State Of Origin Player Ratings – Game One – New South Wales – 2026

Here are the player ratings I know you all have been waiting for. Here I will rate every single player in the New South Wales team from game one of the 2026 State Of Origin series!

Player Ratings For The New South Wales Blues

1. James Tedesco – 6 – Player terrible most of the game but scored the game winner.
2. Brian To’o -2 His worst game at any level, ever.
3. Stephen Crichton – 3 – What has happened to Stephen Crichton?
4. Kotoni Staggs – 6 – Didn’t see much clean ball but played strong.
5. Tolutau Koula – 6 – Got knocked out of the game but was alright on debut.
6. Ethan Strange – 8 – One of the best Origin debuts I’ve ever seen.
7. Nathan Cleary – 8 – Guided the team well and linked with Strange brilliantly.
8. Addin Fonua-Blake – 4 -Just didn’t bring it. The Blue got better when he was off the field.
9. Reece Robson  – 6 – Was OK but didn’t stand out.
10. Mitch Barnett – 4 – Maybe asked to much of him having just come back from injury.
11. Hudson Young – 6 – Scored a try in the first half which was much needed.
12. Haumole Olakau’atu – 6 -Was poorly used by NSW and went off late with a possible injury.
13. Isaah Yeo (c) – 7 – Came into the game more in the second half.

Interchange / Bench:
14. Cameron Murray – 8 – Was great off the bench!
15. Victor Radley – 7 – Made a bit of an impact off the bench in defense.
16. Jacob Saifiti – DNP
17. Blayke Brailey – 6 – I’d like to see hi. start in game two. Set up a try!

Reserves (18-20/21): 

Casey McLean – 7 – Didn’t get too many touched but looked so dangerous when he did!

Dylan Lucas – DNP

Matt Burton – 5 – Only played a few minutes.

Here is the way these ratings work:

10 – The perfect game. Absolutely dominated the game and stood head and shoulders above all others.

9 – An incredible game. They changed the contest and played and incredible 80 minutes.

8 – A very, very good performance. Was one of the best on the field.

7 – An average performance. They were very good.

6 – An average performance. A pass mark. They got the job done.

5 – A slightly below average performance. 

4 – A player who was below average and honestly, not very good. 

3 – A really bad game.

2 – Terrible performance.

1 – A catastrophe, or they just added absolutely nothing at all to the contest.

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