NSW Blues v Queensland Maroons time, kick off, team lists, tickets, how to watch

Everyone, save for those clad in Blue, left the Melbourne Cricket Ground happy.

There was a record State of Origin crowd of 91,671, who witnessed a rugby league master class. There were the suited NRL executives, who have their dream decider at a time when they are attempting to broker a monster television deal.

State of Origin will head to a decider next month after Queensland levelled the series in Melbourne.Getty Images

And we even had cause for Reece Walsh to enter the arena, this time when Kalyn Ponga was the victim of a high shot. The rugby league scriptwriters have outdone themselves this time.

This result – a thumping 44-24 after a tepid start – will raise more questions about the composition of the NSW team that allowed it to happen. This is Laurie Daley’s 12th Origin loss with the clipboard, a result that takes him beyond Wayne Bennett for most coaching defeats. Somehow, he must muster a turnaround at that other famous cauldron, Suncorp Stadium.

Read the full match report here.