There are no such thing as dead rubbers in State of Origin. The Queensland Maroons have pulled off a stunning six-point victory over the New South Wales Blues to take Game 3 of the 2018 series at Suncorp Stadium.
The Maroons dominated the first half, but went into the sheds behind. They couldn’t crack a gallant Blues defensive line, with their only points at the break a Valentine Holmes intercept try and a penalty goal.
The Blues were down 8-0 at one point, but went to the sheds in the lead after a Tom Trbojevic intercept try and James Tedesco crash over on the halftime siren.
They then lead 12-8 at halftime, but it would be the last of the scoring for New South Wales.
Queensland finally managed to crack the Blues from close-range through Holmes after surviving a short onslaught at the start of the second half, making the game tied up again.
Daly Cherry-Evans then scored off a break, with the Maroons picking apart a tired-looking Blues defence.
Somehow, the Blues managed to not concede points again, but despite throwing the kitchen sink at their opponents int he last five minutes, couldn’t cross either, losing Game 3 despite taking the series.
Final score
Queensland Maroons 18
New South Wales Blues 12
More Origin 3
» REPORT: Queensland send Slater off a winner, NSW win series
» Seven talking points from Origin 3
» State of Origin 3 live scores, blog
» WATCH: Game 3 match highlights
» WATCH: Valentine Holmes saves Queensland with jaw-dropping interception
» WATCH: Tariq Sims has brain fade – tackles marker
A State of Origin sweep is on the line for the New South Wales Blues when they travel north for Game 3 against the Queensland Maroons. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8pm (AEST).
Despite winning the first two games of the series, the Blues will want to lift the Origin Shield after a win rather than coming off a loss.
Doing just that is going to be a lot easier said than done though, with the Maroons historically hard to beat at Lang Park and this being Billy Slater’s final Origin game.
The champion fullback is the final member left of the big four and his state will want to send him out a winner.
Still, they have lost all the key moments during the first two games, even with Slater back on the park in Sydney. He made a huge difference, but it was not enough.
The Maroons are going to be without Greg Inglis for the match though, with Corey Oates brought onto the wing and Dane Gagai shifted to the centres. Ben Hunt has also been dropped to the bench after a horrendous performance during Game 2. Kalyn Ponga is out of the side, with the much-maligned Daly Cherry-Evans back in.
DCE has a huge job to do, but given his club form at the struggling Sea Eagles, it is a bit of a left-field selection.
The Blues come in reasonably settled, although Matt Prior has been left out for Tariq Sims, who comes onto the bench while Paul Vaughan moves into the starting side.
New South Wales have done the little things right throughout the first two games of the series. They have completed at close to 90 per cent in both contests and in doing so, had more time playing the game at the right end of the park.
James Tedesco has been their key man, sparking the team in attack, while James Maloney has controlled the back-end of games fantastically to keep the Blues on the front foot. With their forwards having a small edge, it’s been enough to win Game 1 in Melbourne by ten points and Game 2 in Sydney by four.
Prediction
New South Wales have been the team to beat during the first two games of the series, and if they play at their best, they should be hard to stop again in the rubber.
New South Wales by 10.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Game 3 in the 2018 Origin series from 8pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Look, individually he was better, but his inclusion just seems to consistantly disrupt QLD's structures as he seems to be under instructions to play what's in front of him rather then stick to a working gameplan
Matt H
Roar Guru
Fair call. they lost their defensive shape up the middle when the starting props and hooker went off.
Gray-Hand
Guest
Only if you look at attack. Half the game is defence.
Emcie
Roar Guru
By how NSW weren't in the game until McCullough left the field?
Roger
Guest
You watched a different game to me - McCulloch should have played the full 80
Scuba
Guest
Cordner did sfa tonight. Should have been Tedesco.
Scuba
Guest
Hunt comprehensively outplayed McCullough tonight
Emcie
Roar Guru
I gotta say, watching the game from the stands, for the first 30 every one of nsw plays was getting shut down before it happened. Once hunt came on nsw had a lot, and I mean a lot, more space and time to work with through the middle
Sean
Guest
Joke as usual. They always give it to the one the NRL wants.
Fraser
Guest
And realistically he was only on fire in Game 2 until Ponga came on anyway.
Fraser
Guest
Wow. Classy speech. Nice one Cordner.
Griffo
Guest
Ridiculous decision, and take nothing away from how well he played in his two games, but there were any number of NSW players who should have been ahead of Billy. I thought Tedesco was player of the series.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Teddy or Cook for me.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Tom G - but why kick early - when in mid-field. Get position and then kick!! Close to the line - okay!!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah, I'm with Baz here. Josh Jackson would be my next man picked. I was happy to see Sims get a run tonight, and would have liked to have seen him ahead of Prior, but I reckon with his silly stuff, he may not be there next year. Jackson has never let anyone down. Graham and James (not at Origin level, but still) certainly have.
Matt H
Roar Guru
One of the more bizarre things I’ve seen, that decision.
Matt H
Roar Guru
I thought he went ok tonight
3 recalcitrant monkeys
Guest
Great series but why Cordner didn't get the lewis medal for all 3 games is perplexing Billy was good but no game 1 so it's hard to fathom.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
He brings dud kicks and defensive misreads, you mean? McCullough is an 80 minute defensive player who has a bit of zip when there’s space. Hunt is a ball-running half who wants to be organisational. Not a valid comparison. He didn’t even have the halfback pressure and still couldn’t come up with the right plays. We’ve got better options all around the board.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Much better speech than Gallen’s ever gave