Will it be a Maroons sweep or can New South Wales salvage some pride?
Don’t believe anyone who tells you the third State of Origin game is a dead rubber.
Brad Fittler could be coaching his last game for New South Wales, several Blues stalwarts might be playing for their Origin careers – and Queensland isn’t going to let them off easy.
If Billy Slater’s Maroons claim a 3-0 series win for the first time in over a decade, the ramifications will be long-lasting for the Blues.
Can Freddy and James Tedesco rally their troops?
Follow our live coverage below
his page will auto-refresh every 90 seconds to bring you the latest news and action for the third State of Origin between NSW and Queensland.
Kick-off is at 8.05 pm.
How to watch/live stream: You can watch Origin III on Channel Nine and its streaming platform 9Now, with extensive pre-match coverage and replays on Fox League.
Table of Contents
Toggle6.45PM: NRL WARN THURSTON OVER SIDELINE ANTICS
Queensland assistant Johnathan Thurston revealed he was given an official warning by the NRL to tone down his sideline antics during State of Origin.
Thurston’s emotional reactions to this series have become must-see viewing, but the legendary Maroon was told to cool it after encroaching into the officials’ allocated boundaries.
“I got a warning from the NRL, they sat me down and said I’m not allowed to wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m not allowed to do what I was doing,” Thurston revealed on Nine’s Billy Slater Podcast.
“I said this is Origin, I’ll do what I want,” he laughed.
“I was a little bit subdued … I ride the highs and the lows like all the fans,” he said.
“I love State of Origin, I love watching rugby league.
“You know when we’re winning and losing because of my emotions, you can certainly see those.”
6.30 PM: IKIN OPENS UP ON SLATER’S MAROONS’ FUTURE
QRL bosses have begun talks with Billy Slater about leading the Maroons in 2024 as he looks to become the first coach in more than a decade to lead Queensland to a State of Origin sweep.
Recently-appointed QRL chief Ben Ikin revealed on Wednesday night he would do everything he can to ensure Maroon legend Slater remains at the helm.
“It depends on how much the QRL board is prepared to give me to re-sign him,” Ikin quipped on Fox Sports.
“This is something that he has gone after, he’s done well and my sense is that he wants to keep going.
“I have started the conversations with his agent and we’ll do everything we can to make sure he continues to lead Queensland into the future as the head coach.”
Ikin said Slater had helped ensure the future beyond his tenure would be successful by bringing other potential Maroons coaches into the fray.
“Beyond that, the other thing we know is that he’s bringing other good people onto that coaching staff who we believe over time might be capable, if he decides to step away, to step up and replace him,” he said.
6.15 PM: ‘MAROON KANGAROOS’: BLUES SET FOR GREEN AND GOLD SNUB
The Maroons could occupy as many as 13 of the 17 spots in Australia’s Test team at the end of the year following Queensland’s State of Origin dominance.
The Maroons have dominated the Blues so far this year, winning game one in Adelaide 26-18 against the odds before thumping NSW 32-6 at Suncorp Stadium to secure back-to-back series triumphs.
Now Queensland can inflict the ultimate Origin pain on the Blues by beating them on home soil to secure their first clean sweep since 2010.
If that is the case, it could be a Blues bloodbath at the Kangaroos selection table if a Test schedule is agreed to at the end of the year.
The Blues dominated last year’s Kangaroos team, fielding 11 players in the team that won the World Cup final against Samoa.
But that could change drastically if Queensland wins the Origin series 3-nil, with Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga set to usher in a new generation of Maroons talent.
One of those NSW players fighting to retain not only their Blues jersey beyond this series but also a spot in the Kangaroos is James Tedesco.
The Roosters star captains NSW and Australia in the No. 1, but has been below his best this series and is under fire from rising Maroons young gun Reece Walsh.
Queensland halfback Daly Cherry-Evans lost the Kangaroo’s No. 7 jersey to Nathan Cleary last year but has responded in remarkable fashion.
POSSIBLE KANGAROOS TEAM
1 Reece Walsh (QLD) / James Tedesco (NSW)
2 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (QLD)
3 Latrell Mitchell (NSW)
4 Valentine Holmes (QLD)
5 Murray Taulagi (QLD)
6 Cameron Munster (QLD)
7 Daly Cherry-Evans (QLD) / Nathan Cleary (NSW)
8 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (QLD)
9 Harry Grant (QLD)
10 Pat Carrigan (QLD)
11 Liam Martin (NSW)
12 Jeremiah Nanai (QLD)
13 Reuben Cotter (QLD)
14 Ben Hunt (QLD)
15 Payne Haas (NSW)
16 Cameron Murray (NSW)
17 Lindsay Collins (QLD)
5.40 PM: PERFECT PREPARATION HAS MAROONS NERVOUS
Maroons legend Cameron Smith admits he is nervous about tonight’s Origin finale because Queensland’s preparation has been so smooth.
Queensland has already wrapped up back-to-back series wins after claiming the first two games of the series.
Now the Maroons of 2023 are aiming to emulate Smith’s class of 2010 by winning the series 3-nil.
While the Blues are in crisis, chopping and changing their team throughout the entire series without any luck, Queensland has been in cruise control.
Coach Billy Slater has only been forced to make a handful of changes through injury and suspension and his assistant coach Smith said the Maroons were primed to shine.
“We’ve been very fortunate. All the preparations have been fantastic.
“As a coach, sometimes you get a little nervous when things are going too smoothly.
“They’ve been great. They work extremely hard at their game and want to be better every time they get on the training paddock. That’s a really impressive trait to have as a group.
“The key to playing well is preparation and they’ve nailed it once again.”
4.45 PM: DCE BACKS MAROONS TO JOIN THE ELITE CLASS OF QLD LEGENDS
Daly Cherry-Evans has declared Queensland has no fear about completing a Blue Rinse on enemy soil as the class of 2010 urged the Maroons to not let this opportunity slip.
Cherry-Evans will lead the Maroons on to Accor Stadium on Wednesday night attempting to claim State of Origin’s first 3-nil series clean sweep in 13 years.
The Maroons have only won 3-nil four times (1988-89, 1995, 2010) in Origin’s 43 years, and not since Mal Meninga’s record-breaking dynasty has Queensland completed a perfect series.
Even then, the Maroons only managed one 3-nil result during the decade of dominance from 2006-15 which yielded nine series wins in 10 years. They let 2-nil leads slip in the 2007 and 09 series.
Back in 2010, it took a team stacked with Origin legends like Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Petero Civoniceva and Nate Myles to inflict absolute misery on the Blues.
Now there is a new generation of Maroons stars making their mark in the likes of Cameron Munster, Jeremiah Nanai, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Harry Grant.
While this may be a young Maroons team, Cherry-Evans said they held no fear about winning in front of 70,000 Blues fans in Sydney.
“We’re aware of how little it’s happened, that shows how hard it is to do,” he said.
“The greatest Queensland team ever did it once. It’s hard to do.
“We know the challenge in front of us but I can guarantee you this side is excited about it, we’re not daunted by it.
“We haven’t reached our final destination yet. We’re proud of where we’ve come and what we’ve done but we’re not going to rest on that just yet.”
3.15 PM: WHO DO THE BOOKIES FAVOUR TONIGHT?
Even throughout Queensland’s mighty eight-year State of Origin dominance, NSW still someone managed to find themselves as the bookies’ favorite from time to time.
But not tonight.
The bookies are leaning in on Daly Cherry-Evans and the Maroons getting the job done in a clean sweet, with Queensland firm $1.67 favorites to the Blue’s $2.25 outsider status.
In the margin betting, Queensland winning in a tight one – 1-12 victory margin – is the shortest-priced option, at $3.00 – while a blowout victory of 13+ is $3.40 before the NSW markets even enter the frame.
Reckon there could be a draw after 80 minutes? That’s paying $15.
Queensland winger Xavier Coates is a hot favorite, at $9, to score the first try just ahead of Blues speedster Josh Addo-Carr who is $11 despite failing to find the tryline this series.
2.20 PM: SICK MUNSTER’S GAME 2 HEROICS REVEALED
By Travis Meyn
Maroons star Cameron Munster played through a shocking virus that stripped 4kg, and left him violently ill, to deliver Queensland back-to-back series wins.
Now he is back to full fitness and ready to crush the Blues and celebrate his first 3-nil State of Origin series win.
On the eve of Wednesday night’s Origin series finale at Accor Stadium in Sydney, this masthead can reveal the courage Munster showed to lead Queensland to victory three weeks ago.
The Maroon’s five-eighth made a stunning 15 runs for 120m in Queensland’s 32-6 thrashing of NSW at Suncorp Stadium to secure the series.
But he had excuses to not even take the field.
Munster was sick heading into the game and went downhill in the days after, losing 4kg as multiple viruses wreaked havoc on him.
“He was very crook in the last Origin game,” Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said.
“He came back to us after the game and was still crook and then got a couple of other things as well. He wanted to play because he sees himself as a guy who can get through that and back up.
“He looked like he had a big head because he was so skinny, he lost that much weight. He was about 4kg under his normal weight.
“He will be a lot better prepared for this game given he’s had a full week’s preparation with the Queensland side.
“Wednesday night might be his night.”
The Storm rested Munster after Origin II and he still wasn’t back to full fitness in Melbourne’s 34-16 loss to Penrith a fortnight ago.
But 10 days in Camp Maroon has the 28-year-old primed to dominate the Blues when Queensland looks to secure its first 3-nil series clean sweep since 2010.
1.15 PM: RCG SLAMS ‘BULLS**T’ RUMOURS
By Fatima Kdouh
NSW forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard has slammed talk of not fitting into the Blues culture as ‘bullshit’ and hit back at claims a shaky relationship with former Penrith teammates cost him a spot in last year’s Origin series.
Campbell-Gillard earned a call-up in game one of the 2022 Origin series, along with six Panthers stars, but was axed after the Blues went down 16-10 to Queensland.
At the time, the chatter that there was ‘tension’ between Campbell-Gillard and Penrith’s Blues contingent would not go away.
The Parramatta prop had drawn the ire of his former teammates in his first season at Eels in 2020 by declaring ‘I‘m not a bench player. It’s plain and simple, in reference to being used on the bench by Panthers coach Ivan Cleary in his final year at the club.
Campbell-Gillard had also suggested he no longer felt ‘wanted’ at Penrith.
But the 29-year-old rubbished claims those comments had hurt his chances of selection in a Blues outfit with heavy Panthers representation.
“I’m the type of person that understands it’s a results-driven business. If you don’t win obviously change is needed. I really feel grateful to be here in the team now,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“I think all that bullshit around rumors of me (not fitting in), I don’t know where it’s coming from. It definitely hasn’t come from me.
“I genuinely believe the chopping and changing happened because the result didn’t go our way.
“Mind you, I think I was one of seven changes in that first game but it was only my name that was through the media.
“I’m a big boy, I can cop any of the criticism, it doesn’t phase me. I’ll be making sure I do everything possible for this team to get a win tonight.”
12.00 PM: MAROONS ENFORCER’S BRUTAL ORIGIN SLEDGE
By Dean Ritchie
Former Queensland forward Felise Kaufusi has taken a cheeky dig at NSW by predicting a three-nil clean sweep – by pushing a broom around at Dolphins training.
Kausufi was spotted entering a training building at Dolphins headquarters in Redcliffe while sweeping, signifying a three-nil clean sweep in tonight’s third State of Origin game.
The Dolphins media team filmed a smiling Kaufusi accompanied by hashtags #QLDer #cleansweep.
The post also read: ‘Game III, see you later.’
Kaufusi missed selection this year after being suspended for three games in May for a swinging arm to the head of Storm prop Christian Welch.
In a fun build-up to the big game, Dolphins players completed their weights session today with players wearing either NSW or Queensland jumpers.
The Dolphins playing squad is roughly split 50-50 in terms of which state they were born and support.
11 AM: FREDDY, TEDDY FIGHT BACK AGAINST HATERS
By Fatima Kdouh
Brad Fittler and James Tedesco know tonight’s dead rubber is shaping as the last for the NSW coach and captain but the duo won’t be going down without a fight.
Back-to-back series losses have put Fittler’s job in jeopardy and raised questions about Tedesco’s role on the side.
Fittler conceded the only way to end doubt about Tedesco, or the spot of any Blues player, was to stop Queensland from claiming a series whitewash.
“It (winning) does a lot, I don’t know what it does but it does a lot. It’s much better than the alternative,” Fittler said.
“They are aware of that … some of them will dodge it. He (Tedesco) most definitely won’t.
“They all get a chance now to put their hand in for next year absolutely.
“The players see it as an opportunity to cement a spot and be at the forefront of your mind when you are picking teams next year, whoever the coach is.”
Tedesco had long been seen as having a mortgage on the Blues’ No.1 jumper. But a slump in form, by Tedesco’s standards, for the Sydney Roosters put a spotlight on the champion fullback for the first time in his Origin career.
“You get that when you don’t perform, I think it’s the same for any player in any position. If you don’t win games you’re under threat,” Tedesco said.
“I’m just glad I got the chance to be captain and fullback for this game.
“I just want to bring my best and be the best player I can be. I have to go out after the big moments, which I have done so many times in my career and just back myself. Hopefully, that will shine through.”
10.00 AM: EXPERT TIPS FOR ORIGIN 3
DEAN RITCHIE
Result: Queensland by 12
Why: A bashed-up NSW side is playing without confidence against a Maroons side full of cockiness and power.
Man of the match: Daly Cherry-Evans
First try: AJ Brimson
TRAVIS MEYN
Result: Queensland by 6
Why: This Queensland team is dialed in and has developed a close bond over the past few years while the Blues are all at sea. It’s a great opportunity for a Maroons whitewash.
Man of the match: Cameron Munster
First try: Xavier Coates
PHIL ROTHFIELD
Result: NSW by 12
Why: Surely the Maroons will be down on hunger now the series is already in the bag while the Blues are playing for pride and will turn up with their A game.
Man of the match: Mitchell Moses
First try: Josh Addo-Carr
FATIMA KDOUH
Result: NSW by 8
Why: The series is over for NSW but every player in Blue is playing for their future. That is more than enough motivation to get the job done.
Man of the match: Cody Walker
First try: Bradman Best
PAUL CRAWLEY
Result: Queensland by 14
Why: The Blues have left their run too late with all the changes for game three. Queensland should wrap it up 3-0.
Man of the match: Cameron Munster
First try: Xavier Coates
TYSON JACKSON
Result: NSW by 8
Why: The Blues have thrown a completely different picture at the Maroons with nothing to lose making them the most dangerous they have been all series.
Man of the match: James Tedesco
First try: Liam Martin
BRENT READ
Result: Queensland by 12
Why: The Maroons are on a roll. They’re fired up about the clean sweep. Their spine will lead them to victory.
Man of the match: Cameron Munster
First try: David Fifita
DAVID RICCIO
Result: NSW by 4
Why: Cody Walker, Jake Trbojevic and Reagan Campbell-Gillard are back in Blue and Cam Murray at 13, it’s NSW’s best line-up of the series.
Man of the match: Cody Walker
First try: Bradman Best
MICHAEL CARAYANNIS
Result: NSW by 10
Why: Saving face and saving Brad Fittler’s NSW coaching job with a strong performance against a flat Queensland team.
Man of the match: Cameron Murray
First try: Cody Walker
PAMELA WHALEY
Result: Queensland by 2
Why: Billy Slater’s Queensland juggernaut will just keep rolling on. At this point, it’s hard to imagine NSW being able to stop them.
Man of the match: Daly Cherry-Evans
First try: Valentine Holmes
PETER BADEL
Result: Queensland by 10
Why: The Blues are a selection rabble. Complacency won’t be an issue for the Maroons, whose spine will seal a 3-0 sweep.
Man of the match: Harry Grant
First try: AJ Brimson
