Join us for live scores and commentary from pm AEST. It all comes down to this. The State of Origin series has been one to remember and will conclude tonight with an explosive encounter between two teams desperate to win. Queensland will be looking to win their seventh series in a row, thus continuing an Origin legacy that started way back in New South Wales will be hoping they can start a legacy of their own by claiming their first series victory in seven years.
If the Blues were to win tonight, it could signal the beginning of a new era of competitiveness for New South Wales, after suffering many years of interstate heartache. For New South Wales to win tonight, halfback Mitchell Pearce will need to pick up his kicking game in the Origin arena. He needs significant improvement if he is to make the most of the strong work the Blues produce upfront. Although the Maroons are without Billy Slater knee , Greg Inglis has slotted in to and is just as capable of producing devastating kick returns if Pearce fails to find the grass with his kicks.
If Pearce and Todd Carney can kick intelligently, it will go a long way to putting Queensland on the back foot against a Blues pack that has dominated the opening two Origin encounters. The Blues can ill-afford to put themselves under unnecessary pressure against a Queensland side eager to make a strong impression at home. Maroons halves Cooper Cronk and Johnathon Thurston in particular will be desperate to perform well tonight given that both players have struggled to really perform for Queensland in the opening two matches.
Playing away from home, the last thing the Blues need to do is offer an invitation for Thurston and Cronk to dominate play, by making errors and giving away stupid penalties in their own half. Brett Morris scores the first try of the match despite the best efforts of Sam Thaiday to hold him up.
Brent Tate punches Greg Bird early in the game. Somehow Queensland got the penalty. Brent Tate is tackled by four Blues players.
Paul Gallen with a hit up early in the match. Credit: Cameron Spencer. A Blues fan sits surrounded by Maroons supporters before the kick off. Blues coach Ricky Stuart talks to his coaching staff during the first half. Darius Boyd scores Queensland's first try in the corner despite Jarryd Hayne trying to dislodge the football. Ben Creagh is assisted from the field after his head is badly cut in the first half.
Darius Boyd celebrates after scoring a try. Johnathan Thurston celebrates after scoring a try. Justin Hodges celebrates with team mates after scoring a try. Sam Thaiday is tackled by Anthony Watmough.
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