LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
After NSW's 18-6 victory in State of Origin 1, NRL fans are debating the decision to award Payne Haas the man of the match accolade.
The win marked a significant moment for the Blues, who took a 1-0 lead in the series and handed the Maroons their first back-to-back home losses in 27 years.
Haas had an impressive performance, running for 156 metres, achieving three tackle breaks, three offloads, and making 30 tackles, making strong contributions to the NSW forward pack.
However, many fans believe Zac Lomax should have received the man of the match title instead.
Lomax, the Parramatta winger, scored two of the Blues' four tries and ran for a remarkable 209 metres from 25 carries.
His performance included a critical one-handed catch that set up Dylan Edwards' match-sealing try and a crucial defensive play where he thwarted a potential try from Cameron Munster while teammate Brian To'o was temporarily out of play.
Despite acknowledging Haas's solid game, commentators on social media argued that Lomax was the standout player.
One user stated, "Lomax was robbed blind.
Haas played a solid game but Lomax was the standout on the field from his first carry to his last.
Absolute joke." Another added, "As usual wingers are banned from man of matches.
Lomax best on ground easily in my opinion."
While the selection of the man of the match stirred controversy, the overall performance of NSW, led by Laurie Daley, left the team feeling positive about their chances in the upcoming matches.
Haas commented post-game, emphasizing that the Blues still have "a job to do" to secure the series win.