The highlight s were few and far between for the 80 minutes of Origin Game 3 for NSW, with the best part of the night coming afterwards, when Blues skipper Paul Gallen hoisted the shield after claiming a two games to one series win.
NSW were forced to defend for large periods of the first half and with the physical exertion of that opening 40 minutes telling in the closing minutes of the second period, with Queensland running away to win Game 3 by 32-8.
The Blues managed to get close, a Josh Dugan try bringing them within a converted try with about 15 minutes remaining, however the clean sweep wasn’t to be, with the Maroons proving too good on the night.
All was quickly forgotten however, with Gallen, who was named Man of the Series and presented with the Wally Lewis Medal, holding aloft the Origin Shield, with NSW regaining possession of the prized trophy after eight years in Queensland hands.
See the match highlights from Origin Game 3, now playing on Sharks TV