Queensland denied New South Wales a clean sweep of Australia's State of Origin rugby league series with a comprehensive 32-8 win in the third and final match in Brisbane on Wednesday.
The Maroons, who lost the opening two games to relinquish the Origin trophy after winning the series for eight consecutive years, scored five tries to one.
NSW were bidding for their first Origin series clean sweep for 14 years but had no answer to Queensland in the second half after trailing 6-2 at halftime.
The Maroons dominated territory and possession. They were over the NSW try-line four times in the first half but were unable to ground the ball for a try.
But three minutes before half-time skipper Cameron Smith swooped onto Daly Cherry-Evans' well-placed kick to score the game's opening try.
Test fullback Billy Slater scored soon after the restart to make the lead 12-2 before centre Josh Dugan grabbed NSW's only try, leaving the Blues trailing by six points.
But a Darius Boyd try eight minutes from time sealed the result, and there were further tries from Aidan Guerra and Cooper Cronk, back from injury, in the final minute.
Johnathan Thurston kicked six goals.
Despite the loss the Blues wrapped up the interstate series with a 6-4 win in the second Sydney game last month, to clinch their first series win since 2005.
Source: AFP
