So Queensland have produced another epic win against the odds in the rugby league heartland of Adelaide to take a 1-0 series lead. There were many stars for both sides as NSW dominated large parts of the game, but Queensland took their chances. So to unpack all the players performances and stats is our 2023 State of Origin 1 Player Ratings & Stats.
We offer our Team of the Match based on various positional stats, our rating f the best and least best, plus all the key player stats you could ever want or need.
2023 State of Origin 1 Player Ratings Great, Grape & Bowman
So instead of tediously going through and giving every player a score out of ten, we hand pick a few of the more noteworthy players from game one and class them under our three headings.
Great is obvious, Grape is for the least great players on the park, and Bowman is named after Paul Bowman, a fine player who somehow managed to stay relatively anonymous during his Origin career.
THE GREAT
REUBEN COTTER – You look through the stats below and it’s hard to think how he was judged the best on ground. We mean, he’s not even in our Stats Team of the Night. But he was simply in everything, and did chalk up the most tackles, and played big minutes after Queensland lost Tom Gilbert early.
LIAM MARTIN – Easily the best player on the field in the first half, making it interesting that the two best players on the night from each side wore number 16.
HAMISO TABUAI-FIDOW – So many questioned the supposed loyalty of Queensland to drop Dane Gagai from a middling Newcastle, for The Hammer, who is among the top try scorers in a team that has been top eight all season. Two tries later, and not looking out of place should end that debate. Although, we wish he would put the ball down a little earlier for tries.
BRIAN TO’O – So honest, producing his customary massive amount of metres, and threw in a line break that Queensland were lucky to limit the damage.
SELWYN COBBO – Was solid throughout the game, but his effort in keeping all body parts in the field of play for his second try demands selection in the great category.
LINDSAY COLLINS – If only for out-jumping James Tedesco to setup the try to seal the game.
THE GRAPE
JAMES TEDESCO – Don’t get us wrong, he tried hard, but maybe tried too hard. And to be out-jumped by a prop, and hardly the most athletic one at that to give up the game wasn’t great. He won’t be replaced, but given the way the Roosters are going, it isn’t that surprising he’s off the pace a little.
ADELAIDE ORIGINS – Should be never again. Atmosphere watching at home sounded dreadful. It’s not as if it was the hottest ticket in town either. If we’re going to go neutral, let’s give a game to New Zealand next eh? At least they play the game and care.
CHANNEL NEIN – Dreadful. Simply dreadful. So we only have to put up with their rubbish four times a year, but that’s still too many. Their coverage stands still and continues to fall behind Fox League, although one positive is that Channel Nein has no Michael Ennis. We get they have to have ads, but most nearly missed the sin binning because of one. And another incident of showing a replay inset over the actual game going on. It feels amateur and plenty crap. Then, you have to put up with pouting NSW experts who can’t even be professional enough to raise the bottom lip for half an hour post-game. And no one really likes Cameron Smith either. At least MAFS wasn’t on to cross-promote during the coverage.
THE BOWMAN
TOM GILBERT – A bit unfair as he left early in the game through injury, but aside from looking angry he was a little hard to remember from his stint.
BEN HUNT – The fact that Ben Hunt ended up playing centre is possibly the most Bowman performance of the night.
NICHO HYNES – A complete waste of a selection. Either he starts in the halves or doesn’t play. Too good to be coming on late and out of position.
2023 State of Origin 1 Player Ratings – Team of the Match
Going further than the above, here is the best 13 players from the match according to stats relevant to each position, plus the best four interchange players.
2023 State of Origin 1 Player Ratings – Player Stats
Want or need a bunch of key stats from last night so you can make your armchair selections for Game Two? Here you go then.
And to be honest, you look at the player stats, and wonder how NSW didn’t win.
