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Queensland captain Darren Lockyer (right) reacts after Jharal Yow Yee (left) scored a first half try during State of Origin 3 between Queensland and New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Wednesday, July 6, 2011. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
State of Origin game 3 result: Queensland Maroons 34 – NSW Blues 24. Queensland have won the State of Origin decider 34 – 24 in a high scoring finish to the 2011 Origin series.
Queensland applied much of the early pressure to the Blues, and controlled the ball perfectly. Within 16 minutes, the Maroons were on the board.
Hot on attack, Billy Slater got away a miracle offload to Johnathan Thurston who ran the ball to the line before putting in a short grubber to a flying Greg Inglis who grabbed the ball and touched down on the far left corner. The video ref looked, but saw nothing but perfection from the Maroons.
Thuston duly converted to give Queensland a 6-0 lead after 16 minutes.
Queensland continued to apply pressure, and while the New South Wales line held firm for five drop-outs, finally the line cracked as Slater slipped a ball to Sam Thaiday who charged over the line.
Thurston converted from right in front to send Queensland to a 12-0 lead after 26 minutes. A landslide was beckoning.
On resumption, Queensland applied further pressure, and courtesy of Cameron Smith, put more points on the board. With the Maroons on the Blues’ line, Inglis played the ball and Smith bored his way over from dummy-half. Thurston converted for an 18-0 lead after 32 minutes.
Jharal Yow-Yeh then took advantage of a cruel bounce, after the Maroons kicked a grubbering ball, which bounced off Minichiello’s legs. Yow-Yeh seized upon the chance to dive over for the fourth for the night, and suddenly Queensland were 24-0 ahead after dead-eye Thurston converted again.
Needing points, New South Wales were desperate leading into the break, and some desperation football saw the Blues keep the ball alive. A loose kick saw Lockyer fumble as he grasped for the ball. The Blues pounced, with Minichiello diving over.
New South Wales were on the board against the run of play, and Soward converted for a 24-6 deficit.
From the restart, and just moments before half-time, the Blues ran the ball wide. Gasnier combined with Uate for the big Fijian to dive over and resuscitate the Blues’ chances.
Soward missed a difficult conversion, but the Blues were back in the game at 24-10 at half-time.
After half-time, the Blues came out on attack but the halves failed to direct traffic and the forwards struggled to make yards.
A key penalty was given away by Paul Gallen for a strip, and Queensland were on the attack in the 63rd minute. Some clever outside-inside play put Billy Slater into a gap to set Queensland on their way to a sixth Origin series. Smith converted for a 30-10 lead over the Blues.
Another penalty was awarded to Queensland after Gallen attacked the legs of Lockyer after he kicked. Greg Inglis showed incredible strength and power to storm his way over the line, carrying three men and managing to get the ball over the line.
Smith missed the conversion, but the Maroons were now 24 points ahead with less than ten minutes on the clock.
The NSW Blues immediately attacked, and some half-breaks and good support play put Jarryd Hayne through a gap and over the line.
As Hayne crossed the line, Cameron Smith tackled him with his knees, thereby giving away an eight-point try – the try plus an additional penalty conversion. Smith was placed on report and Soward made no mistake from in front to boost the Blues to 34-18.
Queensland were then denied a try in the 74 minute, with Ben Hannant storming over the line. However, Hannant was initially held-up before team mate Thaiday pushed him and the ball down.
The video referee was consulted, and it was ruled that Thaiday drove Hannant over the line, with NSW handed the ball.
The final try was scored by New South Wales, as Hayne and Morris broke the defence down the left side of the field. Uate found Bird wide on the right who dived over, but the try flattered the Blues, with Soward converting to put them just ten points behind – 34-24.
The Blues continued to attack to the final whistle, but were never going to win after failing to score first in the second-half, and after giving the Maroons a 24 points head start early in the match.
Darren Lockyer celebrated his final Origin game with his Queensland teammates, thanking his team, the crowd and his coaches for the win and his stellar Origin career.
Johnathan Thurston hurt his leg badly in the second half, with reports he has done his AC ligament, thereby putting him out for the season.
QUEENSLAND 34 (G Inglis 2 B Slater C Smith S Thaiday J Yow Yeh tries J Thurston 4 C Smith goals) bt NSW 24 (G Bird J Hayne A Minichiello A Uate tries J Soward 4 goals) at Suncorp Stadium.
Referee: Tony Archer, Shayne Hayne.
Crowd: 52,498. Queensland win the series 2-1.