
As a bonus, as an Eels fan I haven’t had a chance to cheer about much lately, so I really enjoyed watching Mitchell Moses and Zac Lomax play their part in a series win.
Aaaaand then Moses ruptures a bicep and his season is over. Hello darkness, my old friend.
There were a number of stand-out performers across both teams during the series.
Here’s my Origin team of the series (with special mention to Bradman Best, who scored the first try in Game III, who doesn’t feature because he only played one game).
Edwards had a dream debut. He defended well at the back, ran the ball strongly, was near perfect under the high ball and scored a try. The 90,000-plus crowd didn’t faze him and neither did the hostile crowd in Brisbane. In Game III he remained safe at the back under pressure, played the interlinking role alongside his Penrith teammates so well and made a couple of half breaks too.
What often gets taken for granted is the amount of work that To’o gets through, particularly in Origin when coming out of your own end is a challenge. He does this so well and so consistently, that it’s almost expected. There was 184 metres of tough carries in Game I, backed up by another 158 metres in Game II. He also scored two tries in Game II.
He may have only played one game, but I cannot remember a player that Queensland have been so fearful of. When Mitchell plays centre he makes it personal against his opposite number (just ask Valentine Holmes). I had to have him in this team given his role in the dominant NSW win in Game II.
Crichton has developed into a real leader this season. He showed his maturity in Game I when he switched sides due to the send off and continued to be a handful in attack throughout the series. I was off my couch screaming when he made that line break with ten minutes to go in Game III.
The Eel-to-be is having quite a season. His form at the Dragons has been exceptional and he has carried that into the Origin arena. My favourite Lomax moment this series was him soaring above Murray Taulagi in Game II to score the second try of his Origin career followed closely by the penalty goal he kicked in Game III from the sidelines.
It was a toss up for me at half time of Game III between Laui and Tom Dearden, but what sealed Luai’s spot was his beautiful break which led to the Blues’ first try in Game III. At that point in the game it was the only try and really, it turned the game for NSW.
Jarome Luai reacts to a Maroons mistake. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Apart from his role in the melee in Game III, Luai had a much more mature showing across the series and Tigers fans should be excited for the type of leader he will be next year.
He had a close to perfect Game II, playing a patient game and taking opportunities when they presented themselves. His defence was impressive in both Games II and III which is impressive considering it was his biggest liability four years ago.
Moses’ kicking game was also so important for the Blues, especially in Game III where the brutal Queensland defence kept NSW deep in their own half for much of the first half. He also scored a cracker of a try to seal Game III and the series.
Got through plenty of work during the series, but the reason he has been selected in my team of the series is because I remain confused as to why NSW continue to pick Jake Trbojevic. I guess it’s a vibes-based selection.
Another player who I love to watch in the Origin arena. Even with blood pouring out of his head in Game III he continued to tackle everything that moved and give good service out of dummy half. His performance in Game I stood out, too, with two tries and a try-saver on Stephen Crichton.
After questions about his performance in Game I, he responded in the final two games with strong carries, good post-contact metres and ferocity in defence.
Martin is one of my favourite players to watch in Origin and I’ll never forget that bone-rattler on J’maine Hopgood in Game I. He had some challenges with discipline in Game II but he is the sort of player who opposition players hate and his own teammates love.
Crichton has absolutely dominated the left edge this series in attack and defence. He was my player of the series as well as the official Wally Lewis Medal winner and he genuinely looked fitter and stronger than his opposite number in each game. My favourite moment of his during this series was his big ‘don’t argue’ to Lindsay Collins in Game III, just after he had returned from his HIA.
Angus Crichton won the 2024 Wally Lewis Medal. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
One of Queensland’s best throughout. In Origin, Carrigan can play both skilful and tough. He had a Herculean series, never stopped working and put plenty of pressure on Moses in Game III.
Yeo has essentially been used as a big-minute middle for the Blues. He played the role perfectly, playing direct and making tough carries throughout the series.
Collins had an up and down series. He was impressive in Game I, making 128 metres from 12 runs and 25 tackles and then made very little impact in Game II. I’m pleased that Billy Slater decided to push him to the bench for Game III, because it’s clearly the role that suits him better.
For all the criticism of how the Blues have used the bench in the past, Leniu is a perfect fit. In every game he made immediate impact coming off the bench and injected plenty of energy into the Blues line-up.
I am cheating a little bit here, because Cobbo only came off the bench in Game I and helped fill the gap left by Reece Walsh, but I struggled to find another player who I really rated off the bench across the series. Mitch Barnett had some positive moments in Game III, but not enough to get him a call up in a team of the series.