LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The NSW Blues have copped an early hit with a key player forced off the field, while the Maroons managed to weather an early storm.
It's shaping up to be a classic showdown between the Queensland Maroons and the NSW Blues at Suncorp Stadium, a battleground steeped in State of Origin history.
This is the fortress that Billy Slater built, and the Blues will need to muster all their strength and skills to break through the Maroons' defense and pull off a miraculous series comeback.
Things looked bleak for Michael Maguire in his debut year as coach when a reckless tackle by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii dashed their hopes for an early series lead in Sydney.
But thanks to the leadership of Mitchell Moses, Latrell Mitchell, and Angus Crichton, the Blues dominated the Maroons on the legendary turf of the MCG, setting the stage for tonight's epic showdown.
As the decider approaches, Queensland has made significant changes to their lineup, while the Blues are sticking to their guns with the same starting team.
Don't miss a second of the Origin III build-up or the heart-pounding action with the live blog coverage.
Originally published as State of Origin Game 3: Queensland Maroons v NSW Blues at Suncorp Stadium.