July 8, 2026 — 10:33pmWally Lewis famously knew every blade of grass on Lang Park, but even the King would have struggled to apply the depth of forensic scrutiny that helped Bradman Best’s match-sealing try in the second half.Amid a mini-fightback by the Maroons, provided by the injection of excitement machine Reece Walsh, the Maroons were pressuring the NSW line and looking for a third try.Walsh, who entered the game due to Sam Walker undergoing an HIA, hoisted a cross kick that saw a pack soar and the ball bounce out of all their grasps.Bradman Best collected the ball and took off upfield, with his Newcastle teammate Kalyn Ponga giving chase.Best was too quick – or just quick enough – and after a desperate dive to try and bring down his Blues rival, Ponga missed and Best raced in to score. It was the second crucial try in a decider from Best at Suncorp Stadium, after the recalled centre had done likewise in the drought-breaking third game in 2024, won by NSW.But as the Blues players were celebrating, the Maroons players rushed to referee Ashley Klein, arguing Blues winger Jack Bostock had touched the ball and knocked it on, way back on the NSW line.As Nathan Cleary waited for the all-clear to convert the try, replays on the television broadcast were unclear and appeared to give hope to both sets of fans.The green light was eventually given, leading to a chorus of boos and a gobsmacked Queensland legend Cameron Smith arguing on the Nine broadcast that justice had not been served.“That’s gone … forward … we can’t get that wrong, I’m sorry ... there was a clear touch by Bostock,” Smith said.Blues great and fellow Nine commentator Brad Fittler provided an explanation moments later, however. Fittler had asked officials on the sideline about the decision, and it was relayed that the Bunker had used unseen footage from a camera in the corner post to determine Bostock had not touched it.Maroons players look dejected after conceding a try during game three of the Men’s State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium.Getty ImagesIt was that sort of night for Queensland, in a game where the baying Suncorp Stadium hordes were kept quiet by a mix of uncharacteristic Maroons mistakes, aggressive Blues dominance and – in the end – the second straight defeat in a decider on home soil.Having not won a game three in the intimidating surrounds of Suncorp Stadium in 19 years, the Blues threw the monkey off the back in 2024 and they did it again on their very next opportunity.Where Queensland were sharp and near-perfect in the second half in Melbourne, the first half in Brisbane was a disaster zone.The Maroons fans, who’d been drinking pre-emptive celebratory beers on Caxton Street before the game, could only sit in silence as errors piled up in the opening half-hour. Three straight mistakes and a missed tackle gave Nathan Cleary his first try, and then four missed tackles gave the Penrith star his second.When Selwyn Cobbo charged out of his own quarter soon after, an accidental slip saw Hudson Young collect the winger on the head with his shin. Cobbo was shell-shocked, but showing ruthless intent, Cleary got up, stole the ball in a strip from the Queenslander and Cameron Murray surged over for a third straight try.The Blues were up 18-0 and the game, amazingly, was on its way to being over. Queensland didn’t know what had hit them.From our partners