ORIGIN III: What more could you want?
The dust has settled, the game has been played and Queensland have walked away as winners in the 2017 State of Origin series.
Whether you watched the game at home, in the stands, with your mates at the local pub or maybe even from the never ending Facebook updates, it was truly one of the most spectacular Queensland performances within their mighty 'dynasty decade.'
From the first whistle until the siren sounding at the 80th minute, the Maroon players outclassed their New South Wales counterparts across the entire field. The precedent was set from the first stages of the game when Blues captain Boyd Cordner was met by a wall of Maroon in Josh McGuire, Gavin Cooper and Jarrod Wallace.
From there, the game was Queensland's to loose.
Defensively, the Maroons were faultless, despite letting in a Josh Dugan try in the 48th minute. The Blues spine was given limited time with the ball, and when they were, their creative attempts appeared rushed and unplanned. None more so than Matt Gillett's smother of Mitchell Pearce's sixth tackle option in the first half - a defining moment in the game, which showed the fans and opposition that Queensland meant business.
The Queensland forwards terrorised the Blues, getting up into their faces fast and laying brutal three-man tackles whenever the opportunity arose. Newbies, Dylan Napa and Jarrod Wallace were faultless in the centre of the field, and really limited the runs that Andrew Fafita and Aaron Woods had.
The man, the myth, the legend (and what a legendary performance it was) - Cameron Smith. It was a man of the match performance by Smith, his seventh in his 42 Origin campaigns, and will likely go down as his greatest yet. The captain ran the ball at almost every opportunity, generating two line breaks that saw Billy Slater and Josh Papalli break through.
Out wide, Matt Gillett had a classic 'Matt Gillett' performance, playing the full 80 minutes, making 93 meters off 10 runs, and tacking 41 times - the second highest number on the night behind the man sitting on the opposite edge, Gavin Cooper. Cooper, who was playing just his third Origin game played an integral role on the left edge of the field. Playing the full 80 minutes again and making 43 tackles, Cooper was the glue that bound the 'new comers' on the supposed weak side.
A weak side that was driven by five-eighth Cameron Munster. As debuts go, let alone Origin debuts, Munster's will go down as one of the greatest. The 22 year old from Rockhampton dominated the Origin arena, and truly made it his own. 124 metres off 11 runs and making 21 tackles (not missing one I might add) are pretty impressive stats, not to mention his incredible line-break and two try assists. The combinations he shares with Cooper Cronk are something special, and were on full display on Wednesday night. If this is the talent that is hiding behind our greatest Origin stars, then the future is certainly looking very bright.
Bright is an understatement when you think about the Queensland back five. Despite Billy Slater being 34, the 'kid' looked younger than ever. His ad-lib style sparked life into a rejuvenated Maroons side, using the Melbourne quintuplet combinations to his advantage.
As for the wingers, Valentine Holmes and Dane Gagai, their Origin careers are looking long and plentiful. Holmes displayed his class and athleticism on the left edge pairing with Michael Morgan to lay on a hat trick of tries in just his second Origin game. On the other side of the field, Dane Gagai, alongside Will Chambers, was unstoppable, making 168 meters and becoming the first winger in Origin history to win the Wally Lewis Medal, celebrating the best player of the series.
Even off the bench, Queensland players exuded confidence and a desire to win. Josh Papalli, Coen Hess, Tim Glasby and even Ben Hunt all put in dominate displays of first class football. Truly a gift for Queenslanders to witness.
So, where to for New South Wales now?
Despite the loss and Laurie Daley's imminent resignation, the Blues mustn't put every player on the chopping block - it will send them backwards not forwards. Retaining their spine is integral to how their plays are created, and placing the blame on Mitchell Pearce will do nothing for their growth.
If players are to go, it should be the Blues outside backs, who are getting old and clearly are no longer up to the pressure and expectations that Origin brings.
But State of Origin III was all about the mighty Queensland Maroons, who not only turned up for their state but for their mate - Jonathan Thurston who ended his stellar Origin career in the only way possible for a man that was injured, raising the shield alongside captain Smith and being chaired off the field.
It is any wonder what the 2018 series will bring, but if there is one thing that can be learned from game three, is that the Queensland dynasty, with all of their new young players, is most certainly not dead.
*Images and stats from NRL.com