State of Origin Game 3 fulltime score: Queensland 52 thrash NSW 6

Queensland tore up the record books to smash New South Wales in 2015 State of Origin Game 3, destroying the Blues by 46 points, the largest ever margin in an Origin game.

Queensland took a 20 point lead into half-time, looking unassailable, and nothing stopped after the break. The Maroons put any hope of a close match to bed with two converted tries in little more than 10 minutes to blow the Blues out by 32 points, with half an hour still to go.

The Blues failed to mount any sort of reasonable effort, with solitary try to Michael Jennings from a stray Queensland pass.

Queensland stopped at nothing in their complete performance, with eight individual try-scorers and a perfect night with the boot from Johnnathan Thurston, who had the ball on a string.

Justin Hodges took the final kick for goal, converting a try in a tribute to his career from the Maroons team.

Here’s how Game 3 unfolded

Opening minutes: New South Wales was able to put early pressure on Queensland, following a Justin Hodges drop ball in a tackle, under pressure from NSW replacement hooker, Michael Ennis. The two shared a bit of niggle after the tackle but the pair were broken apart quickly.

A bomb right on Queensland’s try line on the last tackle was then controversially ruled as a knock-on by Queensland, and from the resulting set of six, Nate Myles was penalised for interfering with the play the ball.

The penalty to the Blues saw a decision to take a shot at goal, with Trent Hodkinson converting from right in front for the only points of the Blue half.

Queensland 0 – New South Wales 2 in the fifth minute.

From the following set, the Blues were penalised for being offside, giving the Maroons a set deep in NSW territory.

A penalty against Aaron Woods for interfering with the play the ball, right in front of the posts, the reverse of the previous decision, saw Johnnathan Thurston take a penalty goal to level the scores from right in front.

Queensland 2 – New South Wales 2 in the ninth minute.

Queensland were on the attack again in the 11th minute, following a big hit on Will Hopoate who dropped the ball.

The Maroons kept the ball alive on the second tackle, pushing to the right with a big overlap for an easy try to Dane Gagai, the first try-scorer on the night.

Dane Gagai crosses to score during State of Origin Game III. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

The video referee was consulted for a possible knock-on, but the try was awarded without controversy.

The try was converted by Thurston from wide out, with the Maroons in the lead for the first time in the half.

Queensland 8 – New South Wales 2 in the 16th minute.

Queensland were again on the attack in the 20th minute, showing far more intensity with and without the ball, following a penalty. The Blues defence held on well with desperation scrambling to hold Queensland out and defuse a bomb.

Blues second rower Ryan Hoffman left the field in the 21st minute with a suspected calf injury.

Cooper Cronk drew a clever penalty for the Maroons, throwing the ball into Aaron Woods who was obstructing the play in an offside position after being slow to get out of a tackle.

The Maroons went on the attack and on the last tackle, Thurston ran the ball to the left, and with an overlap, shot a short-ball to Josh Papalii saw him score a try virtually untouched – his first Origin try.

Thurston again converted just to the left of the posts.

Queensland 14 – New South Wales 2 in the 28th minute.

Blues player Beau Scott was penalised in the 31st minute for putting a late hit on Cam Smith, dropping him after the ball was kicked. The penalty was given where the ball landed, and Queensland took the shot at goal. Thurston converted to break Mal Meninga’s inter-state Origin points scoring record, putting Queensland further.

Queensland 16 – New South Wales 2 in the 33rd minute.

In a heart-stopping moment, Trent Merrin tipped Corey Parker beyond the horizontal. Parker landed awkwardly but was unhurt. Merrin was placed on report, again allowing Queensland to press deep into New South Wales territory.

The Maroons poured on the attack again to carve up the Blues on the left, with Greg Inglis too strong, scoring his 17th Origin try.

Thurston again converted from out-wide to push the Maroons more than three converted tries in front.

Queensland 22 – New South Wales 2 in the 35th minute, with the Maroons on the attack late in the half but coming up short as the hooter sounded.

Half-time

42nd minute: A brilliant effort by Justin Hodges to keep the ball alive gifted Matt Gillett a try to continue the pain for the Blues. Thurston made no mistake again.

Queensland 28 – New South Wales 2 in the 42nd.

The Maroons on the attack again come left from Thurston to Morgan and he almost crosses, and then Thurston finds Guerra and Morgan runs onto a short-ball into a hole and scores in what is an embarrassment to the Blues now.

Thurston again makes no mistake.

Queensland 34 – New South Wales 2 in the 50th minute.

The game took a nasty turn in the 52nd minute. Push-and-shove evolved into a swinging arm from James Tamou and a haymaker on the ground. The teams came together but the game was broken up. Tamou was placed on report.

Darius Boyd crossed shortly after to strip the game of any potential contest and reduce NSW to a shambles.

Thurston makes no mistake again in a record kicking game from the half.

Queensland 40 – New South Wales 2 in the 56th minute.

A wayward pass from Matt Gillett allows Michael Jennings to grab the ball and score a quick run away try.

Could NSW restore some dignity? Hodkinson misses the kick.

Queensland 40 – New South Wales 6 in the 61st minute.

If anyone hasn’t turned over to The Ashes by now, the scoring continues.

A record score for Queensland on the back of further ill-discipline by the Blues sees Will Chambers score.

Thurston keeps it perfect – 9/9 kicks – an astonishing display of kicking.

Queensland 46 – New South Wales 6 in the 69th minute.

One of the softest tries ever – a nice pass from Greg Inglis to Aidan Guerra secures a complete flogging of New South Wales.

Thurston hands over kicking duties to Justin Hodges, in his last game for the Maroons, and he duly converts to keep a perfect night in-tact.

Queensland 52 – New South Wales 6 in the 77th minute – the final score.

How will New South Wales recover from this? A shellacking, a shambles, and a tribute to the quality of the Maroons who took the Origin crown back after just one series win following eight-straight.

Queensland tries to:

Dane Gagai 15′
Josh Papalii 27′
Greg Inglis 35′
Matt Gillett 42′
Michael Morgan 50′
Darius Boyd 57′
Will Chambers 68′
Aidan Guerra 78′

NSW tries to:

Michael Jennings 61′