The Blues have overcome a 19-year hoodoo at Suncorp Stadium to clinch the State of Origin series in a night of ferocity and chaos that included a fight spilling off the field.

The scoreboard was 14-4 in the brutal decider, with NSW scoring late twice to claim a famous win in game three.

Wednesday night’s victory night marked only the Blues’ third win in a decider in Brisbane from 13 attempts, with the last on enemy soil being 2005.

The game also featured the first time in Origin history that a player, Cameron Murray, was sin-binned from the interchange bench.

Blues alumni Andrew Johns said fans would talk about the memorable match “a long time in the future”.

“What a performance by this NSW team …this has been an absolute classic, it doesn’t get any better,” he said in Nine’s coverage.

Bradman Best and Blues supporters bask in the Origin victory. Photo: Getty

But the triumph did not come easy.

The match appeared destined to be tryless until Queensland took a 4-2 lead and seemed to take charge via a penalty goal in the 63rd minute.

Then the floodgates opened for NSW, with halves Jarome Luai and Mitch Moses providing the two key plays.

Luai broke the game open when he took a Connor Watson offload in his own half and dummied through.

The Blues five-eighth was able to draw in fullback Reece Walsh, before Bradman Best loomed up in support play and fended off Dane Gagai to score.

After receiving a penalty in the set after the kickoff, the Blues were able to go down field again and Moses stepped Harry Grant and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to make it a decisive 14-4 lead.

The Blues No.7’s terrific night was marred when he had to leave the field with what was later confirmed as a biceps tear.

But the Blues were able to overpower the Maroons, locking in only their fifth series win in 19 years.

“The team was defeated; it didn’t feel like a loss,” Queensland coach Billy Slater said after his first series loss in three years as coach.

“I was disappointed after Melbourne but I don’t feel disappointed right now, I feel immensely proud of this group.

“We gave ourselves a chance tonight … you can’t win everything.”

Up the blues!

I’ll flick you the Blues jersey in the post @StevenJMiles. pic.twitter.com/ldPNVJFYZY

— Chris Minns (@ChrisMinnsMP) July 17, 2024

NRL brawler crackdown

But both sides are expected to feel the after effects for some time following a chaotic first-half melee that spilled over the sideline.

The NRL traditionally hands down charges in the two hours after fulltime for Origin matches, given the tight turnaround to the next round of the NRL.

But the dramatic nature of Wednesday night’s game prompted a marathon sitting for the match review committee, pushing any charges back until Thursday.

It is understood bans are likely when the charge sheet is published.

NSW pair Cameron Murray and Haumole Olakau’atu are expected to cop the most heat, after coming off the bench to be involved in the fracas.

Murray was sin-binned for charging into the fight, which was instigated by Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans and Blues five-eighth Jarome Luai.

The NRL must also decide whether Olakau’atu will be dealt with by the match review committee or via a breach notice, given he was the Blues’ 19th man.

The suited-up Manly second-rower was ordered off the playing arena and told to watch the rest of the match from the dressing room, for becoming involved in the incident.

Queensland’s Pat Carrigan scuffles with Stephen Crichton, of the Blues. Photo: Getty

Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans was adamant after the game that Murray should have been sent off, labelling his actions as “unacceptable”.

But NSW coach Michael Maguire came to the defence of the pair, suggesting it was a positive they had stuck up for their teammates.

“When you look at that moment, Cam Murray is one of the nicest blokes in the game,”

“He plays the game to perfection. He obviously went down there because he cares for one of his teammates.

“I’ve known Cameron for a long time, never thought he’d jump into something like that, but it just goes to show what the group mean to each other.”

The NSW duo aren’t the only players expected to be investigated out of the match.

Cherry-Evans and Jarome Luai both struck each other to start the melee, while Jeremiah Nanai escalated the situation by charging in and hitting Luai from behind.

NSW 18th man Matt Burton and Queensland prop Moeaki Fotuaika were among other players on the bench to become involved in the situation.

Reece Walsh is likely to attract the attention of the match review committee after his feet collected Stephen Crichton’s head as he attempted to save a try.

Under NRL judiciary rules, players can take fines for grade-two offences in State of Origin. Grade-three charges result in bans of at least two matches.

Any charges could prompt a Friday judiciary hearing if players elect to fight them, given the short turnaround to weekend matches.

-with AAP