Updated July 6, 2011 23:00:00 Player ratings for the State of Origin decider at Lang Park on Wednesday night, which Queensland won 34-24 to clinch its sixth consecutive Origin series.
Queensland
BILLY SLATER: His class shone through. Produced the big plays when needed in both defence and attack. Set up Thaiday's try in the first half and scored one himself. Rating 9.5
DARIUS BOYD: Solid returns of the ball and dependable without producing anything spectacular. 5.5
GREG INGLIS: A big-match player. Ran onto a Johnathan Thurston grubber to score first points for his team and barged his way through three defenders to grab a double late in the second half. 8.5
JUSTIN HODGES: Obvious he was lacking match fitness after coming back from a hamstring injury. Lost the ball twice to put his side under enormous pressure. 5
JHARAL YOW YEH: This kid gets better with every rep match. He smashed Brett Morris into the in-goal to force a line drop-out and was on the spot to score from a Lockyer kick which bounced in his favour. 8
DARREN LOCKYER: The 34-year-old showed glimpses of old with a long-range break in the first half in the lead-up to a Cameron Smith try. Controlled play with his usual poise and composure. 7.5
JOHNATHAN THURSTON: Set up Inglis for the opening try with a well-weighted grubber. His kicks were pinpoint but he made some uncharacteristic errors. Forced off in the second half with a serious knee injury. 7
MATT SCOTT: A typical workhorse performance from the Cowboys' prop, who made the job much easier for his Test halves. Mitchell Pearce will feel the bruises from his crunching hit. 7
CAMERON SMITH: The classy hooker again showed he's ready to take over from Lockyer as Maroons' skipper. Burrowed over from dummy-half for a try. Placed on report late for slamming his knees into Jarryd Hayne's back. 9
PETERO CIVONICEVA: In possibly his last Origin, Civoniceva made a massive 198m up the middle. Surely he can run around for one more year? 8.5
SAM THAIDAY: A whale of a game. He was like a runaway train against the Blues' defenders. Ran into a hole to score off a Slater pass and then returned the favour to produce a crucial try for his full-back. 9
ASHLEY HARRISON: Didn't produce his normal heavy workload. Accidentally took out his half-back with some friendly fire. 5
NATE MYLES: Gutsy performance, making 111m. He created plenty of momentum for the backs. 7
COOPER CRONK: Didn't get a lot of game time but forced to take over the playmaker duties in the final 21 minutes. 6.5
COREY PARKER: Solid off the bench and typically robust defence. 5.5
JACOB LILLYMAN: Toiled hard and was a handy replacement for Dave 'coal train' Taylor. 6
BEN HANNANT : Always digs deep but was a tad quiet. The Polar Bear was unlucky to be denied a try late in the match. 5.5
New South Wales
ANTHONY MINICHIELLO: Had a horror night at the back despite scoring a try just before the break. Shocking error off a Lockyer kick resulted in a try to Yow Yeh. 4.5
BRETT MORRIS: Made a good break early but then lost the pill after being jolted in a solid Slater hit. He was targeted all night by the Maroons. 6
MARK GASNIER: Hardly sighted before setting up Akuila Uate for NSW's second try. Maroons kept him quiet. 4.5
JARRYD HAYNE: Made some big defensive plays early and his booming kicks helped NSW gain valuable territory. Scored the Blues' second last try but it came too late. 7
AKUILA UATE: The Maroons contained him early but he stepped Slater to score in the corner seconds before half-time. 6.5
JAMIE SOWARD: A tough night for the five-eighth as the Maroons dominated possession and field position. Always looked likely to break the line. He'll play for NSW for the long haul. 7
MITCHELL PEARCE: It's clear he's not even close to being the world's best half-back. His first clearing kick sailed out on the full. The Blues lacked structure. Showed glimpses of his best with a bullet pass to send Jarryd Hayne on a long-range sprint when the game was lost. 6
TIM MANNAH: Gave away a cheap penalty with the Maroons pinned in their territory. Failed to make a huge impact and gained only 14 metres. 4.5
MICHAEL ENNIS: Came off the field injured in the 23rd minute. Didn't have a chance to shine. 4
PAUL GALLEN: Another outstanding performance in a losing side. Forced to make 34 tackles in the first half alone when the Maroons dominated. Finished with 50 tackles and 169 metres. 8.5
GLENN STEWART: He performed well in the pressure of Origin. Constantly in the face of Thurston and Lockyer, looked dangerous on the fringes and made 39 tackles. 7
BEN CREAGH: Worked hard in the middle in a mobile pack short on heavyweights. 6.5
GREG BIRD: Showed glimpses of class in attack and scored a late consolation try, but penalty for attacking the legs of Lockyer after a kick hurt the Blues. 6.5
KURT GIDLEY: Always looked dangerous with his sniping from dummy-half and found plenty of space around the rucks. Made a staggering 42 tackles off the bench. 7.5
KEITH GALLOWAY: Made his Origin debut in the second half. Hardly sighted. 4.5
ANTHONY WATMOUGH: Failed to stop Cameron Smith from scoring out of dummy-half. Stepped up in the second half with some telling breaks. 6.5
LUKE LEWIS: Terrific off-load to set up the Blues' opening try. Made some dangerous half-breaks but also produced some costly errors. 6
- AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-league, state-of-origin, australia, qld, brisbane-4000
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