LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In the opening game of the 2025 State of Origin series, the New South Wales Blues delivered a standout performance, decisively defeating the Queensland Maroons in Brisbane.
This victory positions the Blues favorably to potentially secure the series for the second consecutive year, according to reports from Zero Tackle.
In the context of the State of Origin MVP voting, New South Wales players dominated, garnering every available vote.
While Payne Haas received the official title of man of the match, he only secured the top honors from one panel judge.
In contrast, Zac Lomax was recognized as the best player by three judges, giving him an early lead in the MVP standings, with Haas trailing closely behind.
Additionally, six other Blues players were ranked in the top five by at least one judge.
To determine the State of Origin MVP for each game, a panel-comprised of Zero Tackle founders Matt Clements, Ethan Lee Chalk, Dan Nichols, and another contributor-implemented a 5-4-3-2-1 voting system.
The outcome reflected the Blues' dominance and individual performances, particularly highlighting Lomax's impressive showing in the match.