State of Origin 2017: Where the decider was won and lost

FIND out the key moments, who starred, who struggled and who made it happen in our breakdown of where Origin III was won and lost.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — JULY 12: Jarrod Wallace of the Maroons dives to score a try during game three of the State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on July 12, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

• MATCH REPORT: Blues tears again as Maroons rule
• BUZZ ROTHFIELD: NSW need to discover killer attitude
• ANALYSIS: Should NSW move on from Mitchell Pearce?
• ORIGIN BUZZ: All the highlights and lowlights
• PAUL CRAWLEY: Queensland call-ups slot in seamlessly

THE battle is over, the war is won and the victors, of course, wear Maroon.

Queensland won yet another decider at Suncorp Stadium, defeating the Blues 22-6 to wrap up their third series in a row and 11th in 12 years.

Here’s where the game was won and lost, the moments that defined the 80 minutes that kept the shield north of the Tweed yet again.

1) The Maroons turned the Blues game plan back on NSW

They attacked through the middle with their speed, especially with Billy Slater, and then moved the bigger Blues pack across the park with expansive passing, smart offloads and as much width as they could bear.

Both first-half tries originated by working over the middle of the field. Jarrod Wallace’s series-clinching try came from a similar play, albeit in more unorthodox fashion.

The third Valentine Holmes try was a result of this continued pressure — Mitchell Pearce raced out of the line when there was no need to do so, expecting another Queensland shift. That allowed Cameron Munster to get on the outside of Boyd Cordner and create the crucial score.

The Blues were in the game for longer than they should have been.

2) NSW were lucky to be in it for as long as they were

The Blues were totally dominated for the first 49 minutes — Queensland lead 12-0 but had three legitimate try-scoring chances go begging in a fashion that would have been unusual in a regular NRL match.

When Josh Dugan pulled James Maloney’s kick out of the sky it completely changed the momentum of the match and put the Blues back in it when they should have already been finished.

However, they lacked the attacking class to punish the Maroons for their wasteful attitude.

The only try they scored came off a kick and there was a real lack of spark from the centres and the halves.

All four players — Jarryd Hayne, Josh Dugan, Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney — had nights to forget. Dugan did well to score the try without question, but surely a specialist centre would be a better option.

Cameron Munster’s debut could not have gone any better.

3) Cameron Munster’s debut might be the best in Origin history

Munster’s maiden voyage was better than anything he would have dared dream of and he would have been an excellent choice for man of the match.

In the first half he threatened every time he touched the ball and played an important part in the first Holmes try with a smart cut-out pass.

He looked unbelievably comfortable in the halves, combined well with his Melbourne teammates and created two tries in the second half when the Blues were rallying.

It is difficult to recall a better Origin debut — Brett Hodgson in 2002 perhaps, or Johnathan Thurston in 2005, but even they didn’t do it in a decider.

It would be remiss not to mention two of his Melbourne companions, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk. Slater continued his great form from Game II while Cronk took command of the game without Johnathan Thurston. His kick for Valentine Holmes’ second try was truly beautiful.

4) The Queensland forwards stood up

The Maroons middle forwards all had their moments. Josh McGuire was punishing in defence, Dylan Napa took many a tough carry and if Tim Glasby had galloped 50 metres to score with the wind in his hair and the whole of Queensland roaring it would have been the greatest moment in State of Origin history.

But the real stars in the pack were the two edge backrowers, Gavin Cooper and Matt Gillett.

At times it feels foolish that it took so long for Cooper to get in the team. He is such a smart, capable player who has improved with age and does all the little things that turn matches — things like chase kicks, support running, and pushing across to help his outside defenders.

Gillett’s trademark is his punishing defence and it was there in droves for this one. He helped set the tone throughout the match, throwing himself around at any Blue with ball in hand.

5) Cameron Smith proved his greatness again

Smith is the greatest hooker of the modern era and perhaps the best ever to play this game and if you doubted that for a moment there is no saving you.

After two substandard performances so far this series, he showed his true brilliance in the decider by totally dominating the first half with his masterful rock control, brilliant game management and scything runs around the ruck.

His team needed him, and he delivered on one of the biggest stages possible. There can be no higher praise.

Andrew Fifita was well contained.

6) The Blues’ heralded forward pack could not get it done

Tyson Frizell toiled hard, David Klemmer and Jake Trbojevic were both excellent when they came on and it is not coincidence the Blues had their best period when those two were on the field.

Klemmer should be in the frame for a starting spot next season — he ran for 164 metres off the bench and really made his presence felt.

But Andrew Fifita and Aaron Woods both struggled. Woods ran for only 75 metres, Fifita just 66.

After his vaunted performance in Game One, Fifita was well contained courtesy of a smart game plan from the Maroons, who shut him down with suffocating line speed.

Woods failed to impose himself on the game in any fashion, and the two were caught out for Wallace’s try.

Boyd Cordner did his best to lift his team but was clearly off the pace a little. The benefits of the strange situation with Josh Jackson and Frizell has never been clear — Jackson has played in the middle in all three matches and it has hampered his effectiveness (forget his man of the match award in Game Two, a decision which defies understanding).

The Bulldogs man is an excellent backrower, as shown by his performances last series which earned him the Brad Fittler Medal as NSW’s best player. Frizell can play on the edge and in the middle, but starred on debut at lock in his two matches last year.

Mixing and matching and playing guys in positions they don’t play in at club level never makes sense — why not have Jackson put in a big stint on the edge and add Frizell to your middle rotation?

The shuffling limits the impact of both players.