State of Origin III: Series of incredible blunders costs Blues in thrilling decider

A series of damning blunders cost NSW everything in the Origin series decider. They will not want to ever watch these moments again.

Their faces say it all. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

A series of incredible blunders has cost the Blues glory in Wednesday night’s thrilling Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Queensland ran away with the series in front of a sea of Maroon, squashing NSW’s hopes at taking back-to-back series wins.

Even at halftime, commentators were lauding the game as a “return to the 80s” as one of the greatest games ever seen between the two states played out. Injuries, send-offs, biffs and controversy were served up and at one point it looked as if NSW were going to hold onto the Origin shield — but too many damning slip-ups from the visitors ensured it was Queensland’s night upon the final siren.

A blunder from Blues winger Daniel Tupou opened the door for the Maroons to make it a two point game at halftime.

The Roosters back was never in the right position for a Daly Cherry-Evans bomb, barely touching it as it rolled into touch deep in the Maroons end. Queensland picked up the opportunity and scored a try just before the break.

“Mark that moment down. Is that a turning point in this game and in this series?” Nine commentator Mat Thompson said.

NSW’s hopes at sealing back-to-back series wins were squashed by a number of crucial errors.

Daniel Tupou had a rough night on the paddock.

It gave Queensland 90 seconds to score and a Harry Grant grubber for Kurt Capewell made it 12-10.

Another crucial error from Stephen Crichton on the line offered up an opportunity to blazing Queensland back Valentine Holmes in the first half, who burst through the sloppy defence to put the home side on the board.

Crichton had a later brain snap, throwing a senseless Hail Mary offload close to his own line that rolled back into the in-goal and offered Queensland another golden opportunity deep in NSW territory.

The Maroons received possession from a drop-out and Kalyn Ponga took advantage to put the Maroons in the lead.

Siosifa Talakai also had a shocker in the second half, making multiple errors. He fumbled a play-the-ball and offered Queensland a crucial penalty with another loose carry.

Send Crichton off for a HIA
FFS what was he thinking !!#QLDvNSW#Origin

— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) July 13, 2022

Talakai
DUMB
DUMB
DUMB
simple play the ball
Unbelievable#Origin#QLDvNSW

— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) July 13, 2022

The Maroons sealed the victory when hooker Ben Hunt plucked a sloppy Nathan Cleary chip kick out of the air in the 79th minute and ran away to score the match sealing try.

Death, taxes, and rough nights at Suncorp.

“What a moment in Origin history,” Nine commentator Mat Thompson said.

“Ben Hunt has raced away. And he might have raced away with the shield as well.”

Maroons assistant coach and Queensland legend Cameron Smith screamed: “What an effort it has been by this Queensland Maroons outfit. And listen to the crowd at Suncorp Stadium.”

In a brilliant debut series, Pat Carrigan won the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series, making 45 tackles, and 20 runs for 130m as well as three offloads in the decider.

It goes alongside 34 tackles and 19 runs for 183m in game one and 43 tackles and 12 runs for 103m in game two in Perth.