Queensland have produced a magical State of Origin win, beating NSW 22-12 to seal the series 2-1 behind a stunning Kalyn Ponga performance.
QUEENSLAND PLAYER RATINGS FROM ORIGIN III:
1 Kalyn Ponga - 9.5
An all-time best display saw him threaten to break the line every time he had the ball, with a slick try to grab the lead highlighting an extraordinary 226m, 16-tackle break and four-offload outing.
2 Selwyn Cobbo - N/A
Copped friendly fire from Patrick Carrigan just two minutes in and didn't return after taking a huge knock to the head.
3 Valentine Holmes - 8
Burst through the NSW line to open the scoring and busted seven tackles, while his diving effort to keep a goal-line dropout in might be remembered as a classic Origin moment.
4 Dane Gagai - 3
Decked Matt Burton in back play to potentially cost his side a try and cracked the NSW centre with a punch to earn himself 10 minutes in the bin, and didn't get too involved outside that passage.
5 Corey Oates - 4
Smashed Cameron Murray with his first run didn't get much done deep in attack.
6 Tom Dearden - 7.5
Brilliant assist for Holmes' opener to start his debut and didn't look out of place in any way, dashing for 74m and busting three tackles too.
7 Daly Cherry-Evans - 8.5
A true kicking masterclass, absolutely changing the flow of the game with a number of bombs on early tackles, finishing with 644m kicking.
8 Lindsay Collins - N/A
Another of the early HIA candidates four minutes in, leaving without a run of the ball.
9 Ben Hunt - 8.5
Changed momentum with both a one-on-one strip and a 40-20 in the second half that led to a try, then his length-of-the-field try sealed Queensland's famous win.
10 Josh Papalii - 7
Easily his most impactful game of the series with 101m and it could have been even better, twice grounding tries that were called back by the bunker.
11 Kurt Capewell - 7
Moved into the centres through injuries and scored a game-changing try on half-time just when the Maroons needed it.
12 Jeremiah Nanai - 5
A real mixed bag saw him look threatening with the ball and find five offloads, but finished with a whopping 11 missed tackles.
16 Patrick Carrigan - 8
Got the start at lock and was once again as solid as a rock with 120m and 40 tackles.
13 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui - 5.5
Was on early after being shifted to the bench and brought some serious fire in his 96m running.
14 Harry Grant - 7
His outrageous grubber seconds before halftime gave his side the lifeline it needed, with his presence always keeping the Maroons headed in the right direction.
15 Jai Arrow - 7
Flawless defensively off the bench as part of his side's huge stand that saw them shut the Blues out in the second half.
17 Tom Gilbert - 4
Gave a huge 79 minutes after the early injuries without having any standout moments.
