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BRISBANE - A tenacious NSW avoided the ignominy of a State of Origin whitewash at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday winning a tense 80 minute battle 18-4 over an injury-plagued Queensland.
The clash will be remembered as much for Queensland's courage as the Blues' refusal to buckle in front of a raucous 52,469 fans who'd hope to see a 3-0 series win.
The score blew out near the end with NSW putting on 12 points in the last six minutes.
Lanky Storm winger Matt King crashed over for the Blues second try after the game had been hanging in the balance for 73 minutes with NSW clinging to a 6-4 half time lead.
His try was converted by super boot Hazem El Masri, who celebrated his Origin debut with a try and three pressure goals for a personal haul of 10 points.
Queensland had the series in the bag after winning the first two Origin matches.
But you would not have known it was a "dead" game the way it was played out.
It was more like a series decider and NSW coach Graham Murray wished it had been.
The Blues turned up to take Queensland on with pure aggression and they accomplished their mission with the Maroons badly smashed up by the time the full time whistle blew.
Wingers Greg Inglis (knee) and Brent Tate (knee) were both first half casualties and could not come back. Tate was on crutches for the end of the match celebrations.
Interchange forward Nate Myles (shoulder) was another who did not return to the field after his injury in the second half.
Backs Karmichael Hunt and Greg Inglis were casualties with leg problems, although Hunt finished the game limping badly.
Nobody showed more courage than Queensland lock Dallas Johnson.
Johnson was knocked senseless in the opening tackle of the match, had spasms and was vomiting after collecting a knee from team-mate Tonie Carroll.
Somehow he managed to get back into the game in the second half.
It was shades of Queensland in game two of the 1989 series when the Maroons soldiered on to its most courageous victory with Mal Meninga (cheek), Allan Langer (ankle) and Bob Lindner (broken leg) all busted.
NSW though deserved the win after copping a bagging from all quarters and overcoming a week of turmoil in which it was reported Murray didn't have the full support of his players.
Blues skipper Danny Buderus played a wonderful captain's game while five-eighth Greg Bird and second-rower Paul Gallen delivered the "starch" that was missing for NSW in the first two games.
Queensland hooker Cameron Smith was awarded the Wally Lewis player of the series as Maroons captain Darren Lockyer accepted to Origin trophy for the second year in a row.
Blues captain Buderus said his side had been bashed from pillar to post during a tough Origin series.
"We deserved something out of that series," he said
"We knew what was coming if we lost that, so it was a big pressure game.
"There is character in this team, there's passion, there's intensity, whatever you want to call it.
"We lost the series but bring on next year."
NSW 18 (J Hayne M King H El Masri tries H El Masri 3 goals) bt QUEENSLAND 4 (J Hodges try) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: P Simpkins. Crowd: 52,469.
- AAP
