Queensland Maroons surge to win dramatic State of Origin series decider against NSW Blues

Backs to the wall, ranks broken with injury and illness and still staggering after a walloping in game two, Queensland produced one of the great State of Origin boilovers, defeating New South Wales 22-12 in a brutal, brilliant decider at Suncorp before 52,385 fans.

Brawls erupted each time as teammates rushed to defend the fallen. Jerseys were tugged and words exchanged. Blood was up but none was spilt. Despite the injury toll and the rush of fresh blood into the game, there was still a series to be won.

Down to two on the bench, Queensland found the running. Kalyn Ponga had been asked to step up. He had played five series but never a decider. Now the rubber man bounced in and bent into the line, shimmying through gaps and throwing dangerous floaters out wide.

Twice Queensland went close but it took a long run from Capewell to set up in the red zone.

Riding the passion of their fans, Queensland surged again through a couple of Jeremiah Nanai charges and more snake-hipped work from Ponga. But in a blink the Blues hit back, a Cleary grubber finding Jarome Luai who stumbled but came again to lunge and touch down and equalise.

The second half was even more frenzied than the first. In the first minute, Ponga snapped the line and on the next charge Cherry-Evans towed ahead and claimed a try. But all eyes were on the back play. Ponga had been clipped while getting to his feet and Gagai put a shoulder into Burton in revenge. Now it was on, as wild punches flew. Both men went to the sin bin.

Queensland kept their tails up. Harry Grant crossed but was held up, then Jeremiah Nanai juggled a bomb over the stripe which was ultimately ruled to have gone forward. Both teams were dead on their feet but crazed with adrenaline as the game entered the final ten minutes with four points the difference. Players lost position, each fighting a battle to stay upright.

NSW kept threatening, bursting into space but their legs were leaden and Queensland were rushing up to smother each wave of attack. The blue balloon started to deflate and when Hunt plucked a juggled ball out of the air, it burst. With the crowd on their feet screaming him home, the hooker scooted 70 metres to score a famous try that sealed the 2022 series.