It's official, Queensland - the biggest underdogs in 40 years - has scored its greatest series win under the great Wayne Bennett. RE-LIVE THE ACTION HERE.
Incredible. Remarkable. Magical.
The super coach has done it again.
Wayne Bennett has worked his finest miracle, with his unyielding faith in a motley crew of maligned Maroons underpinning the greatest series boilover of the Blues in State of Origin history.
REPLAY The State of Origin III Decider 30-mins after full time on Kayo. No ad-breaks during play and Fox League commentary. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Before a COVID world-record crowd of 49,155 at Suncorp Stadium, Queensland tapped into the spirit of Arthur Beetson, toasting the 40th anniversary of Origin with a 20-14 upset of a shellshocked NSW in a pulsating decider.
The Blues started as raging favourites but Queensland's fusion of young and old were a potent cocktail as pivot Cameron Munster, debutant Harry Grant and tearaway Lindsay Collins fired the Maroons to the Origin shield.
The depleted Maroons surged to a stunning 20-6 lead with 15 minutes to play but they were forced to stave off a furious NSW riposte until the final seconds.
When the full-time siren sounded, Bennett's Babes went berserk.
This was meant to be the series NSW couldn't lose. Injury-ravaged Queensland were derided as the worst Maroons team in 40 years.
Enter Bennett. Queensland's trump card. Even at age 70, the grandfather - and godfather - of Queensland coaching has proven to be the man that can bring the Maroons alive, even when they appear six feet under.
In 2001, Bennett famously blooded 10 rookies to inspire a fairytale series victory and almost two decades later, The Messiah's belief in a staggering 14 debutants has penned the most glorious Maroons chapter.
Watching on from the heavens, the late, great Artie would be shedding tears.
"There is a great rapport among the guys," Bennett said. "It was 40 years since we started Origin and what Artie brought, we displayed that, things like not giving up for your mate.
"I will never forget this game. I will never forget this moment. I'm elated. They just kept responding."
WILD ABOUT HARRY
On this performance, Grant will be Queensland's hooker for the next 10 years.
Straight after half-time, he sliced and diced the Blues with two busts in three minutes. Then came his dream moment. With Queensland leading 14-6 in the 63rd minute, Grant surged for the tryline and reached out to score for 20-6 lead. What a debut. Grant didn't just survive, he thrived.
"Harry was superb," Bennett said. "He did exactly what I needed him to do, give us something off the bench."
MUNSTER MAGIC
Munster's high-octane class last night rammed home just how much his second-minute concussion in Origin II hurt the Maroons.
With the contest teetering at 6-all, Munster stepped up in the 37th minute with a sublime split-second grubber and regather before cross-kicking from the next play for Edrick Lee to give the hosts a 12-6 half-time lead.
Munster then drove the Maroons with his competitive fire in the second half. "He's got a lot of Allan Langer-type characteristics," Bennett said. "He is just a footballer. He plays on instinct."
MORE ORIGIN NEWS
Buzz: Fittler’s huge tactical error cost Blues
Munster's ball: Hail Maroons' new King Cam
Player ratings: Dream debut for Queensland rookie
‘On behalf of the worst ever QLD team, thank you very much!’
SHAKY ALLAN
It was a wild and nervous ride for Corey Allan in his Origin debut.
The 22-year-old started on fire, helping set-up the game's opening try in the fourth minute when he chimed into the backline and fired a pinpoint bullet pass for Valentine Holmes to give the Maroons the perfect start at 6-0.
But then Allan got a chilling welcome to Origin football. He made two handling errors in 16 minutes, including a woeful ninth-minute blunder when he grassed a high kick on his tryline, gifting James Tedesco a try for 6-all.
LEE-THAL DUO
Maligned debutants Brenko and Edrick Lee were superb for the Maroons.
At the start of this year, both were flat out playing NRL, but last night, they were flawless, epitomising the courage of this Queensland team and repaying the faith of that man Bennett.
And that officially brings an end to a rugby league season that has been unforgettable for so many reasons.
What a stunning effort from the Maroons, and what future they have ahead of them with guys like Harry Grant, Xavier Coates and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui in the team.
We hope you enjoyed it. Enjoy your night, enjoy your weekend, enjoy the off-season and please stay safe.
Typically lovely stuff from the one and only Crash Craddock:
"Some of the squad had not played for more than a month before the series and would not be recognised in the Queen St Mall.
Eleven had never played Origin. Some were fringe starters for their clubs. Eleven had been either rejected or passed over the Broncos. One (Brenko Lee) didn’t even have a club contract last Christmas.
Yet they beat the blue-chip Blues in the way Queensland teams used to win 30 years ago – with hustle, bustle and rustle, overwhelming them with crazy-eyed tenacity so fierce that Queensland’s biggest threat was wanting it so badly they occasionally snatched at it too hard."
READ CRASH'S FULL ARTICLE HERE
They may have been labelled the worst Queensland side of all time, but Wayne Bennett produced another Origin upset of the ages as NSW struggled after losing yet another skipper to concussion.
See who starred and who stunk at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night by clicking here.
Not many people who thought we'd be seeing this photo when this crazy series kicked off.
They said what? https://t.co/UibtzQuQST
— Queensland Maroons (@QLDmaroons) November 18, 2020
– Travis Meyn
Lewis. Lockyer. Thurston. Munster.
Cameron Munster joined an illustrious group of Queensland five-eighths after leading the Maroons to an incredible State of Origin series victory at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
Munster was sublime as the Maroons celebrated Origin’s 40th anniversary with a gripping 20-14 win in the decider to clinch their first series since 2017.
And it was Munster’s ball at The Cauldron as the Maroons No.6 celebrated his 10th Origin game with his finest performance, which was capped off by him winning the Wally Lewis Medal as the man of the series.
READ TRAVIS MEYN'S FULL STORY HERE
He pretty much missed all of Origin II, but Cameron Munster's dynamic performances in Game One and Game Three have earned him the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series.
DCE with the fair dunkum mic drop on that one!
Daly Cherry-Evans with the drop mic walkoff 🎤⬇️#NRL #Origin pic.twitter.com/T25TxypyWc
— Roast (@thenrlroast) November 18, 2020
And they say Gus is biased!
Great to see though.
JT and @camsmith9 are PUMPED UP!
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) November 18, 2020
Watch the post-match LIVE on Channel 9. #9WWOS #Origin pic.twitter.com/RCcz2p0mqj
– Phil Rothfield
The moment NSW skipper James Tedesco staggered off Suncorp Stadium in a daze in the 19th minute, the Blues were done.
And for that reason coach Brad Fittler and his advisor Greg Alexander have to accept responsibility for a selection gamble that blew up in their faces in the Origin decider.
Reckon this bloke might have a rightful chip on his shoulder. But how bloody good is it to see a full stadium for a massive sporting event? Well done to Queensland on controlling the COVID outbreak for so long.
THE “WORST #QLDER SIDE EVER” HAVE WON THE 2020 #StateOfOrigin WITH A 20-14 GAME 3 WIN IN THE SERIES DECIDER.#Origin
— Horse Racing Global (@HorseRacingGL) November 18, 2020
Harry Grant enormous on debut he’s my man of the match.
Edrick Lee was monumental he’s got a long #Qlder career ahead.
Cam Munster terrific as ever.#Proud pic.twitter.com/iqQvdM0nn8
Michael Maguire could face a selection headache in round 1 after the man he fought so hard to keep declared he wants to start matches for the Broncos this year.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire is weighing up his first major coaching move since taking over at Red Hill, which could see Kangaroos star Pat Carrigan playing in a different role.