Billy Slater has signed off his magnificent representative career with an enthralling 18-12 win in Game Three of the 2018 State of Origin series.
Slater's Queensland side denied Brad Fittler's Blues a 3-0 clean sweep in one of the best Origins in recent memory.
Played in front of 51,214 fans at Suncorp Stadium, the game looked anything but a dead rubber, as the Maroons outlasted a late onslaught to claim victory.
Queensland dominated the first half and deservedly led 8-0, after Valentine Holmes snapped up a wayward James Maloney pass and bolted 90 metres to score the opener.
New South Wales stormed back into contention late in the first half with two tries in six minutes, both while having Maloney in the sin bin.
The Blues playmaker was ruled to have obstructed Slater's kick-chase run with a potential try-scoring opportunity beckoning.
The TMO ruled in Slater's favour and the Blues lost a key cog in their attacking line.
But Tom Trbojevic turned the game on its head, when he intercepted a Cameron Munster pass and moments later, James Tedesco crossed the line to give the Blues a remarkable 12-8 halftime lead, despite only holding 30 percent possession.
The home side hit back 10 minutes into the second half, with Holmes collecting his second four-pointer to level the scores, before halfback Daly Cherry-Evans benifited from a Munster break to put the Maroons in front.
It was a lead they wouldn't give up, despite a late push from the Blues.
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