State of Origin 2021 game 3: NSW Blues vs Qld Maroons – live!

47 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – The Blues probe the middle, then the left edge, then the right, they go through forwards and backs, but Queensland are resolute in defence. Wighton steps through the line but he’s soon wrapped up. The Maroons are forced to kick, Cook grubbers, and Coates concedes another drop-out.

46 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – Oooh, on his own 10m line Brimson fluffs a play-the-ball and NSW have an attacking scrum. DANGER! DANGER!

45 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – Crichton smashes into the Maroon line, then Hass, but it’s disjointed as soon as it reaches the backs and Murray spills in contact from Munster. It starts a little spotfire, but nothing to concern the judiciary. NSW really are a different side without their Panthers halves.

44 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – Gagai drills his second huge hit of the night on Tedesco, but it’s soon topped by Addo-Carr flattening Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow after Queensland allowed a testing Moses bomb to bounce in their in-goal. Can NSW capitalise from the drop-out?

42 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – Cook and Tedesco turn a pedestrian restart set into something much more promising, but Queensland continue after the break with the same defensive intensity that they demonstrated in the opening half. Their first carry is nothing to write home about though, other than more good bruising work from Papalii.

The sides are back out, and AJ Brimson has replaced Valentine Holmes for Queensland. The latter was dumped on his AC joint on the stroke of half-time and he’s iced up in the sheds.

“It’s only half time of course, but what a huge difference the absence of Cleary and Luai is making so far,” agreed HarryofOz. “The Blues attack is nowhere nearly as well organised, especially in the Maroons’ twenty. And it’s given the Maroons a huge confidence boost.” Yep. “Hopefully Moses and Wighton prove me wrong in the second half. Otherwise the only way the Blues are going to win is through individual moments of brilliance by the outside backs.” Fortunately for you – and them – they have plenty of individual brilliance to call upon!

A surprising half-time score then with the Maroons ahead, and enjoying plenty of territory and possession, against a Blues side sorely lacking the control and direction of Cleary and Luai.

39 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – The game is back to a midfield arm-wrestle for a while, but there’s still opportunity for Gagai to line up Tedesco with a huge shot on the kick chase.

37 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – The Maroons keep pushing, drive after drive, Queensland stud marks bruising that strip of grass between the 10m and try lines. Ponga looks threatening, nobody else does, and the kick is defused by the Blues and finally, finally, NSW have the ball again. And in no time they’re beyond halfway with Tedesco and Trbojevic slicing through the sea of Maroon jerseys like sparkling marlin.

35 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – This is a siege on the NSW line. One tackle into the set there’s a set restart, then a penalty call against the Blues with an order than the next infringement will see 10-minutes in the bin. Surely, surely the Maroons take advantage of all this pressure. But no. Ponga takes it on himself to make the difference, but after darting into the line and drawing out the tackler, his pass wide is knocked forward by a blue hand and a scrum is set.

34 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – More expansive this set from Queensland. Ponga steps into the line and his presence changes everything. NSW concede a set restart 10m out, allowing Queensland to return to their conservative roots. Ponga again changes the tempo with a dart to the left, but the set still ends with DCE kicking hopefully rather than with penetration. NSW claim the bomb, but there’s another penalty for obstruction!

33 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – Three tackles up the guts go nowhere before Papalii makes a a few metres. DCE doesn’t have anything on his outside so he dabs a drubber that forces To’o to carry over and concede a drop-out.

31 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – What’s happened here? DCE kicks high to the corner, To’o spills it backwards, then there’s a sprint to the loose ball between To’o and Gagai. The latter has to score, surely, but he doesn’t! To’o gets back, by a fingernail, to nick the ball out of Gagai’s grasp and force the knock-on, superb recovery. However, the TMO has identified an escort from Mitchell under the high ball and the Maroons have a penalty set 10m out.

29 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – Another good kick-chase, this time featuring Munster’s boot and Tabuai-Fidow’s tackle. The Blues, now with Hass on the field, are making good ground with every drive, but Queensland continue to stand their ground and find a way to wriggle out of pressure. Their latest let-off is courtesy of Wighton who kicks hurriedly on the left wing and the ball is much too heavy. Neither Cleary or Luai should worry about their jerseys at this stage of the match.

26 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – Super kick from Hunt, and brilliant chase from Gagai, and defence becomes huge pressure on NSW in an instant. And that pressure is released two tackles later with a set restart, and by the time Moses sends up a garryowen he’s kicking inside Queensland’s line.

26 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – The Blues have A1 attacking position and begin powering towards the line – but Finucane spills in contact! Huge let-off for the Maroons, that should have been points of some description for NSW from that platform.

25 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – Addo-Carr does continue, and play the ball, but his side’s set ends tamely with Moses going to the air, but straight to Coates. Queensland make no ground and DCE kicks straight to Addo-Carr to test him out. The Fox is up to the task, diving to make the grab then making a trademark dart forward. It sets up the Blues to make a dangerous incursion, one that features a deft lob from Moses, patted back by Trbojevic, kicked again by Murray, forcing Munster to sweep up, but Trobjevic is too strong and hurls the Storm half into touch.

23 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – Addo-Carr is down, and you could feel his pain. Ooof! Smashed from behind on the blindside by big Tino while he was wrestling 1-1 with Welch. That was a free hit by the Fox’s former clubmate and he didn’t miss. That could easily be cracked ribs, or worse. The trainers have been on the field a couple of minutes, but Addo-Carr is now up catching his breath. Let’s hope he’s ok.

22 mins: NSW 6-8 Queensland – It’s become a fiercely contested and even game played just either side of halfway. Queensland have much more snap tonight than in their previous two efforts. There’s still a lack of invention, but at least there’s industry and intent.

Again Ponga sets the Maroons in motion with his boundless energy and deadly step. Queensland don’t look threatening in the drive until Munster snipes quickly drom dummy-half, looks inside and finds Papalii on his shoulder, now they’re onto something. The big Fleshlumpeater pounds a few metres, invites the tackle, then looks on his outside, and there’s a runner, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and he splashes over for a debut try! Joy for Queensland!

Holmes cannot miss the conversion and the Maroons are back ahead – against the run of play it has to be said.

16 mins: NSW 6-2 Queensland – Wighton kicks poorly – much too high – allowing Holmes to gather unopposed in his in-goal and launch a lightning counter that the Blues have to repel with a set restart to slow the game down. Queensland get to the 20m line but it’s all very pedestrian, and when DCE tries to expand he throws a loopy pass that Mitchell reads, parries like an NBA block, and Wighton gathers for the turnover. Latrell Mitchell has the golden touch right now.

13 mins: NSW 6-2 Queensland – The Blues are easing into their work, gaining good ground with efficient drives. Queensland are having no such luck and need some inspiration from somewhere… and there it is! Holmes nails Moses in the tackle, collects the loose ball and runs under the posts! But there’s a whistle. Moses was in the act of passing so the deflection off the Queenslander was ruled a knock-on. Unlucky Holmes.

Queensland continue to play risk free footy in possession and use Cherry-Evans’ boot to probe NSW’s defence. To’o, as he showed in game II, is no bunny under the high ball and he steers the Blues clear.

The counter builds promising with a six again called against Papalii near halfway, then a second restart 30m out. The Blues don’t look to have slick combinations tonight though and it takes Mitchell to rescue a slow move with some dancing feet in broken play. After a tackle, from midfield the ball is shipped left and who’s there again? Latrell Mitchell, who steps into Cook’s long pass, ghosts around his marker, and canters to the line barely in second gear. Too good. Cor blimey, much too good.

The Bunny gets up and dabs the extras from under the crossbar.

7 mins: NSW 0-2 Queensland – NSW don’t dwell over their early misfortune. Murray nails a 1-1 strip as Queensland run out the restart and the Blues have a full set in prime attacking position.

It’s a disjointed attacking set though with Crichton and Moses not marshalling their backline. Andrew Johns calls it “awful” on TV. It ends with a penalty to Queensland, who kick towards halfway.

A few drops of rain begin to fall as Ponga dances around a tackler, inviting Capewell to gain some extra metres. The set ends with a high kick, which is spilled by Moses!

Queensland on the attack 30m from the line. Two tackles into the promising set Fa’asuamaleaui tries a quick play the ball, Murray is caught in the ruck on the wrong side, like a rugby union flanker about to get his thighs raked with six-inch steel studs, but this not being union, he rolls away uninjured but concedes a penalty. Holmes strokes it over from under the posts.

2 mins: NSW 0-0 Queensland – The Maroons get first use and their big hulking forwards get a trundle, rumbling into contact like the giants the Queen helps capture in the BFG. Josh Papalii would make an excellent Fleshlumpeater in a live action remake. NSW don’t try anything flash in response and Moses belts his first kick long and high.

The atmosphere is excellent btw, flowing through the TV nicely.

And closely following them onto the field are the Blues, daring to combine both light and dark blues in a pleasing jersey-short contrast.

Out jog the Maroons, wearing – and the clue’s in the name – a uniform of that chocolatey purple pronounced correctly in Europe.

In case you need more detail on the Dragons drongos, here’s the latest.

Nick Tedeschi fears for Queensland, and by extension Origin itself:

If Brad Fittler is to etch his name in Origin folklore as a series-sweeping coach he will have do so with a new halves pairing after Penrith guns Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai were ruled out through injury. Mitchell Moses will debut at scrum-half, with Jack Wighton moving from the bench to five-eighth.

Dale Finucane is another new face, replacing the injured Daniel Saifiti. Api Koroisau joins the interchange.

1. James Tedesco, 2. Brian To’o, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Tom Trbojevic, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Mitchell Moses, 10. Junior Paulo, 9. Damien Cook, 18. Dale Finucane, 11. Cameron Murray, 12. Tariq Sims, 13. Isaah Yeo.

Int: 14. Api Koroisau, 15. Angus Crichton, 16. Payne Haas, 17. Liam Martin

There’s some belated good news for Paul Green on the selection table with Kalyn Ponga finally fit to return from injury at fullback and AJ Brimson is on the bench after missing game two through injury. 19-year-old debutant Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow comes into the group in the centres, while Ben Hunt moves from the pine to nine. Tom Flegler sneaks his way onto the interchange at the last minute.

Andrew McCullough and Kyle Feldt are dropped from the starting XIII, while David Fifita misses through suspension, and Jai Arrow for being a plonker.

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Valentine Holmes, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 5. Xavier Coates, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Christian Welch, 9. Ben Hunt, 10. Josh Papalii, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Felise Kaufusi, 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

Int: 14. AJ Brimson, 16. Moeaki Fotuaika, 18. Francis Molo, 20. Tom Flegler.