NSW backrower Trent Waterhouse became the first Blue dismissed in a State of Origin match as NSW avoided a series whitewash with a spiteful 28-16 win over Queensland last night.
Queensland's failed bid to become the greatest Maroons side in Origin history took a back seat at Suncorp Stadium with the match ending in a series of fiery clashes.
Queensland, a fourth-straight series already wrapped up, were unable to complete their "Maroon-wash" but it was the game's dramatic ending which had most tongues wagging.
Waterhouse was dismissed after blind-siding veteran prop Steve Price as the Maroon traded punches with Blue Brett White.
The Penrith forward was later slapped with a grade one contrary conduct charge, carrying a one-week ban, only escaping more punishment when the match review committee claimed Price was already unconscious before Waterhouse's hit.
The spite continued shortly after with Ben Creagh and Sam Thaiday sin-binned in the game's final minute to set up an epic opening game for next year's series.
"Up and under for an all in, it was good old fashioned, but that's footy," said man of the match Blues forward Anthony Watmough.
"Things get heated, that's Origin.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg for us I think."
Maroons coach Mal Meninga appeared upset the dramatic final minutes had taken away from Queensland's stunning four-peat.
"Have we got some other questions?" a fed up Meninga asked in the press conference.
"We did win the series 2-1 didn't we? I'm pretty sure we did. I'm pretty proud of the players who played in the whole series." In the end Queensland skipper Darren Lockyer -- just as he did in 2007 -- was forced to lead the lap of honour on the back of a loss.
Blues coach Craig Bellamy was left lamenting two costly fade-outs in the opening two matches, with NSW finally showing some much needed resolve in game three.
"It was a little like the old Origin games, one thing it does show is there's still plenty of passion," Bellamy said.
"There's been questions about our passion in State of Origin but there was plenty on display there tonight."
Bellamy refused to confirm whether he would return for a third crack at beating the Maroons, while Lockyer also left his Origin future up in the air.
If it was his last, it will be one he will remember for some time with the match punctuated with enough drama to fill two series, like just before halftime when NSW winger David Williams made amends for an earlier shocker.
Having coughed up the ball to gift Dallas Johnson the game's opening try, Williams benefited from the poor hands of Maroons' No.1 Billy Slater to give the Blues a 14-6 halftime lead, their first advantage at the break in the series.
Slater's fumble went straight to the Blues winger who suffered a suspected broken cheekbone when he copped a kick in the head from Johnathan Thurston as he touched down -- the referee awarding an eight-point try.
Thurston was put on report and the Blues handed two kicks at goal, Gidley converting both to capitalise on Ben Creagh's 18th minute try.
Thurston was later charged with a grade one dangerous conduct but can escape suspension with an early plea.
Having been denied one of the most spectacular Origin tries of all time following an acrobatic flip in the first half, Justin Hodges finally got his try three minutes after the restart.
The Blues answered straight back with Trent Barrett setting up Josh Morris for his first Origin try.
Slater then scored to again reduce the gap to four before Creagh added his second 14 minutes from time to seal the win.
