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. Rating 4
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 and continued to run strongly throughout. 7
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 halfback. His first clearing kick sailed out on the full. His 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. 5.5
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
Michael Ennis - Came off the field injured in the 23rd minute. Didn't have a chance to shine. 4
Paul Gallen (c) - 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
Interchange
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. Did make some costly errors with offensive opportunities beckoning. 7
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. 6.5
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 and continued to run strongly throughout. 7
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 halfback. His first clearing kick sailed out on the full. His 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. 5.5
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
Michael Ennis - Came off the field injured in the 23rd minute. Didn't have a chance to shine. 4
Paul Gallen (c) - 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
Interchange
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. Did make some costly errors with offensive opportunities beckoning. 7
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. 6.5