Andrew Fifita of the Blues is tackled during game one. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The third and final game of the 2015 State of Origin series takes place today and the Suncorp Stadium encounter is now a sell-out.
Queensland vs. New South Wales kicks off at 1100 BST on Wednesday, July 8.
There is nothing better than the State of Origin Series going to a final game decider and that is what we have on Wednesday in Brisbane with the series locked at 1-1.
Queensland took a 1-0 lead in the series after winning the 2015 series opener with Cooper Cronk kicking a late field goal at the ANZ Stadium in May to secure a 11-10 win for the Maroons.
Game Two was not as tight in terms of the scoreline as the Blues ran out 26-18 winners with second half tries from Aaron Woods and Josh Dugan sealing the win after Greg Inglis had a crucial score ruled out for Queensland.
The decision to disallow Inglis’ long range effort was correct but had the Maroons had scored then there was no way back for the Blues, but it wasn’t awarded and Woods went over seconds later to hand momentum to NSW.
It has now been revealed by NRL chief executive Dave Smith that the game is now officially a sell-out with all tickets, including those for standing areas, have all gone.
The good news is that a new attendance record is likely to be set for a State of Origin series. Over 80,000 fans attended Origin 1 at ANZ Stadium and a record 91,513 people attended Origin 2 at the MCG – The previous attendance record for a three-game series was 215,883 in 2013.
Smith said: “We have a decider in front of a sell-out crowd at Suncorp Stadium – it doesn’t get much better than that.
“The first two games of the series have been the biggest free-to-air television shows of the year. Now Origin 3 is a sell out and we are expecting another huge television audience.
“The support for the series has been phenomenal and I’d encourage fans to watch the decider wherever they can – from the 117 countries where it will be available. This will be a game to remember.”
Queensland Rugby League managing director Rob Moore is getting more and more excited as the days close in and believes it will be one of the biggest nights in Australian sport.
Moore said: “State of Origin is a magnificent event and to have the decider in front of a sell-out crowd at Suncorp Stadium will be a real event.
“The support for the Maroons – not just from our fans in Queensland but those interstate and even overseas – has been phenomenal over the course of the series and it will be great to finish it off in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium.”
