State of Origin Game 3: Queensland Maroons go down to NSW Blues 14-4 in historic decider

Courageous Queensland have been denied a hat-trick of titles as the NSW Blues snapped a 19-year Suncorp Stadium to become State of Origin champions.

Courageous Queensland were denied a hat-trick of titles as a fast and ferocious NSW side shattered their 19-year Suncorp hoodoo with a 14-4 victory to become State of Origin champions.

In arguably the most brutally brilliant contest in Origin’s 44-year history, the Maroons and NSW traded blows like heavyweights before the Blues landed the knockout punch before 52,547 fans at Suncorp Stadium.

The Maroons were chasing an Origin three-peat but coach Billy Slater was left to taste his first series loss as two tries in four minutes to Bradman Best and Mitchell Moses broke Queensland’s spirit.

The Maroons have been denied a series hat-trick as NSW shattered a 19-year Suncorp Stadium hoodoo. Picture: Getty Images

In the ultimate Origin cliffhanger, scores were locked 0-all for 39 minutes and Queensland went to halftime leading 2-0 before Best (65th) and Moses (69th) plunged the dagger to silence Suncorp.

It gave the Blues their first Origin shield since 2021 and also emphatically exorcised their hoodoo at Lang Park as NSW savoured their first series win in a Suncorp decider since 2005.

The Blues also came back from 1-0 down to snatch Origin supremacy. Queensland were gladiators in defeat, tackling their hearts out under siege, but with victory looming a 4-2, they ran out of the gas in the final 15 minutes.

The contest was on a knife’s edge for more than an hour. Ultimately, NSW were more dominant and energetic in midfield and without Cameron Munster, the tryless Maroons lacked the playmaking finesse to unlock the Blues.

“It didn’t feel like a loss. I feel immensely proud of this playing group,” Slater said.

“Our first half, we were on our line a whole heap, that tells in the end with fatigue.

“I am very proud of this team.

“I still thought we were a chance with five minutes to go. We have a footy team there and I never thought we were gone until the last set.”

MELEE MADNESS

A desperate and willing decider exploded in the 31st minute when a push-and-shove between Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans and NSW pivot Jarome Luai triggered a wild melee.

It evoked images of the blood-and-thunder days of the 1980s as Maroons and Blues players came racing in, with the avalanche of aggression sensationally spilling over the sidelines onto the Queensland bench.

When order was restored, Maroons back-rower Jeremiah Nanai was sin-binned for shoving Luai as third-man-in, while Cameron Murray claimed what could be a slice of rugby league history.

Jeremiah Nanai and Cameron Murray were sin-binned after a melee erupted in the first half. Picture: NRL Imagery

In remarkable scenes, the NSW No.13 followed Nanai to the sheds _ despite being on the bench at the time, forcing the Blues to remove one of their 13 players from the field.

“I have never seen that before,” stunned Maroons great Paul Vautin said on Channel 9 of Murray’s bench sin-binning.

Cherry-Evans believed Murray should have been sent off.

“It’s unacceptable at any level of the game,” he said. “I thought we were going to get the penalty.”

TERRIFIC TOMMY

Is there a more tenacious player in State of Origin history than Tom Dearden?

If so, Dearden is in the grand final. The Maroons five-eighth must have had a twin on the field because he was everywhere in defence and attack as the pumped-up Blues relentlessly peppered the Queensland line.

Dearden was the best player on the park in the first 40. He made the first clean break in the 22nd minute with a show-and-go and with Queensland under siege for 30 minutes, Dearden’s cover defence was peerless.

Stephen Crichton looked certain to open the scoring in the 33rd minute, only for Dearden to produce a sublime scything tackle that forced the ball loose as the NSW centre slid over the tryline.

“He is a player. He is tough,” Slater said. “Tom is a great fella. He still has a big career in front of him.”

Reece Walsh was in the wars as the Maroons star struggled with injury. Picture: Getty Images

WALSH’S WOES

It was another rough night for Reece Walsh. Queensland’s superstar was in the wars and he was battered from pillar to post by a NSW team that crunched Walsh at every opportunity.

Walsh is a magnificent talent but he is not the biggest man at 177cm and 88kg. He appeared to struggle with the physicality of Origin, left on his knees gasping for air several times as he clutched at his foot, hip and ribs numerous times throughout the slugfest.

Super sub Kalyn Ponga came on in the 51st minute and had a couple of promising touches, but couldn’t produce the X-factor moment the Maroons were craving.

“He was getting hit a fair bit without the footy,” Slater said of Walsh. “Given the situation we were in, having them (Walsh and Ponga) both out there was our best option.”

Kalyn Ponga came on in the second half but couldn’t produce an X-factor moment the Maroons needed. Picture: NRL Imagery

BRAVEHEART MAROONS

Queensland’s heart in the opening stanza was one of the greatest defensive displays in Origin history.

They had no right to keep NSW scoreless. That they did was testament to the spirit of a Queensland side that tackled with a demonic intent inspired by 50,000 rabid fans at Suncorp.

The Blues could have easily led by 18. Rarely has a NSW team enjoyed 72 per cent of territory. The visitors had a whopping 26 tackles in the opposition 20-metre zone compared to Queensland’s paltry three. But whenever the Blues sniffed a try, the hungry Maroons swarmed in support.

There was always a fear the defensive toll would be felt late in the game and so it proved. Gutsy Queensland felt the pinch in the final quarter as the Best-Moses one-two punch left the exhausted Maroons on the canvas.

“I would have preferred to hold the shield up and the feeling be different. I was disappointed after Melbourne (their 38-18 loss in Game Two),” Slater said.

“We didn’t give ourselves a chance there but we gave ourselves a chance this time.

“You can’t win everything in this game. To stand up and do their state proud, that’s what I’m proud of.”

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Originally published as State of Origin Game 3: Queensland Maroons go down to NSW Blues 14-4 in historic decider