​State of Origin Game Three: Queensland 12, New South Wales 30. For Queensland, Tabuai-Fidow and Cobbo, along with Fifita, crossed the line, while New South Wales struck through Cleary twice, Murray, Best, and Young. Nathan Cleary delivered a masterclass, scoring two tries and accumulating 10 points with his accurate kicking, including a late penalty that effectively sealed the victory as New South Wales toppled the favourites in front of a Brisbane crowd. Cleary’s composure under pressure proved pivotal on a night when Queensland failed with all three goal attempts, underscoring his role as the Blues’ spark and catalyst for the upset.
Victory provided vindication for Blues head coach Laurie Daley, who, though out of contract now that the series is settled, had faced heavy scrutiny over his team selections. “We were written off, but we came together as a group, and I’m just pumped,” Cleary told Sky Sports. “What a team.” While Cleary’s brilliance illuminated the win, Daley also benefited from two crucial video reviews in the second half. One allowed Bradman Best’s sensational length-of-the-field try to stand despite what appeared to be a knock-on by Jack Bostock, and another ruled out a Robert Toia score due to an offside by Max Plath. In the wake of a 44-24 defeat in Melbourne three weeks earlier, Daley made a raft of changes that helped level the series, but Cleary remained the standout influence.
Cleary opened the scoring after a lengthy spell of Blues pressure, which had been sparked when Queensland winger Jojo Fifita knocked on under pressure from Origin debutant Bostock, a player brought into Daley’s reshaped lineup. Bostock himself had looked likely to score in that early surge but fumbled at the try line; Cleary pounced, diving over to wrongfoot Kurt Capewell and stretch the ball down safely. He added a second soon after when forward Liam Martin, recalled by Daley after missing the first two matches of the series, charged through Cameron Munster, enabling Stephen Crichton to receive a break. Mark Nawaqanitawase then burst forward and offloaded with one hand to Cleary, who finished the move.
Cleary’s influence continued when, moments later, he forced a turnover on Selwyn Cobbo and created another opportunity that culminated in Cameron Murray barreling across against a fragile defensive line, opening an 18-0 lead for New South Wales. The Blues’ tries appeared to be mounting, but Brisbane-born pressure intensified as the half progressed. Queensland responded with a try of their own as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow crossed in the corner for his 14th Origin try in 13 appearances, and the Blues saw James Tedesco leave the field with a head injury sustained in a collision with Maroons forward Briton Nikori.
Reece Walsh, struggling for form with the Brisbane Broncos this season, entered the game after the break and contributed to a sequence that culminated in Selwyn Cobbo collecting a rebound off his own attempted grubber and juggling the ball to touch down, reducing the deficit to keep Queensland within reach. The home side briefly threatened to close the gap further, but New South Wales held firm in the closing stages, with Cleary’s control and late kicking underpinning their clinical, composed performance that delivered a series victory in Brisbane and reaffirmed the Blues as the team to beat in this state rivalry.