MAROONS WIN ONE FOR THE AGES

A 15-man Queensland has defied all the bookies to claim one of the state’s greatest series victories after beating the Blues in an all-time classic at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Wednesday night.

Put that alongside Mark Coyne’s miracle, Darren Lockyer starting the dynasty, Fatty’s Nevilles and the 2020 upset - because they’ve done it again. Bouncing back from the Perth demolition, losing two players in the opening three minutes, after losing Cameron Munster to Covid this week, they’ve pulled off one of the all-time upsets and one of the bravest performances in Origin history.

They prevail 22-12 and sent the Suncorp crowd into a state of delirium.

“It’s what Queensland’s all about. It’s about hard work, really digging in when the backs are against the wall. We did it again,” said Ben Hunt, whose try in the 79th minute sealed an extraordinary win.

Hunt picked the pocket of Nathan Cleary, then outpaced Isaah Yeo and Cleary for a phenomenal 70m run to win back the shield.

Cleary attempted a chip and chase deep into Queensland territory, but Hunt, in his face looking for a charge-down, snatched it out of the air and ran the best part of the length of the field.

Captain Daly Cherry-Evans was over the moon.

“We knew coming here it was going to be something special and we did it again, and it’s so good,” he said.

“I haven’t won too many, so each one you do win you hold them close to your heart, and anytime you get to finish a series in front of your home fans, it makes it mean so much more.”