On the back of their magnificent victory in the Origin decider the Maroons have dominated positions in the Team of the Series, with 10 Queenslanders getting the nod.
Among the big winners were Cowboys gun Valentine Holmes, who picked up 75 percent of the vote for best centre, hooker Ben Hunt (63 percent), Game One hero Cameron Munster (79 percent) and Wally Lewis Medal winner Pat Carrigan, who secured a whopping 74 percent of the prop vote.
Pushing back the Maroon tide were Brian To’o and Matt Burton, while superstars James Tedesco and Nathan Cleary more than held their own against Kalyn Ponga and Daly Cherry-Evans in epic battles for the fullback and halfback spots.
Here's how the final voting looked for the 2022 State of Origin team of the series!
2022 Origin Team of the Series
Fullback: Kalyn Ponga
Two of the game’s elite superstars went head-to-head across the series, racking up outrageous numbers and inspiring their respective sides with acts of brilliance and bravery. In the end it was Maroons No.1 Kalyn Ponga taking the spoils over James Tedesco courtesy of a series-defining try, 262 running metres and a staggering 16 tackle breaks in the decider.
Perfect Ponga wins Player of the Match
Wingers: Brian To'o and Selwyn Cobbo
Brian To’o burst out of the blocks in Sydney with 207 metres from 25 runs and eight tackle breaks and backed that up with 261 metres and nine tackle breaks as the Blues ran riot in Perth but he had limited opportunities in the decider.
Selwyn Cobbo had a debut to remember in Game One, setting up a try with a classy grubber kick and looking right at home at the elite level. Unfortunately knocked out of Game Three in the early stages but has shown enough to suggest he has a long Origin career ahead of him.
Centres: Valentine Holmes and Matt Burton
Valentine Holmes has taken his career tally to 11 tries in 13 Origin games and he continues to come up with the special plays when required. His effort to keep the ball alive from a Nathan Cleary dropout was pivotal to the Game Three win. A class act who never fails to deliver on the grand stage.
Matt Burton enjoyed a dazzling debut in Game Two, tormenting the Maroons’ back three with his trademark spiral bombs and showing great hands to collect a Cleary grubber for a try. His place in Origin folklore was assured after he traded blows with Dane Gagai in Brisbane and he’ll be one of the first picked for the Blues in 2023.
Five-Eighth: Cameron Munster
Cameron Munster set the series up for Queensland with his majestic display in Game One, running for 198 metres, breaking seven tackles and coming up with a one-on-one steal at a crucial moment late in the game. Missed Game Three with COVID but the damage had been done when he stole home ground advantage from NSW in Sydney.
Halfback: Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans has cemented his place as one of Queensland’s best ever halfbacks and captains after masterminding upset series wins in 2020 and 2022. The Manly maestro kicked superbly in Game Three, pinning the Blues deep in their own territory throughout the second half as the underdogs put the bite on their more fancied rivals.
DCE: 'We did it again'
Props: Patrick Carrigan and Jake Trbojevic
Patrick Carrigan exploded onto the Origin scene with 183 metres and 34 tackles in Game One to go within an inch of player of the match honours. The 24-year-old held his own in Perth and then came into his own at Suncorp Stadium, pounding the Blues into submission on his way to collecting the prestigious Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series.
Jake Trbojevic was a controversial omission in Sydney but quickly made up for lost time with a herculean performance in Game Two (17 runs for 148 metres) as the Blues levelled the series. Tried his guts out in the decider with a team high 43 tackles and it’s hard to imagine him ever being left out of a NSW side again.
A Hunt speciality in Origin
Hooker: Ben Hunt
Ben Hunt is the ultimate professional and he had the ultimate reward when he raced away to seal the series in front of a delirious Queensland crowd on Wednesday. Playing out of position at hooker he came up with 84 tackles across the three games as well as a 40-20 kick for the ages in the 58th minute in Game Three. His one-two punch with Harry Grant worked a treat.
Second Row: Kurt Capewell and Jeremiah Nanai
Kurt Capewell is another Maroon who wears the tag ‘ultimate professional’ with pride. Pushed into the centre position on numerous occasions due to injuries but gets the job done with a minimum of fuss. Showed great desire to chase Harry Grant’s nifty grubber on the stroke of half-time and touch down for the try that gave Queensland the belief they needed.
Jeremiah Nanai is one of four Cowboys who played a huge role in the decider, showing maturity well beyond his years to come up with massive plays in attack and defence. Hard to believe he is just 19 years old and has played less than 20 NRL games. A threat in the air chasing kicks and on the ground with his classy footwork and ability to bust tackles.
Lock: Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was a man on a mission on Wednesday night. Thrust into the game in the fourth minute after Lindsay Collins was concussed, the towering Titan took it upon himself to get under the Blues’ skin and that’s exactly what he did for all 56 minutes he was on the paddock. Leaves nothing in the tank and promises to be a mainstay of Billy Slater’s Maroons sides for many years to come.
Here's how the final voting finished up!
