Ben Hunt stars for Maroons as hopes of a NSW clean sweep are dashed

At the end of what had been the most one-sided series in history, a State of Origin finally broke out. NSW would be denied the clean sweep, Queensland would regain some of its trampled pride and the concept lives to ride another day.

Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans insisted there really was no such thing as a dead rubber, and he was right. Queensland would triumph 20-18 in game three on the Gold Coast in a contest that featured a ridiculous amount of six-agains (14) but some old-fashioned fire and grit from both outfits.

Cameron Munster of the Maroons and Angus Crichton of the Blues scuffle during game three.Credit:Getty Images

Latrell Mitchell, magnificent again, had a chance to level scores with a 50-metre penalty just before full-time. He struck the ball sweetly but it fell short and into the arms of Kalyn Ponga, whose attacking presence made the Maroons look far more potent.

Queensland were good enough to see things out and it all ended in a melee that resulted in Junior Paulo being put on report for throwing a punch. Maybe he was simply striking a blow for the traditionalists who wanted to see Origin wins earned, not won in a canter.

Ben Hunt was brilliant for Queensland at hooker, scoring twice and showing enormous heart from the base of the ruck. NSW desperately missed the playmaking talents of wonderkids Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, but it all makes for a 2022 that suddenly has a dash of intrigue.

Whether it will be enough to save the coaching career of Paul Green remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Brad Fittler has much to work with and even more to build on as he commands a squad that has the ability to go back-to-back, although talk of a dynasty may be hasty.

Queensland took the lead with a penalty to Valentine Holmes but the momentum didn’t take long to switch. After a series of six-agains on the Queensland line, NSW simply had to find Mitchell on his left edge and he strolled over under the posts. That sort of defence doesn’t cut it at any level, let alone Origin.

Queensland needed something, or someone, to get them rolling and it almost came from Holmes, who jolted the ball from Mitchell Moses in the tackle and raced away to plant it under the posts. It was a false dawn; he was ruled to have knocked it forward in the contest and offered no protests as he marched back to the line.