Katanning’s Shai Bolton and Pingaring’s Liam Baker among WA’s best players as part of brilliant Origin return

Katanning-born Shai Bolton and Pingaring-raised Liam Baker were stand-out performers for WA in their 24-point loss in front of a sold-out Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

In the much-hyped return of State of Origin footy, a star-studded Victorian outfit proved too strong for the hosts as they kicked the final three goals to secure the Polly Farmer Cup.

Both Bolton and Baker were named in WA’s best players as Origin returned for the first time since 1999.

Fremantle’s Bolton collected 24 disposals to go with one goal, four marks and 563m gained.

Newly appointed Eagles co-captain Baker amassed 23 possessions, five marks, seven score involvements and six intercept possessions.

Brookton-Pingelly junior Tim English partnered Darcy Cameron in the ruck duties, collection 11 hit-outs and 10 disposals while Geelong’s Lawson Humphries, who has strong links to Albany, was dazzling across half-back with 23 disposals, eight marks and 490m gained

WA surged back into the contest with four straight goals in the final term as the home crowd urged them along, but majors to Patrick Dangerfield, Caleb Serong and Zach Merrett sealed the 18.17 (125) to 15.11 (101) triumph.

Hogan won the Graham Moss Medal as WA’s best player, booting five majors in a commanding display in the front half.

Albany pair Cameron and Jordan Clark played strong hands for the hosts.

Clark was superb for WA, finishing as his team’s highest disposal winner and having an equal game-high number of intercept possessions.

The brilliant Fremantle defender and Railways product collected 27 disposals across half-back, to go with six marks, two clearances, five score involvements and 586m gained.

He was also one of three players to have nine intercept possessions, the others being fellow WA backman Tom Barrass and Lachie Ash who won the E.J Whitten Medal as Victoria’s best player.

Cameron had a strong Origin debut as well, with 15 touches, five marks, 17 hit-outs and nine score involvements.

The star Collingwood ruck and North Albany product won the first hit-out of the game opposed to Victorian gun Max Gawn, to get WA going forward as the home side kicked the first two goals through Chad Warner and Jesse Hogan.