NSW win 2024 State of Origin Series after chaotic Game III

The 2024 State of Origin finished on Wednesday the same way it started over a month ago; with chaos. New South Wales won the series with a 14-4 win in Game III. Multiple players were sent to the sin bin and one was evicted after an all-out brawl broke out on the sidelines. 

NSW wins State of Origin  

Blues boss Michael Maguire came under a lot of fire for his comments about “glass houses” following State of Origin I and II.  
 
The betting sites also weren’t too confident about NSW’s chances. Most top Australian sportsbooks had the Maroons as clear favourites in this one due to their home-field advantage in Brisbane and the previous dominant performance in Game I.  
 
After today though, we’re sure the Blues and “Madge” won’t care what the critics have to say. 
 
Maguire and his Blues side emerged from the chaos of the first half and delivered a brilliant second-half performance to secure them their 2024 State of Origin win. 
 
The Blues blitzed the Maroons with back-to-back tries in the 64th and 67th minutes from Bradman Best and Mitchell Moses. Dragons’ Zac Lomax chipped in with three goals in the 45th, 66th, and 69th minutes to help pad the Blues’ lead. 
 
Game III finished with a final score of NSW 14 ,Queensland 4. Blues second-rower Angus Crichton won the Wally Lewis Medal as the best player of the series. 

Tension boils over with first half brawl 

The first half of Game III on Wednesday was about as tight as the State of Origin can get. Neither side created many chances and the tension from the first matches was plain for everyone to see. 
 
The opening period ended 2-0 to Queensland. Before that though, the tension between these two sides finally boiled over. 
 
Near the half an hour mark, NSW’s Jarome Luai went face to face with Queensland’s Daly Cherry-Evans following a play from Bradman Best. This was just the spark both teams needed. 
 
Chaos ensued once Luai and Cherry-Evans went at it. Players from both sides rushed into the fracas and it soon became an all out brawl between the bitter rivals. 
 
Queensland’s Jeremiah Nandi and Blues’ Cam Murray were determined by the referees to be the biggest instigators. Both were sent to the sin bin from 30’ to 40’. NSW’s 19th man Haumole Olakau’atu was also evicted from the match for his involvement in the fight. 
 
Because Murray was on the bench during the brawl, State of Origin debutant Mitchell Barnett was forced off the field in his place. 

It’s unclear if any other players will face further punishments following the match. Whatever the case, this game is sure to go down as an all-time State of Origin classic.