- A huge brawl erupted between Queensland and NSW in Origin III
Cameron Murray and Jeremiah Nanai were sin-binned as tempers boiled over in a first-half State of Origin decider scuffle that spilled over the sideline.
Queensland backrower Nanai elevated a push-and-shove between his captain Daly Cherry-Evans and NSW playmaker Jarome Luai when he barged into the pair, before Murray sensationally came from the bench to join the action.
Players came from all sides - some even wearing suits as non-playing squad members - as television monitors and chairs were scattered by the flying bodies.
Emotions boiled over on Wednesday at a packed Suncorp Stadium after a tense, scoreless opening 20 minutes was dominated by huge defence.
Cherry-Evans and Luai exchanged pleasantries off the ball to spark the melee, Nanai earning a 10-minute rest after he flew in and pushed the pair towards the sideline.
Murray, who had just been substituted, came from the bench and ended up at the bottom of a pile of players.
"That's unacceptable, he needs to be sent," Cherry-Evans said to referee Ashley Klein after he opted to sin-bin Murray rather than send him off.
An absorbing first half finished 2-0, Valentine Holmes slotting a penalty goal after the siren to break the deadlock.
Queensland are chasing a 10th win from the last 11 deciders but, after being blown away in a game-two loss in Melbourne, were under the pump early against a fired-up NSW.
Five-eighth Tom Dearden kept the hosts intact though, cutting Blues forward Liam Martin in half with a perfect tackle on his tryline.
Tensions escalated during a feisty State of Origin decider in Brisbane on Wednesday
Players from both teams were involved in a benchside brawl at Suncorp Stadium
Referee Ashley Klein was unforgiving in his assessment of the incident
