State of Origin Game 3 score: Brad Fittler coy on NSW future as Blues win 24-10 over Queensland Maroons
It only took three games, but the Blues have finally clicked into gear to avoid an Origin whitewash, but it may not have been enough to save Brad Fittler’s job.
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This was a Blue-chip win.
Embarrassed NSW fans can finally go to work on Thursday with some dignity and self-esteem.
Yep, we don’t have to hide anymore. It was too little and all too late, but some pride has finally been reinstated.
With debutant Bradman Best scoring two tries, and the condemned James Tedesco returning to his elite best, NSW denied Queensland their expected three-nil clean sweep with a courageous 24-10 win at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Blues lost the series but had the final say – and that meant taking some steam out of Queensland’s series victory.
Queensland will still aim for a three-peat next season but, for now, NSW have some honour.
Perhaps some of the Maroons’ cockiness was knocked out of them in Sydney.
After all the criticism, mostly warranted, scrutiny and pressure, NSW coach Brad Fittler can once again saviour victory.
Fittler’s NSW team trusted each other, defended for one another and won together. Fittler deserved the win given what he’s achieved for his state over a 31-game playing career and 18-match coaching tenure.
It was a monumental win against all odds.
“It relieving,” said Fittler. “There was a lot to take out of this game but we should have been better in games one and two. We’re going in the right direction.”
Asked if he wanted to continue coaching NSW, Fittler said: “We’ll wait and see.”
“It was a tricky series and a lot of pressure – I’m really happy,” said NSW assistant coach, Danny Buderus. “It wasn’t a dead rubber, there was so much to play for.”
Maroons assistant Johnathan Thurston added: “It wasn’t our best night.”
Maroons coach Billy Slater added: “You get what you deserve and that was very true tonight and in the series. We weren’t on our game in a lot of areas.”
NSW must look in the rear-vision mirror and wonder what could have been this series.
Queensland didn’t possess the same laser focus it employed over the opening two games. They played like the series had already been won.
Tedesco, Best, Cody Walker, Cam Murray and Keaon Koloamatangi were impressive. Like Best, Koloamatangi was on debut.
“We wanted to get some pride back in the jersey and we fought hard for a win,” Tedesco said.
FOXX ON THE RUN
NSW winger Josh Addo-Carr scored one of the great Origin tries in the 21st minute.
It was a 60 metre effort which included a chip and regather which sent the Accor Stadium crowd into raptures. It was a try reminiscent of Billy Slater’s famous effort in 2004.
Addo-Carr limped off with three minutes remaining with a hamstring injury, allowing Clint Gutherson to finally take the field.
Queensland’s Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored a remarkable kick and regather try before halftime, meaning he has crossed in every game this series.
SOUTHS BIG FOUR
Souths had four players in the NSW side on Wednesday night – Koloamatangi, Walker, Murray and Damien Cook.
It is the club’s largest NSW representation since game two, 1972 when Gary Stevens, Bob McCarthy, Elwyn Walters and Denis Pittard played for the Blues.
A Koloamatangi tip-on led to NSW’s first try.
“Keaon’s been really strong together,” Andrew Johns said in commentary.
Former Queensland captain Cam Smith on 9: “Cody Walker is doing the damage.”
Thurston said: “Cody was the difference tonight.”
WILL FREDDY QUIT
Will Fittler consider standing down? He has endured six emotionally draining series – three wins and three losses – but 2023 has been particularly difficult.
NSWRL board members are aware how challenging this series has been for their coach and those close to him.
On Wednesday, Fittler said: “I’ll have the opportunity to say whether I want to coach the team.”
Perhaps NSW’s effort on Wednesday night might be enough for Fittler to retain his position and give the coach renewed passion for the job after a tough series.
CRACKING CROWD
Who forgot to tell NSW fans this was a dead rubber?
A crowd of 75,342 attended the match, despite NSW being unable to win the series. It was the largest dead-rubber crowd in Origin history.
QUEENSLAND’S FUTURE
Bookmakers are already dismissing NSW for next season. This masthead has secured the first official TAB betting market for next year’s Origin series with Queensland $1.65 favourites, NSW $2.25 outsiders.
It is the first time Queensland will start a series as favourites for nine years.
“Planning to open up series betting in State of Origin is normally a pretty easy process – NSW open favourites,” said TAB’s Gerard Daffy.
“In fact we have to go right back to 2015 to find the last time the Maroons opened as favourites to win the series. But, that has all changed now in the Billy Slater era. Queensland have opened $1.65 favourites to make it a three-peat next year.”
NSW lost the series but can look forward with some optimism given three of their biggest stars – Cleary, Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell – were missing at times this series.
RELIVE OUR LIVE ORIGIN COVERAGE BELOW
10:02 FULL TIME
Put the brooms away Queensland. New South Wales has avoided an Origin whitewash with a dominant victory in Sydney! It only took three games, but the Blues finally clicked into gear to avoid a cleansweep, as Brad Fittler’s selection gambles paid off for NSW, particularly the recall of Cody Walker, who ignited the Blues attack and inspired a first-half blitz.
The final minutes of the third State of Origin game were interrupted by a series of pitch invaders.
The game was brought to a temporary halt with less than five minutes remaining as security were forced to intervene to escort a pair of pitch invaders off Accor Stadium.
The first raced past NSW and Queensland players before he slipped to the ground and was swamped by security in green bibs.
A second pitch invader was caught by police before he was able to enter the field of play before a third made his way into the ground, where he was immediately set upon by security.
9:59 FOXX INJURY BLOW
Josh Addo-Carr has been pulled off the field in the dying minutes of Origin III, after suffering an apparent hamstring injury. Clint Gutherson makes his Origin return, coming on with three minutes left in play.
9:43 TEDDY FINALLY BREAKS OUT
He’s come under criticism for a mixed Origin series so far, but Blues fullback James Tedesco has finally produced a magic moment. Teddy cruised past Valentine Holmes and shrugged off Xavier Coates to make a linebreak, before passing off to Bradman Best, who scores a double on debut. Stephen Crichton converts to give the Blues a 24-10 lead over Queensland.
Bradman at his Best! 🔥#Originpic.twitter.com/hCwMWR7iWz
— NRL (@NRL) July 12, 2023
9:33 JOEY’S SHOCK QUEENSLAND SUPPORT
NSW assistant coach Andrew Johns has shown some rare support for the Maroons, after the Bunker ruled against Queensland after a ruling a knock-on against Lindsay Collins. Referee Ashley Klein initially ruled a penalty against NSW, before changing his mind and ruling that Collins had knocked on. The Maroons challenged, and despite the ball appearing to be knocked out by the head of Brian To’o, the bunker ruled against Queensland.
“He had complete control of the football in the collision and the ball went backwards but anyway. Joey, what do you think?” asked commentator Mat Thompson.
“I don’t think there’s a knock-on there. And I think everyone watching knows who I’m cheering for,” said Johns.
9:23 COREY ON
It’s official, NRL cult hero Corey Horsburgh is a Maroon, with the big red Queensland firebrand finally making his way onto the field in the 50th minute.
9:16PM BLUES WASTE CHALLENGE
NSW have thrown away their captain’s challenge, after claiming that Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans tripped Cody Walker. While he did slightly stick his leg out, he was clearly just effecting a tackle and the bunker was quick to rule against Blues skipper James Tedesco.
9:13PM SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
We’re back underway for the second half at Accor Stadium! Will the Blues go on with it from here? Or will Queensland mount a comeback to complete a series cleansweep?
8:54PM HALF-TIME
A dumb penalty has gifted NSW another two points, with the Blues taking them while on offer and converting through Stephen Crichton. NSW head into the break with the momentum, leading 18-10 as the boys go into the sheds. But the story of the first half has to be the triumphant return of Cody Walker. The Rabbitohs star inspired a NSW onslaught, as the Blues scored twice in three minutes on the left edge through Josh Addo-Carr and Bradman Best.
8:50PM HAMMER TIME
The Maroons have finally managed to halt the Blues onslaught, hitting back through Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to score his fifth Origin try in four games. Valentine Holmes misses the conversion as NSW lead 16-10.
Andrew Johns has praised the effort of the Dolphins star.
“You talk about Origin moments. This is an Origin run right on halftime,” he said.
It's Hammer time! 🔨#Originpic.twitter.com/x7ajHASDlG
— NRL (@NRL) July 12, 2023
8.36PM ONE WAY TRAFFIC
This is an incredible swing. Cody Walker has had an immediate impact in his Origin recall, putting Bradman Best over to score on his NSW debut. Stephen Crichton converts to give the Blues a 16-6 lead.
Paul Gallen praised the efforts of Walker down the Blues left-edge.
“Cody Walker on that left-hand edge is tearing apart the right edge of Queensland. There’s no communication at the moment between Valentine Holmes and Daly Cherry-Evans.”
“They normally work so well together. Valentine Holmes is stuck in two minds. He’s come in a few times to protect Daly Cherry-Evans when Martin is running that lead time. No time he was stuck in no man’s land and Best goes straight through for his first try in Origin.”
Bradman Best on debut! ðŸ‘#Originpic.twitter.com/0C1d9atXV2
— NRL (@NRL) July 12, 2023
8.32PM BLUES ON FIRE
Wow, talk about a momentum swing! Josh Addo-Carr has scored an incredible Origin try, after a crisp pass from debutant Bradman Best put him in to open space. The Fox made a clean break, beating fullback AJ Brimson, and regathering his own kick to score. While the Maroons scored the first try, its been all NSW since. Stephen Crichton fails to convert, and the Blues lead 10-6.
THE FLYING FOXX 🦊
— NRL (@NRL) July 12, 2023
Powered by AMPOL #AmpolPowerPlays#Originpic.twitter.com/zERl0Y78D6
8.30PM NSW LOCK THINGS UP
A dumb penalty from Maroons hooker Harry Grant has handed the Blues a gift two points, with Stephen Crichton converted to lock things up at 6-6. While not the worst tackle, Grant did illegally take out NSW halfback Mitchell Moses, after taking out his legs after a kick.
8.26PM BLUES HIT BACK
And just minutes later NSW have returned serve, with Brian To’o scoring in the right corner, after fellow winger Josh Addo-Carr made a break on the left side. Stephen Crichton fails to convert, and the Maroons lead 6-4.
The Blues reply instantly through To'o! 🔵#Originpic.twitter.com/Bcax2cx100
— NRL (@NRL) July 12, 2023
8.21PM QUEENSLAND STRIKE FIRST
The Maroons have opened the scoring in Origin III, with David Fifita pouncing on the ball from a Cameron Munster bomb, after a tap back from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Valentine Holmes converts to give Queensland a 6-0 lead.
Darren Lockyer praised the Maroons work after fending off an early NSW onslaught.
“Off the ball a big thing especially in big game. More Queenslanders around the ball, you see the Blues coming back there was no real urgency in the modern game the guy having the catch happens all the guy having the catch happens all the time.”
“You see it’s a perfect kick, more numbers around the ball lack of urgency there from the front line of the Blues and the tapback. More jerseys there, more want from the Queenslanders.”
There's no stopping Fifita from there! 😤#Originpic.twitter.com/uULNzn8I75
— NRL (@NRL) July 12, 2023
8:15PM BLUES’ SECRET WEAPON
NSW coach Brad Fittler has a secret weapon in the coach’s box tonight – Penrith premiership winning coach Ivan Cleary.
The Penrith mentor was spotted joining Fittler and other coaching staff into the coach’s box right before kick off.
Cleary was decked out in official Blues merchandise.
8:10PM BOMBED CHANCE
NSW rookie Bradman Best has almost scored a try just minutes into his Origin debut, but was found to be off-side after an awkward kick from Cody Walker. NSW Blues assistant coach Andrew Johns said it was a bombed opportunity from Walker.
“I have no doubt Cody Walker was thinking run the ball there. He could have pulled that kick back and played that short pass to Liam Martin. Look at it. Valentine Holmes had turned out, Daly Cherry-Evans had turned in.”
8:08PM AAAAND WE’RE OFF
Things are underway at Accor Stadium in State of Origin Game III, despite a delay, as Queensland once again kept NSW waiting. The Blues were forced to stand in the tunnel, as Billy Slater’s men were late to take the field, just as they were in Games I and II.
8PM QLD PRE-GAME ‘MISHAP’
Maroons enforcer Lindsay Collins had a bit of a wardrobe malfunction in the pre-game warm-up, losing a shoe while running at Tino Fa’asuamaleaui on the tackle bags.
Lindsay Collins doesn’t muck around 😳 @telegraph_sportpic.twitter.com/XwrpUkNwKT
— Russell Jackson (@rustycj) July 12, 2023
7:20PM: AXED BLUES RALLY BEHIND NSW
They may have been dumped throughout the series but the likes of Nicho Hynes, Junior Paulo and Hudson Young are at Origin and have joined the NSW camp.
The players along with the injured Nathan Cleary, Tom Trbojevic and Api Koroisau were invited by coach Brad Fittler to be part of the inner-sanctum on game day.
Fittler had hit out at the media in the lead-up to tonight’s game, claiming that the reporting of Hynes’ axing had attempted to sabotage his relationship with the Sharks halfback.
The players joined the Blues on the teamwalk from the NSWRL centre of excellence to Allianz Stadium.
7:05PM: STATE OF ORIGIN GAME III LATE MAIL
The late mail is in and both sides will line up 1-17 barring any extremely late injuries in warm-up. Both Brad Fittler and Billy Slater had sprung last minute changes in the first two games, but both teams will run out as named for the Game III dead rubber.
Damien Cook and Reece Robson were late swaps in Game II, but the Blues have resisted the urge to make any late changes this time.
Cody Walker, Clint Gutherson, Jacob Saifiti and Reagan Campbell-Gillard have all earned a NSW recall, while Jake Trbojevic is back after missing Games I and II with a calf injury. Scott Drinkwater is 18th Man.
Corey Horsburgh will make his Origin debut off the bench for QLD, while AJ Brimson takes over at fullback for the suspended Reece Walsh. Cowboys playmaker Tom Dearden is 18th Man.
6.45PM: NRL WARN THURSTON OVER SIDELINE ANTICS
Queensland assistant Johnathan Thurston revealed he was given an official warning by the NRL to tone down his sideline antics during State of Origin.
Thurston’s emotional reactions this series have become must-see viewing, but the legendary Maroon was told to cool it after encroaching into the officials’ allocated boundaries.
“I got a warning from the NRL, they sat me down and said I’m not allowed to wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m not allowed to do what I was doing,” Thurston revealed on Nine’s Billy Slater Podcast.
“I said this is Origin, I’ll do what I want,” he laughed.
“I was a little bit subdued … I ride the highs and the lows like all the fans,” he said.
“I love State of Origin, I love watching rugby league.
“You know when we’re winning and we’re losing because of my emotions, you can certainly see those.”
6.30PM: IKIN OPENS UP ON SLATER’S MAROONS FUTURE
QRL bosses have begun talks with Billy Slater with about leading the Maroons in 2024 as he looks to become the first coach in more than a decade to lead Queensland to a State of Origin sweep.
Recently-appointed QRL chief Ben Ikin revealed on Wednesday night he would do everything he can to ensure Maroons legend Slater remains at the helm.
Ben Ikin assures us he'll do everything he can to keep Billy Slater as the head coach of Queensland in the future.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 12, 2023
📺Watch #OriginFootyonFox on @Foxtel CH 502 or stream on @kayosportshttps://t.co/NUcyGh33g4pic.twitter.com/V1pqHuYfDI
“It depends how much the QRL board is prepared to give me to re-sign him,” Ikin quipped on Fox Sports.
“This is something that he has gone after, he’s done well and my sense is that he wants to keep going.
“I have started the conversations with his agent and we’ll do everything we can to make sure he continues to lead Queensland into the future as the head coach.”
Ikin said Slater had helped ensure the future beyond his tenure would be successful by bringing other potential Maroons coaches into the fray.
“Beyond that, the other thing we know is that he’s bringing other good people onto that coaching staff who we believe over time might be capable, if he decides to step away, to step up and replace him,” he said.
6.15PM: ‘MAROON KANGAROOS’: BLUES SET FOR GREEN AND GOLD SNUB
The Maroons could occupy as many as 13 of the 17 spots in Australia’s Test team at the end of the year following Queensland’s State of Origin dominance.
The Maroons have dominated the Blues so far this year, winning game one in Adelaide 26-18 against the odds before thumping NSW 32-6 at Suncorp Stadium to secure back-to-back series triumphs.
Now Queensland can inflict the ultimate Origin pain on the Blues by beating them on home soil to secure their first clean sweep since 2010.
If that is the case, it could be a Blues bloodbath at the Kangaroos selection table if a Test schedule is agreed to at the end of the year.
The Blues dominated last year’s Kangaroos team, fielding 11 players in the team that won the World Cup final against Samoa.
But that could change drastically if Queensland wins the Origin series 3-nil, with Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga set to usher in a new generation of Maroons talent.
One of those NSW players fighting to retain not only their Blues jersey beyond this series, but also a spot in the Kangaroos, is James Tedesco.
The Roosters star captains NSW and Australia in the No. 1, but has been below his best this series and under fire from rising Maroons young gun Reece Walsh.
Queensland halfback Daly Cherry-Evans lost the Kangaroos No. 7 jersey to Nathan Cleary last year, but has responded in remarkable fashion.
5.40PM: PERFECT PREPARATION HAS MAROONS NERVOUS
Maroons legend Cameron Smith admits he is nervous about tonight’s Origin finale because Queensland’s preparation has been so smooth.
Queensland has already wrapped up back-to-back series wins after claiming the first two games of the series.
Now the Maroons of 2023 are aiming to emulate Smith’s class of 2010 by winning the series 3-nil.
While the Blues are in crisis, chopping and changing their team throughout the entire series without any luck, Queensland has been in cruise control.
Coach Billy Slater has only been forced to make a handful of changes through injury and suspension and his assistant coach Smith said the Maroons were primed to shine.
“We’ve been very fortunate. All the preparations have been fantastic.
“As a coach, sometimes you get a little nervous when things are going too smoothly.
“They’ve been great. They work extremely hard at their game and want to be better every time they get on the training paddock. That’s a really impressive trait to have as a group.
“The key to playing well is preparation and they’ve nailed it once again.”
4.45PM: DCE BACKS MAROONS TO JOIN ELITE CLASS OF QLD LEGENDS
Daly Cherry-Evans has declared Queensland has no fear about completing a Blue Rinse on enemy soil as the class of 2010 urged the Maroons to not let this opportunity slip.
Cherry-Evans will lead the Maroons on to Accor Stadium on Wednesday night attempting to claim State of Origin’s first 3-nil series clean sweep in 13 years.
The Maroons have only won 3-nil four times (1988-89, 1995, 2010) in Origin’s 43 years and not since Mal Meninga’s record-breaking dynasty has Queensland completed a perfect series.
Even then, the Maroons only managed one 3-nil result during the decade of dominance from 2006-15 which yielded nine series wins in 10 years. They let 2-nil leads slip in the 2007 and 09 series.
Back in 2010, it took a team stacked with Origin legends like Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Petero Civoniceva and Nate Myles to inflict absolute misery on the Blues.
Now there is a new generation of Maroons stars making their mark in the likes of Cameron Munster, Jeremiah Nanai, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Harry Grant.
While this may be a young Maroons team, Cherry-Evans said they held no fear about winning in front of 70,000 Blues fans in Sydney.
“We’re aware of how little it’s happened, that shows how hard it is to do,” he said.
“The greatest Queensland team ever did it once. It’s hard to do.
“We know the challenge in front of us but I can guarantee you this side is excited about it, we’re not daunted by it.
“We haven’t reached our final destination yet. We’re proud of where we’ve come and what we’ve done but we’re not going to rest on that just yet.”
3.15PM: WHO DO THE BOOKIES FAVOUR TONIGHT?
Even throughout Queensland’s mighty eight-year State of Origin dominance, NSW still someone managed to find themselves as the bookies’ favourite from time to time.
But not tonight.
The bookies are leaning in on Daly Cherry-Evans and the Maroons getting the job done in a clean sweet, with Queensland firm $1.67 favourites to the Blues $2.25 outsider status.
In the margin betting, Queensland winning in a tight one – 1-12 victory margin – is the shortest-priced option, at $3.00 – while a blowout victory of 13+ is $3.40, before the NSW markets even enter the frame.
Reckon there could be a draw after 80 minutes? That’s paying $15.
Queensland winger Xavier Coates is a hot favourite, at $9, to score the first try just ahead of Blues speedster Josh Addo-Carr who is $11 despite failing to find the tryline this series.
2.20PM: SICK MUNSTER’S GAME 2 HEROICS REVEALED
By Travis Meyn
Maroons star Cameron Munster played through a shocking virus that stripped 4kg, and left him violently ill, to deliver Queensland back-to-back series wins.
Now he is back to full fitness and ready to crush the Blues and celebrate his first 3-nil State of Origin series win.
On the eve of Wednesday night’s Origin series finale at Accor Stadium in Sydney, this masthead can reveal the courage Munster showed to lead Queensland to victory three weeks ago.
The Maroons five-eighth made a stunning 15 runs for 120m in Queensland’s 32-6 thrashing of NSW at Suncorp Stadium to secure the series.
But he had excuses to not even take the field.
Munster was sick heading into the game and went downhill in the days after, losing 4kg as multiple viruses wreaked havoc on him.
“He was very crook in the last Origin game,” Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said.
“He came back to us after the game and was still crook and then got a couple of other things as well. He wanted to play because he sees himself as a guy who can get through that and back up.
“He looked like he had a big head because he was so skinny, he lost that much weight. He was about 4kg under his normal weight.
“He will be a lot better prepared for this game given he’s had a full week’s preparation with the Queensland side.
“Wednesday night might be his night.”
The Storm rested Munster after Origin II and he still wasn’t back to full fitness in Melbourne’s 34-16 loss to Penrith a fortnight ago.
But 10 days in Camp Maroon has the 28-year-old primed to dominate the Blues when Queensland looks to secure its first 3-nil series clean sweep since 2010.
1.15PM: RCG SLAMS ‘BULLS**T’ RUMOURS
By Fatima Kdouh
NSW forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard has slammed talk of not fitting into the Blues culture as ‘bullshit’ and hit back at claims a shaky relationship with former Penrith teammates cost him a spot in last year’s Origin series.
Campbell-Gillard earned a call-up in game one of the 2022 Origin series, along with six Panthers stars, but was axed after the Blues went down 16-10 to Queensland.
At the time, the chatter there was ‘tension’ between Campbell-Gillard and Penrith’s Blues contingent would not go away.
The Parramatta prop had drawn the ire of his former teammates in his first season at Eels in 2020 by declaring ‘I‘m not a bench player. It’s plain and simple’, in reference to being used on the bench by Panthers coach Ivan Cleary in his final year at the club.
Campbell-Gillard had also suggested he no longer felt ‘wanted’ at Penrith.
But the 29-year old rubbished claims those comments had hurt his chances of selection in a Blues outfit with heavy Panthers representation.
“I’m the type of person that understands it’s a results-driven business. If you don’t win obviously change is needed. I really feel grateful to be here in the team now,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“I think all that bullshit around rumours of me (not fitting in), I don’t know where it’s coming from. It definitely hasn’t come from me.
“I genuinely believe the chopping and changing happened because the result didn’t go our way.
“Mind you, I think I was one of seven changes in that first game but it was only my name that was through the media.
“I’m a big boy, I can cop any of the criticism, it doesn’t phase me. I’ll be making sure I do everything possible for this team to get a win tonight.”
12.00PM: MAROONS ENFORCER’S BRUTAL ORIGIN SLEDGE
By Dean Ritchie
Former Queensland forward Felise Kaufusi has taken a cheeky dig at NSW by predicting a three-nil cleansweep – by pushing a broom around at Dolphins training.
Kausufi was spotted entering a training building at Dolphins headquarters in Redcliffe while sweeping, signifying a three-nil cleansweep in tonight’s third State of Origin game.
The Dolphins media team filmed a smiling Kaufusi accompanied by hashtags #QLDer #cleansweep.
The post also read: ‘Game III, see you later.’
Game III see ya later 👋ðŸ½ðŸ§¹ #QLDer#cleansweeppic.twitter.com/MPi0sisoGx
— The Dolphins (@dolphinsnrl) July 11, 2023
Kaufusi missed selection this year after being suspended for three games in May for a swinging arm to the head of Storm prop Christian Welch.
In a fun build-up to the big game, Dolphins players completed their weights session today with players wearing either NSW or Queensland jumpers.
The Dolphins playing squad is roughly split 50-50 in terms of which state they were born and support.
11AM: FREDDY, TEDDY FIGHT BACK AGAINST HATERS
By Fatima Kdouh
Brad Fittler and James Tedesco know tonight’s dead rubber is shaping as the last for the NSW coach and captain but the duo won’t be going down without a fight.
Back-to-back series losses have put Fittler’s job at jeopardy and raised questions about Tedesco’s role in the side.
Fittler conceded the only way to end doubt about Tedesco, or the spot of any Blues player, was to stop Queensland from claiming a series whitewash.
“It (winning) does a lot, I don’t know what it does but it does a lot. It’s much better than the alternative,” Fittler said.
“They are aware of that … some of them will dodge it. He (Tedesco) most definitely won’t.
“They all get a chance now to put their hand in for next year absolutely.
“The players see it as an opportunity to cement a spot and be at the forefront of your mind when you are picking teams next year, whoever the coach is.”
Tedesco had long been seen as having a mortgage on the Blues No.1 jumper. But a slump in form, by Tedesco’s standards, for the Sydney Roosters put a spotlight on the champion fullback for the first time in his Origin career.
“You get that when you don’t perform, I think it’s the same for any player in any position. If you don’t win games you’re under threat,” Tedesco said.
“I’m just glad I got the chance to be captain and fullback for this game.
“I just want to bring my best and be the best player I can be. I have to go out after the big moments, which I have done so many times in my career and just back myself. Hopefully, that will shine through.”
10.00AM: EXPERT TIPS FOR ORIGIN 3
DEAN RITCHIE
Result: Queensland by 12
Why: A bashed-up NSW side is playing without confidence against a Maroons side full of cockiness and power.
Man of the match: Daly Cherry-Evans
First try: AJ Brimson
TRAVIS MEYN
Result: Queensland by 6
Why: This Queensland team is dialled in and have developed a close bond over the past few years while the Blues are all at sea. It’s a great opportunity for a Maroons whitewash.
Man of the match: Cameron Munster
First try: Xavier Coates
PHIL ROTHFIELD
Result: NSW by 12
Why: Surely the Maroons will be down on hunger now the series is already in the bag while the Blues are playing for pride and will turn up with their A game.
Man of the match: Mitchell Moses
First try: Josh Addo-Carr
FATIMA KDOUH
Result: NSW by 8
Why: The series is over for NSW but every player in Blue is playing for their future. That is more than enough motivation to get the job done.
Man of the match: Cody Walker
First try: Bradman Best
PAUL CRAWLEY
Result: Queensland by 14
Why: The Blues have left their run too late with all the changes for game three. Queensland should wrap it up 3-0.
Man of the match: Cameron Munster
First try: Xavier Coates
TYSON JACKSON
Result: NSW by 8
Why: The Blues have thrown a completely different picture at the Maroons with nothing to lose making them the most dangerous they have been all series.
Man of the match: James Tedesco
First try: Liam Martin
BRENT READ
Result: Queensland by 12
Why: The Maroons are on a roll. They’re fired up about the clean sweep. Their spine will lead them to victory.
Man of the match: Cameron Munster
First try: David Fifita
DAVID RICCIO
Result: NSW by 4
Why: Cody Walker, Jake Trbojevic and Reagan Campbell-Gillard back in Blue and Cam Murray at 13, it’s NSW’s best line-up of the series.
Man of the match: Cody Walker
First try: Bradman Best
MICHAEL CARAYANNIS
Result: NSW by 10
Why: Saving face and saving Brad Fittler’s NSW coaching job with a strong performance against a flat Queensland team.
Man of the match: Cameron Murray
First try: Cody Walker
PAMELA WHALEY
Result: Queensland by 2
Why: Billy Slater’s Queensland juggernaut will just keep rolling on. At this point it’s hard to imagine NSW being able to stop them.
Man of the match: Daly Cherry-Evans
First try: Valentine Holmes
PETER BADEL
Result: Queensland by 10
Why: The Blues are a selection rabble. Complacency won’t be an issue for the Maroons, whose spine will seal a 3-0 sweep.
Man of the match: Harry Grant
First try: AJ Brimson
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