New South Wales have won the State of Origin series for the first time since 2021, defeating Queensland 22-12 in the deciding Game Three at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Wednesday night. The victory ended a three-series losing streak for the Blues and secured the shield in front of a hostile crowd of 52,433.
First-Half Dominance Sets Up Victory
The Blues raced to a 16-0 lead at halftime, with tries to winger Josh Addo-Carr, fullback James Tedesco, and five-eighth Jarome Luai. Nathan Cleary converted two of the three tries to give NSW a commanding advantage. Queensland struggled to contain the Blues' attacking structure, with the Maroons completing only 68% of their sets in the first half compared to NSW's 82%.
Addo-Carr opened the scoring in the 12th minute after a brilliant cut-out pass from Luai, sprinting 30 metres to score in the corner. Tedesco doubled the lead in the 24th minute when he supported a break from Liam Martin, and Luai crossed himself just before halftime after a clever short ball from Cleary.
Maroons Fight Back but Fall Short
Queensland mounted a second-half comeback, with tries to winger Xavier Coates and centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow narrowing the gap to 16-12 with 15 minutes remaining. However, a late penalty goal and a field goal from Cleary sealed the win for NSW. The Maroons had several chances to level the scores but were denied by strong defensive efforts from the Blues, including a try-saving tackle from Tedesco on Coates in the 68th minute.
"It's an incredible feeling," said Blues captain James Tedesco after the match. "We've worked so hard for this. The boys were outstanding tonight, and to do it in front of this crowd makes it even sweeter." Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans acknowledged the Blues' dominance: "They were too good tonight. We gave ourselves a chance in the second half, but those early errors cost us."
Key Statistics and Turning Points
The Blues completed 36 tackles inside Queensland's 20-metre zone, while the Maroons managed only 18. NSW also forced seven line breaks to Queensland's three. The penalty count was 7-5 in favour of the home side, but the Blues' discipline in the first half allowed them to build pressure. Nathan Cleary was named player of the match, contributing 10 points from two conversions, a penalty goal, and a field goal, along with 23 tackles and two try assists.
This series win marks a significant achievement for coach Brad Fittler, who had faced criticism after losing the past three series. "This is for all the Blues fans who stuck with us," Fittler said. "We knew we had the talent, and tonight it all came together."
Series Summary and Impact
NSW won Game One 24-10 in Sydney before Queensland levelled the series with a 30-14 victory in Brisbane. The decider was played in front of a sell-out crowd, with the atmosphere described as electric. The victory ends Queensland's run of three consecutive series wins and gives the Blues momentum heading into next year's series.
According to the NRL, the series attracted record television ratings, with an average audience of 3.2 million viewers across the three games. The decider alone peaked at 4.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched State of Origin game since 2019.
