For all the bravery Queensland displayed, ultimately something had to give. It makes you wonder, how much of a difference would their injured trio have made?
The panel reflects on the melee that spilled over the sideline and resulted in two sin bins and a non playing reserve being evicted from the playing surface.
NSW has reclaimed the Origin shield with just their third Suncorp Stadium win in a decider despite not leading until the 65th minute in a drama-packed contest.
Daly Cherry-Evans fumes that Cameron Murray avoids a send-off but is sin binned for running in to get involved in a melee started by the Maroons skipper and Jarome Luai.
NSW’s 19th man Haumole Olakau’atu was dismissed from the sideline after getting himself involved in a first-half melee despite not playing in Origin III.