State of Origin Game 3: Maroons deny Blues sweep after Latrell Mitchell misses last-minute penalty

The Maroons summoned the spirit that appeared to have evaporated in this series, producing a stirring fightback to avoid the worst fate possible in Origin football - a 3-0 rout.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: Ben Hunt of the Maroons celebrates with teammates after scoring his second try during game three of the 2021 State of Origin Series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at Cbus Super Stadium on July 14, 2021 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

This was State of Origin as we have always cherished it. This was the Queensland courage that defines, and fuels, the entire Origin concept.

The Maroons withstood a week of drama and a furious NSW onslaught to deny the Blues their first series sweep in 21 years with a face-saving 20-18 victory in Origin III at Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium.

Before 26,307 fans at Cbus, the Maroons summoned the spirit that appeared to have evaporated in this series, producing a stirring fightback to avoid the worst fate possible in Origin football — an embarrassing 3-0 rout.

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Ben Hunt was the star of the show with a double.

Finally, we had a pulsating Origin spectacle. After 50-6 and 26-0 losses in the opening two games, the Maroons put aside the Jai Arrow scandal to underline their heart and give besieged coach Paul Green his maiden win in the Origin arena.

It was a thriller to the final seconds. Queensland were forced to watch anxiously as NSW superstar Latrell Mitchell lined up a 50-metre penalty goal at 18-20 with 90 seconds remaining, only for his attempt to fall a metre short.

In the end, the Maroons prevailed on the back of Kalyn Ponga’s class and the hooking magic of Hunt, who delivered the greatest game of his career, scoring twice in the second half to sink the Blues.

The Maroons of 2021 were on track to become the worst Origin team in history. And while their series-losing aggregate of 68 points is still a record, the battered Maroons averted a Blue rinse. Heart. Commitment. Energy. Desperation. The Maroons reclaimed some pride and respect with a fighting display for their Queensland fans.

“I’m really happy, it’s a great win, I’m relieved,” Green said.

“Our culture was questioned, but it was a real Origin-type game and we came on top which was good.”

Kalyn Ponga made a huge difference for Queensland.

SPINAL SURGERY

The return of Ponga at fullback and Hunt’s elevation to hooker from the bench injected some class, composure and punch to Queensland’s playmaking spine.

While new Blues halves Jack Wighton and Mitchell Moses struggled for cohesion, Maroons counterparts Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster received strong support from Ponga, who was electric from the back.

Ponga kept probing and he was rewarded in the 63rd minute when he speared through the NSW line, his bust the catalyst for Hunt’s second try which propelled the Maroons to a 20-12 lead.

If Ponga was menacing, Hunt was magnificent. Of his 11 Origin career games, this was Hunt’s finest performance in Maroon.

The Dragons playmaker unlocked NSW himself in the 57th minute, charging over from dummy half to edge the Maroons ahead 14-12, before slicing through seven minutes later for an eight-point break. Hunt’s defence was also brilliant.

“Between the four of them they complemented each other, we were more dangerous,” Green said of his spine.

“Ben Hunt played 80 minutes. He was outstanding, and when we needed a play, Kalyn came up with it.”

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui was at his brusing best.

TOWERING TINO

Maroons monster Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was quiet in the first two matches but he had his best game of the series in the dead-rubber.

Thrust into the starting side following the loss of Jai Arrow, Big Tino set the tone early when it mattered most, reprising the midfield dominance of his dream premiership campaign with the Storm last season.

The 115kg hulk was the best forward on the park in the first half. He crunched Josh Addo-Carr in the back in the 23rd minute and ran a superb line for Queensland’s opening try five minutes earlier, producing the offload for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s maiden Origin four-pointer.

HAMMER TIME

Speed kills. It is such a precious commodity in State of Origin. That was evidenced by Maroons teenager Tabuai-Fidow, who brought a dangerous touch to Queensland’s edges with his blistering pace.

At just 19, ‘The Hammer’ is the future for Queensland. He needed just 18 minutes to celebrate a Maroons debut with his first try and he seemed to relish the fire and crackle of the Origin cauldron.

His raw speed is intoxicating. At one stage, NSW speed demon Addo-Carr took a pass and tried to sprint away. The Hammer matched him yard for yard. The Maroons can build many successful Origin campaigns around him.

“I like what we have started,” Green said. “He will benefit enormously from this ... the future for Queensland is bright.”

Cherry-Evans added: “It’s not ideal when you have your culture questioned, but what we showed is this NSW team is beatable.”

The speed of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was hard to contain.

HOLMES HEARTBREAK

The Cowboys are sweating on a possible season-ending shoulder injury to Valentine Holmes.

After a promising start, Holmes was crunched in a two-man NSW tackle just seconds before halftime.

He hobbled to the sheds with his arm in a sling, an apt metaphor for one of the most painful series in Queensland’s proud history.

Originally published as State of Origin Game 3: Maroons deny Blues sweep after Latrell Mitchell misses last-minute penalty