Despite an impressive effort in Game I, a relatively fraught contest in Game II, and the absence of Johnathan Thurston thanks to a season-ending shoulder injury, the Blues have failed to clinch the 2017 State of Origin after a convincing win from the Maroons.
Queensland took the only two tries of the first half, both to Valentine Holmes (at the 14-minute and 26-minute mark), with Cronk and Smith making a beautiful run at the 17-minute mark that was undone by Cronk very slightly fumbling the ball as he slid over the line.
Vision of the @QLDmaroons No Try decision in the 17th minute of #Origin III.#NRL pic.twitter.com/mwBRJlVWTY
— NRL Bunker (@NRLBunker) July 12, 2017
Entering the second half pretty cocky, NSW put a bit of doubt into the occasion with a beautifully placed try from Dugan at 47 minutes. It felt a bit shaky there for a second until Holmes scored his third try of the game at the 59-minute mark with an unbelievable 5 seconds of football.
Valentine’s night!
He can’t stop scoring.#Origin#NRL pic.twitter.com/4qFowf8dQP
— NRL (@NRL) July 12, 2017
By the 66th minute, the Maroons had cemented the win with a try to Wallace, his first ever Origin try.
Munster’s pass turns to GOLD for Wallace!#Origin#NRL pic.twitter.com/M9C5TgGqrU
— NRL (@NRL) July 12, 2017
No try from either side until the siren, leaving Queensland the winners. You would have bloody hated to see Thurston‘s final series go any other way.
QUEENSLANDER.
Photo: Getty Images / Chris Hyde.