{"id":698227,"date":"2026-05-27T16:46:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T16:46:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/698227\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T16:46:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T16:46:14","slug":"state-of-origin-2026-queensland-maroons-player-ratings-from-game-i-opinion-and-analysis-kalyn-ponga-send-off-sam-walker-debut-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/698227\/","title":{"rendered":"State of Origin 2026: Queensland Maroons player ratings from Game I, opinion and analysis, Kalyn Ponga send off, Sam Walker debut, video"},"content":{"rendered":"

Billy Slater and the Maroons had victory snatched from their grasp in the State of Origin opener.<\/a><\/p>\n

Kalyn Ponga\u2019s send off in the second half flipped the script as the NSW Blues surged home, James Tedesco scoring in the 78th minute before Nathan Cleary kicked the conversion to seal the greatest NSW comeback in Origin history,<\/p>\n

Read on for the Queensland Maroons Player Ratings.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n

1 Kalyn Ponga \u2013 3<\/p>\n

Sent off for a high shot on Tolu Koula which completely flipped the script. Until then had justified Billy Slater\u2019s bold call to overlook Reece Walsh and was unshakeable under Nathan Cleary\u2019s rainmakers. Cleverly exploited a shoddy NSW kick chase to set up a long break, linking with Selwyn Cobbo before the second try, but now has his name etched in Origin infamy. Will he get another chance to play this series?<\/p>\n

Loz credits Cleary for Greatest comeback | 12:59<\/p>\n

2 Selwyn Cobbo \u2013 6<\/p>\n

Hasn\u2019t always been an automatic pick under this regime, but is back to somewhere near his best. Under siege from Haumole Olakau\u2019atu on kick chases as the Blues clearly had a plan to bombard him. Dropped one second-half carry and then flew through air for a short dropout to redeem himself. Solid.<\/p>\n

3 Robert Toia \u2013 6<\/p>\n

Still one of the coolest stories in Origin with his DJ-cum-barber dad often cutting his hair before big games. Capitalised on a telepathic understanding with Sam Walker to score his first Origin try. <\/p>\n

PRESS CONFERENCES<\/p>\n

NSW: One question Daley wouldn\u2019t answer as Blues coach gives cryptic Moses reply<\/a><\/p>\n

QLD: Slater responds to Ponga call as QLD coach bristles at question<\/a><\/p>\n

“I’d like you to keep your job” | 00:28<\/p>\n

4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow \u2013 6<\/p>\n

The modern-day Greg Inglis or Darius Boyd: every time he plays for Queensland he seems to score. First to Cameron Munster\u2019s early kick for a first-half try and was generally threatening in attack, until being thrust back into fullback after Ponga\u2019s sending off. Will be wondering how Tedesco climbed above him for the matchwinner.<\/p>\n

5 Jojo Fifita \u2013 6<\/p>\n

Given most of Queensland\u2019s attack understandably went down Cameron Munster\u2019s left edge, the debutant wasn\u2019t afforded a lot of opportunities with ball in hand but did all the little things well: strong carries, good post contact gains and excellent kick chase. His hands were trusty all night \u2026 until they weren\u2019t with one late spill.<\/p>\n

Laurie Daley cannot believe it! | 00:31<\/p>\n

6 Cameron Munster \u2013 7<\/p>\n

Always the barometer for Queensland, looked sharp from the opening moments and like his halves partner, found a chink in NSW\u2019s armour kicking early close to their line for Tabuai-Fidow\u2019s try. First mistake when upended by Ethan Strange and tried his best to nurse Queensland over the line.<\/p>\n

7 Sam Walker \u2013 7.5<\/p>\n

Was he really going to be overlooked for Ponga at halfback? For most of the night, hard to think of a more seamless Origin debut. Always a gambler, kicked on an early tackle for the first try and showed quick hands to set up the second. Goalkicking flawless. But did he err kicking for the sideline in the dying moments and not chewing up more metres?<\/p>\n

PLAYER RATINGS<\/p>\n

NSW: Debut stunner sparks awkward Moses dilemma; huge Daley call pays off<\/a><\/p>\n

Sam Walker had a big game. (Photo by Darrian Traynor\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

8 Tom Flegler \u2013 7<\/p>\n

Who would have thought the banana farmer would score a grand final and Origin try under the same set of sticks at ANZ Stadium? But as all good Queenslanders are, in the right place at the right time. Strong first stint paved the way before the late Blues bombardment.<\/p>\n

9 Harry Grant \u2013 8.5<\/p>\n

Just watch his head fake to send James Tedesco, just for a split second, the wrong way behind the ruck before his halves kicked early for two first-half tries. Of course, had a huge hand in the second try too identifying some lax marker defence. And if that wasn\u2019t enough, chopped down Victor Radley for a try-saver on his own line. Superstar effort in defeat.<\/p>\n

Munster MAGIC sparks Hammer time! | 00:26<\/p>\n

10 Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui \u2013 6<\/p>\n

You could easily argue he\u2019s been far from his best in the NRL this season, but whack a Queensland jumper on him and you know the rest. Outpointed his NSW rivals early and had a crucial offload in his own half to set up the field position for the third try. Predictably, was at the bottom of the wrestle after Ponga\u2019s indiscretion.<\/p>\n

11 Reuben Cotter \u2013 6<\/p>\n

Never really plays on an edge for the Cowboys, but never seems to falter when doing it for his state. Kept Haumole Olakau\u2019atu largely in check and then was rushed back out for the last minutes to try to get Queensland over the line.<\/p>\n

12 Kurt Capewell \u2013 6.5<\/p>\n

If they had to show an endless video of a player who\u2019s always in the frame for those Origin moments, it might as well be him. Forced an early error with big tackle on Warriors teammate Mitch Barnett, put himself in a spot between Isaah Yeo and Cameron Murray to prevent a NSW try, tackled everything that moved. But had a torrid last quarter when shifted to the centres against Kotoni Staggs marked him down.<\/p>\n

MORE ORIGIN NEWS<\/p>\n

\u2018FEELS LIKE HE COST THEM\u2019: Shattered Ponga\u2019s \u2018classy\u2019 Billy act<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018I BLEED BLUE, BUT…\u2019: Maroons superstar SENT off in \u2018outrageous\u2019 controversy<\/a><\/p>\n

Blues denied by controversial call | 00:24<\/p>\n

13 Max Plath \u2013 6<\/p>\n

Might have been the least noticeable of the Queensland forwards in the opening stanza \u2026 and that\u2019s a good thing. Another Maroons forward who got to a high ball first, inducing a captain\u2019s challenge penalty. Barely missed a tackle and barely missed a beat for Billy. Another great selection.<\/p>\n

14 Briton Nikora \u2013 5.5<\/p>\n

Probably never thought he\u2019d get a chance to play Origin, but Queensland\u2019s sole beneficiary of the eligibility changes played decent minutes and will be content with his defence after little chance in attack.<\/p>\n

Blues BOMB crucial 2nd half try | 00:31<\/p>\n

15 Lindsay Collins \u2013 5.5<\/p>\n

Another tradesmanlike 27-minute stint in the trenches. Always aims up at this level and Wednesday night was no exception.<\/p>\n

16 Pat Carrigan \u2013 7<\/p>\n

Incredible workrate in the middle of the field as Queensland\u2019s forward leader in the second wave, racking up 127 metres. There\u2019s a reason Billy Slater uses him off the bench to lock down the middle.<\/p>\n

17 Trent Loiero \u2013 3<\/p>\n

Queensland\u2019s last used interchange player, was asked to finish the match off in the last 15 minutes in place of Carrigan. Never had much of a chance with the Maroons under siege.<\/p>\n

18 Ezra Mam NA<\/p>\n

19 Gehamat Shibasaki NA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Billy Slater and the Maroons had victory snatched from their grasp in the State of Origin opener. Kalyn…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":698228,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[33224,54654,64,63,689,340279,340278,11170,38755,50661,4567,5079,340274,3525,281515,246529,340276,285520,2105,11288,13495,27156,340275,5094,4415,244597,6406,340282,10750,761,762,673,13392,158,677,83950,13385,317771,340280,13391,4478,340281,85,340283,670,340277],"class_list":["post-698227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-adam-pengilly","tag-ashley-klein","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-automatic-pick","tag-banana-farmer","tag-billy-slater","tag-bold-call","tag-brian-too","tag-cameron-munster","tag-cameron-murray","tag-challenge-penalty","tag-coaches-box","tag-darius-boyd","tag-eligibility-changes","tag-first-half-tries","tag-first-half-try","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-grand-final","tag-greg-inglis","tag-halves-partner","tag-interchange-player","tag-isaah-yeo","tag-james-tedesco","tag-kick-chase","tag-laurie-daley","tag-lax-marker-defence","tag-mitch-barnett","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-new-south-wales","tag-new-south-wales-blues","tag-nrl","tag-oceania","tag-player-ratings","tag-queensland-maroons","tag-queensland-origin","tag-rare-error","tag-reece-walsh","tag-sam-walker","tag-second-half-carry","tag-sports","tag-superstar-effort","tag-sydney","tag-telepathic-understanding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/698227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=698227"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/698227\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/698228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=698227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=698227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=698227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}