Whitewash puts emphatic stamp on fifth series win for Queensland

Queensland have put an exclamation mark on their fifth straight series win with a whitewash over New South Wales 23-18 tonight at ANZ Stadium in front of 61,259 fans.

The opening of the game was all maroon with Queensland having several sets on the NSW line after some basic errors from New South Wales. Darius Boyd finally getting across the stripe after some nice work on last tackle by Thurston, who also slotted the conversion to make it 6-0. They doubled their advantage with Nate Myles steaming onto a good pass and through some flimsy New South Wales defence.

New South Wales finally got some repeat sets on the Queensland line and broke the wall with an inside pass from Kurt Gidley finding Paul Gallen who was a wrecking ball on his way to score. Darren Lockyer though showed a cool head on his shoulders to slot a field goal from 45 metres out to take Queensland to the sheds ahead 13-6.

Bellamy must of launched a rocket up the players during halftime because the start of the second half was all blues, and finally with a few offloads on last tackle, Kurt Gidley launched himself at the defence and scored, to bring NSW back into it. Greg Bird showed the New South Wales selectors why it was a mistake to leave him out the last two games when he pounced on a deft grubber from Michael Ennis, giving NSW the lead for the first time.

New South Wales had the advantage but Queensland kept coming at them with Thaiday going close but being stopped by some desperate defence. Michael Ennis provoked David Shillington and David Taylor in a tackle, conceding a penalty. This gave Queensland the opportunity to go ahead again and they did, with champion five-eighth Darren Lockyer throwing it inside to Slater who beat to defenders to score.

Queensland weren't settling for a single point lead though, David Shillington took the ball and scattered NSW defenders to allow Queensland to put the nail in New South Wale's coffin with a try to Willie Tonga. In the end, Queensland showed why they have won five series in a row, coming up with the plays when it mattered.

Match Details
New South Wales 18 were defeated by Queensland 23
State of Origin - State of Origin Game 3 2010 - Wednesday July 7, 2010 8:00pm
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Tony Archer and Shayne Hayne
Video Referee: Bill Harrigan and Tim Mander
Touch Judges: Paul Holland and David Abood
Crowd: 61,259
Halftime: New South Wales 6 Queensland 13

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Darren Lockyer (1 Field Goal)
2 Points - Greg Bird (1 Try)
1 Point - Nate Myles (1 Try)

New South Wales (18)
Tries: Kurt Gidley, Paul Gallen, Greg Bird
Conversions: Michael Gordon (3/3)

Queensland (23)
Tries: Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Willie Tonga, Nate Myles
Field Goals: Darren Lockyer (1/1)
Conversions: Israel Folau (0/1), Johnathan Thurston (3/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to the third and final State of Origin game of 2010, Queensland are looking to record their first whitewash since 1995 and New South Wales will be looking for some redemption from that horrible display they produced up in Suncorp, surrendering the series.
Both sides will go into the match unchanged, so no late mishaps. Queensland overwhelming favourites with the bookmakers.
1 min: The anthem has been played, both teams are ready to kick off the last game of the 2010 origin series. Queensland get the game underway.
1 min: New South Wales can't complete their first set, dropping it cold.
2 min: Some good defence from New South Wales but Thurston pin points a kick in the in-goal, for a repeat set.
3 min: New South Wales hold them out, with Luke Lewis pouncing on a loose pass from Harrison.
5 min: First penalty of the night, going to New South Wales but they fail to find touch, Falou keeping it in play.
11 min: Beau Scott takes out Billy Slater, giving away a penalty.
13 min: Some good defense by NSW from an attacking raid by Queensland, ending with Inglis going over the sideline.
14 min: Trent Barrett comes screaming down the field and takes Boyd high after a bomb.
16 min: Israel Falou almost gathers the ball for the first try but he knocks it on.
18 min: Repeat set for Queensland, after NSW have to push it dead.
22 min: TRY
Queenslands pressure finally pays off, they chance their arm on last, getting it to Inglis who taps it on to Darius Boyd to score. Thurston bends it and scores.
Queensland 6-0
23 min: New South Wales compound the error by kicking out on the full.
25 min: Jarryd Hayne has been watching too much of the World Cup back heeling it to Michael Gordon who does a harmless kick over the dead ball. Then they concede a penalty.
27 min: More pressure here, with a rebound off Barrett going back into Queensland hands.
29 min: TRY
A soft try here, with the Blues caught out by a ball to Myles who has a saloon passage to the line. Thurston has no troubles with this conversion either.
Queensland 12-0
30 min: New South Wales will have their first attacking opportunity after Shillington drops the ball, trying to offload.
31 min: Now a penalty after Jarryd Hayne was stripped with two on one in the tackle.
31 min: New South Wales can't do anything with it though, with Brett Morris dropping it from a shocking pass from Hayne.
34 min: New South Wales get a penalty after Pearce is taken late when he kicks the ball.
36 min: TRY
NSW are over, Gidley shows it to the outside but gives it to Gallen who steams onto it and scores. Gordon opens his account, with that goal.
Queensland 12-6
37 min: Sam Thaiday refuses to release Paul Gallen and he concedes a penalty.
39 min: Barrett tries to kick it wide for his chasers but he gets pressurised by Smith and the kick goes straight to Boyd.
40 min: FIELD GOAL
Darren Lockyer kicks a field goal which was rising the whole time, to give Queensland a seven point advantage going into the half.
Queensland 13-6
41 min: NSW and QLD are back on the field and ready to engage in the war again. Kurt Gidley gets the game back underway.
42 min: The second half resumes with NSW getting a penalty for a strip. Bird off the kick for touch drops it.
45 min: A good kick by Trent Barrett earns NSW a repeat set.
45 min: Off the restart, Gallen charges at the line, earning a penalty, 40 metres out.
47 min: Kurt Gidley could have a try for NSW here.
48 min: TRY
New South Wales are the first to score in the second stanza, after some razzle dazzle offloading, Kurt Gidley kamikazis himself at the line and scores. Gordon makes the difference only one with his conversion.
Queensland 13-12
52 min: A nice tackle dislodges the ball from Queensland and they compound the knock on with a penalty.
54 min: Mitchell Pearce puts in a savvy kick to trap Falou in-goal.
55 min: Six more for NSW after Thiaday plays at the ball.
58 min: Hayne gets the ball after it pinballs off Thaiday but throws it wide to Morris but he spills it.
63 min: Jennings tries a glory play himself but it goes straight to Billy Slater.
65 min: Billy Slater pulls off a try-saver on a rampaging Anthony Watmough to stop NSW from taking the lead.
67 min: Thurston knocks the ball on after Gidley rampages downfield almost scoring. Another set of six for NSW.
68 min: Another six tackles for New South Wales, with a possible try to Greg Bird.
70 min: TRY
Michael Ennis pokes one through the line with Greg Bird beating everyone else to the ball to score. Gordon kicks NSW to a five point lead.
New South Wales 18-13
72 min: Some desperate defense from NSW saves them as Thaiday drops it trying to play the ball.
73 min: Kade Snowden tries to force an offload but drops it.
75 min: TRY
An inside ball from Lockyer sends Slater over after he steps past two defenders. Thurston puts Queensland back in the lead.
Queensland 19-18
77 min: Johnathan Thurston kicks it early in the set and the defenders trap Gordon in goal.
80 min: TRY
Willie Tonga scores to seal the whitewash, they just outnumber Brett Morris and Tonga strolls in. Falou with a farewell kick misses.
Queensland 23-18