Ethan Strange shone in Game 1 of the 2026 State of Origin, leading the MVP race with three man-of-the-match votes.
Ethan Strange has been named the clear standout of the opening game in the 2026 State of Origin series, taking the early lead of our MVP race.
Strange was voted man of the match by three of the four judges, with James Tedesco winning the top spot for the other list of five players.
Nathan Cleary and Sam Walker were the only other two players to feature across all four lists, and as a result, they sit in second and third overall.
Selwyn Cobbo, Cameron Murray, Cameron Munster, Victor Radley and Hudson Young were the other players to feature for at least one judge in the comeback win for the Blues.