Queensland Maroons vs New South Wales Blues – Wednesday night – Suncorp Stadium

Queensland Maroons

1. Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
2. Valentine Holmes (Cronulla Sharks)
3. Will Chambers (Melbourne Storm)
4. Michael Morgan (North Queensland Cowboys)
5. Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
6. Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm)
7. Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)
8. Dylan Napa (Sydney Roosters)
9. Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm)
10. Jarrod Wallace (Gold Coast Titans)
11. Gavin Cooper (North Queensland Cowboys)
12. Matt Gillett (Brisbane Broncos)
13. Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos)
14. Ben Hunt (Brisbane Broncos)
15. Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders)
16. Coen Hess (North Queensland Cowboys)
17. Tim Glasby (Melbourne Storm)

Coach - Kevin Walters

New South Wales Blues

1. James Tedesco (Wests Tigers)
2. Blake Ferguson (Sydney Roosters)
3. Josh Dugan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
4. Jarryd Hayne (Gold Coast Titans)
5. Brett Morris (Canterbury Bulldogs)
6. James Maloney (Cronulla Sharks)
7. Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters)
8. Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
9. Nathan Peats (Gold Coast Titans)
10. Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
11. Josh Jackson (Canterbury Bulldogs)
12. Boyd Cordnor (Sydney Roosters)
13. Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra Dragons)
14. David Klemmer (Canterbury Bulldogs)
15. Wade Graham (Cronulla Sharks)
16. Jake Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles)
17. Jack Bird (Cronulla Sharks)

Coach - Laurie Daley

* note: team line-ups are subject to considerable change, but will be updated as news filters through.

There are rumours aplenty that the iconic XXXX Brewery at the Milton Road end of Suncorp Stadium is going to close its doors. While few would want to see it go, it seems somewhat fitting that an iconic Queensland Origin side is coming to an end too. Thurston is gone. Inglis is (probably) gone. Cronk is going. Smith must be thinking about going. Slater has rolled an ankle. Bigger empires have crumbled than this, but there's no denying that we have been witnesses to an Origin dynasty we're not likely to see again. Queensland were on the ropes after game one, and looked on the ropes mid-way through game two. Yet somehow, as champions generally do, they found their way off the ropes and prevailed. Thurston, as champions generally do, dragged himself off the ropes and carried himself through the contest with one good arm. He was still there at the end to slot the conversion that proved the difference. His performance, and the performance of his team, demonstrated the epitome of the Queensland spirit...and they won. You could almost see the heart of Phil Gould breaking in the post-match wrap-up. Andrew Johns broke his brain. It was riveting television during and after the game.

NSW bring the same seventeen than won them game one so convincingly and all but won them game two. There was no need to make changes, but changes were almost thrust upon them. Tedesco hasn't played since game two. Cordnor and Dugan are racing the clock to be ready in time. Frizell is a huge doubt. The three spares for NSW (De Belin, Merrin and Trbojevic) are there to fill the slots if needed.

QLD have had a different five-eighth in every game of the series. In game three we have Munster which gives Queensland an all-purple spine. Munster having his Melbourne team-mates in key positions is a huge plus, but he's making his Origin debut at Suncorp in a game to decide the series. He's a very composed young man, but his composure will be tested on Wednesday.

I say this great Queensland side can get there...one more time. They can do this for Cronk in his last game. They can do this for Thurston who won't be there, but will be there...in every tackle, every pass, and every conversion. One more time. The kings are dead. Long live the kings.

Verdict – Queensland 18 : New South Wales 14

First try scorer – Billy Slater

Man of the Match – Billy Slater