Maroons complete Origin hat-trick

Queensland has won its third straight State of Origin series after seeing off a gallant NSW 16-10 in game three at a packed ANZ Stadium Wednesday night.

The decider was deadlocked at 10-all with 10 minutes to go before Maroons full-back Billy Slater broke the game open with a try following a Johnathan Thurston break.

Queensland repelled everything the Blues threw at it in the final stages, holding on for a courageous win before 78,751 fans.

The visitors did it the hard way, losing half-back Scott Prince early with a broken forearm.

It was a sad finale for NSW skipper Danny Buderus, who leaves the Origin arena a loser after 21 matches for the Blues.

The hostilities began before kick-off, Queensland firing in an official protest after claiming NSW did not inform it Kurt Gidley was to replace Brett Stewart as starting full-back.

The on-field action started in equally explosive fashion, with players from both sides trading punches after Petero Civoniceva hit Ben Cross high.

Craig Fitzgibbon landed the ensuing penalty to give the Blues an early 2-0 lead.

But it was the Maroons who were first over the line following a terrible blunder from Blues winger Anthony Quinn.

He dropped a Prince cross-field kick straight into Israel Folau's hands and the big winger dived over for his third Origin try in as many matches.

Thurston failed to add the extras but the visitors led 4-2.

Newcastle pair Gidley and Buderus combined down the short side to send a straight-running Matt Cooper over for the Blues' first try after 15 minutes.

Fitzgibbon's conversion was true and the home side was back in front 8-4 as Prince left the field with a broken arm.

The Maroons were momentarily rattled by the loss of Prince but regained composure to score again through Folau in the 22nd minute.

The brilliant winger soared high above the hapless Quinn to haul in a Thurston kick and plant the ball down despite being almost horizontal to the ground.

Thurston's conversion from out wide again went astray and it was all locked up at 8-all.

The Blues regained the lead via a Fitzgibbon penalty goal after 28 minutes.

The teams were back on equal terms five minutes after half-time, Thurston landing a penalty goal after Paul Gallen unnecessarily took him out following an innocuous grubber kick close to the NSW line.

The game erupted again a minute later when Cross was spear-tackled by Maroons forward Nate Myles.

Cross got up swinging, sparking a brawl involving several players.

Myles was placed on report and NSW received a penalty.

The match hung in the balance for the next 25 minutes as the game went from end to end.

The match-breaker was delivered in the 70th minute, Thurston dummying and sliding through before finding Slater backing up on his inside.

NSW pounded the Maroons line in the final stages but couldn't find a way through.

NSW 10

Tries: Cooper
Goals: Fitzgibbon 3

Queensland 16

Tries: Folau 2, Slater
Goals: Thurston 2

Sportal Player of the Year
3 – Johnathan Thurston (Maroons)
2 – Nate Myles (Maroons)
1 - Kurt Gidley (Blues)