The former New South Wales prop Glenn Lazarus has hailed Blues captain Paul Gallen's State of Origin effort as one of the best in the competition's history.
Playing in the front row for the first time, Gallen became the first New South Wales prop since Lazarus in 1996 to spend all 80 minutes on the park.
He carried the ball over 230 metres and made 30 tackles to lead New South Wales to a series-levelling 18-8 win in Sydney on Wednesday night.
Blues coach Ricky Stuart says Gallen is as equal in value to the Blues as Queensland's superstar backs Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston are to the Maroons.
