Grandstand Online covered Queensland's historic and thrilling 21-20 Origin III victory over New South Wales as it happened.

Sorry, this video has expired Watch highlights from Origin III

Post-match:

Petero Civoneciva gets called up to the stage to embrace Cameron Smith, and then his smile is as big as Lang Park itself as he finishes his Origin career by lifting the Shield.

Nate Myles is awarded the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series. Paul Gallen gets booed by the hometown crowd, and then Cameron Smith gets a huge roar as he comes up to lift the Origin Shield.

Full-Time: Queensland 21 NSW 20. In the end it was redemption for the Maroons' Cooper Cronk. Cronk was the villain in game two when he got sent to the bin and the Blues took advantage with two tries. Tonight he was the right man in the right place at the right time, and he drilled the field goal from a long way downtown to clinch the series. A spine-tingling end to an amazing series, a perfect send-off for Petero Civoneciva, and a win that Queenslanders will never forget.

Sorry, this video has expired Cronk breaks the deadlock

80': The seconds run out and Queensland make history with a seventh win in a row. The Maroons are ecstatic, and the Blues are absolutely disconsolate. What a finish!

79': The Blues go for the field goal instead of the bomb and Pearce pushes it wide and out of play. That should be it!

78': Queensland go the full set and it's a turnover. NSW kick ahead and Hayne takes it - he's badly hurt - but NSW keep going down the opposite wing. Can they pinch it?

77': David Shillington on report for a high shot on Morris. Blues make more yards from Luke Lewis, then Farah makes another bust, but he ruins it by knocking on in the play-the-ball. Could that be it for NSW?

76': Queensland makes good yardage, then the kick comes in and Jarryd Hayne gives his team-mates chills as he nearly drops it 10m out. He grabs the ball on the second effort.

74': Hodges makes a good break down the middle, Shillington brings it to 40m out, and then suddenly Cooper Cronk steps up and slots a huge field goal to send the crowd crazy. QLD 21 NSW: 2 Listen to it here

73': The intensity is rising with every tackle. The blues make some yards down the right, Pearce puts a kick in but it goes dead to the relief of home fans.

70': Carney from the touchline to level the scores ... and it's over! What an effort by NSW. Queensland 20 NSW 20, ten minutes left. Breath, everyone.

Sorry, this video has expired Morris and Carney tie it back up.

69': A big bust from NSW, but Greg Inglis makes a try-saving tackle. Immediately Farah kicks cross-field and Josh Morris reaches across Darius Boyd to grab the ball in the corner and touch down. Replays aplenty to see if its a fair try. The series could hinge on the result. And it's a try! Listen here

67': Scrum to NSW 30m out, the Blues have a good chance to attack, but the ball switches too many times, and there is a forward pass. NSW are not looking confident of getting the try they need and are pushing passes. Advantage Maroons.

64': Thurston kicks the penalty from 15m out, and the Maroons are out to a 20-14. What odds on a field goal shot from Queensland if they get a chance?

62': The Maroons on the attack, Cooper Cronk slips into a high hit. He slumps to the ground and the Queensland crowd bayes for a penalty. The referee agrees, and it's a penalty to Queensland.

60': We have 20 minutes left in the Origin series for 2012. The game has been played at breakneck pace - who will have the stamina to come through at the end?

59': Queensland have a solid set of six, and pin NSW in their 20. Strong tackling from the Maroons keep NSW to just 30m for the set. Queensland quickly on the attack again, but Matt Gillett knocks on to end the play.

55': That could be the big moment right there! Queensland made a huge break from Cam Smith, then the ball went forward to Greg Inglis who was taken by Josh Morris in an incredible tackle. He got up to play it again, but the ball was stolen and NSW started a set of six to huge boos from the crowd. Could have been a 10-point buffer, but the Blues are still in it.

52': Luke Lewis is on for NSW, and is getting in amongst it. His fresh legs are making strong yards. Farah spreads the ball wide, NSW go close down their right wing, then the Blues undo their good work with a poor final grubber by Farah. Easy pickings for Queensland.

49': NSW immediately surrender the advantage with Tony Williams knocking on from the restart. A couple of plays later Queensland gets a penalty. Thurston kicks from 10m out - it's good. Queensland 18 NSW 14.

Sorry, this video has expired Stewart brings the Blues back

48': Great play by NSW. Robbie Farah puts a grubber in near the left goal-post, and Brett Stewart comes from the clouds to touch down. TRY! Blues back in it! Carney kicks the extras. QLD 16 NSW 14. Listen here

46': No joy for NSW, and Queensland put them back in their defensive area again. Finally after they get 25m out, Thaiday gives away a penalty in the play-the-ball. Blues on attack.

Maroons centre Justin Hodges celebrates with team-mates after scoring a try during game three of the 2012 State of Origin series between Queensland and New South Wales at Lang Park on July 4, 2012. ( Bradley Kanaris: Getty Images )

43': The second half is under way, a Queensland set is followed by six from NSW, the kick ricochets off a Queensland head and into the arms of who else but Thurston. The Maroons go on the attack, but they fall short when Cooper Cronk, knocks on 10 out.

Half-time: The Maroons are now 40 minutes away from a history-making seventh straight series win. It all looked very unlikely when the Blues started out so strongly. Thurston's growing influence has given his team-mates more confidence, and three tries to none in the second 20 minutes have made it very difficult for NSW. The blues need to stop making mistakes - they had 23 missed tackles in the first half, compared to 13 for Queensland.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 6 minutes 35 seconds 6 m State of Origin III: First Half Highlights Download 3 MB

Sorry, this video has expired Thurston evens it up

40': An action-packed last couple of minutes, but no more scoring and Queensland go to the sheds at half-time eight points to the good. NSW will rue their inability to take advantage of their early dominance, while the Maroons will be thanking their lucky stars for the presence of Johnathan Thurston, who has been clearly the best on-field in the first 40. HT: Queensland 16, NSW 8.

37': Thurston gets the conversion, and Queensland lead by 8, nearing half-time.

35': Queensland are over again, but it may be called back. Justin Hodges cut through some terrible NSW defending, but they are checking whether Ben Hannant impeded the defence. The try stands! The Maroons are ahead 14-8, with a kick to come! Listen here

33': NSW kick it out on the full off the restart. Queensland on the attack again.

32': Thurston gets the extras, Queensland 10-8.

31': Back and forth - finally Queensland make a break through Thurston, he makes 40m then finds Tate, who gets it to Cronk before Carney comes in with the tackle. It only delays the inevitable, as Thurston goes over left of the posts. TRY! 8-8. Listen here

28': Sam Thaiday makes himself known to the Blues line with a crunching run. Cam Smith kicks deep, and the Blues are pinned in their own half. They make only 35m and have to kick - Inglis runs it back to the 40m.

26': The Blues' Ben Creagh is down after being crunched in a tackle. Creagh comes off to the blood bin.

25': Queensland making good yards up the centre, then Cronk kicks from half-way, but it's easily taken by the Blues.

23': Another blow-up between Brent Tate and Greg Bird. Queensland pin NSW deep but can't force another set. The Blues then get a penalty against David Shillington.

21': That was desperately needed for the home side - they have not looked sharp in attack tonight, and will be hoping that this sparks them up. Thurston kicking from near the sideline - it bends around but hits the upright.

Sorry, this video has expired Boyd scores in the corner

17': Queensland get a penalty after Tim Grant is penalised in a Maroons' play-the-ball. Maroons go on the right, then left, then finally Thurston gets the right pass away and Darius Boyd goes over in the corner. TRY! NSW 8, Qld 4. Listen here

16': Queensland get close through Civoneciva, then they spread it on their left wing on the last tackle, but the Blues shut the move down and it's a handover. NSW's defence has been strong so far.

15': Robbie Farah is in dreamland after being sandwiched by Petero Civoneciva and Nate Myles. The ball is lost and it's Queensland's set of six.

14' Carney adds the extras, and NSW is up by 8-0. Check out the replay of the try here.

13': Videos inconclusive, but the Grandstand team suggests it will be given benefit of the doubt. They're right. TRY! NSW leads 6-0.

Sorry, this video has expired Scott scores first try

11': NSW given six more, Beau Scott grinding down to 10 out, Hayne sends to Carney who is hit in a big tackle. The ball ends up to Brett Morris, who gets over the line and wrenches free to ground the ball. Possibly.

9': NSW have weathered the early storm and are putting the pressure back on the home side. Queensland making yards up the middle. A Cooper Cronk chip and chase was defused by Jarryd Hayne.

6' Todd Carney is 20m in from touch, kicks the goal and the Blues take the lead, 2-0! Listen to the call here.

5' Out of nowhere, debutant Brett Morris makes a massive break, and is pinned in a try-saving tackle by Cronk and Johnathan Thurston. Penalty to NSW for holding.

4': The Maroons get near the line again, and Cooper Cronk switches the kick across to the far wing, but it's knocked on by Queensland.

3': Queensland on the attack after a strange penalty. The Maroons hammering the line, swinging from side to side of the ground. A Thurston kick ahead results in the Blues being kept in-goal. Six more to Queensland.

2': Less than two minutes in and the teams are squaring off! A swinging arm from Tim Grant in a tackle was outdone by Brent Tate hitting Paul Gallen on the ground. Penalty to Queensland against Gallen.

1': New South Wales take the kickoff making some strong yards, with James Tamou gaining some ground. The kick goes in to Greg Inglis and he takes it safely.

Pre-game

8.15pm: Now we're finally ready for 80 minutes of football to decide the series.

8.10pm: The teams are now out and we're ready for the anthem.

8.07pm: The teams have been announced in front of a big sea of Maroon-coloured supporters - with a few tiny pockets of Blues fans hoping for a drought-breaking win - at Lang Park. Here's a final reminder to check out all the action from Grandstand's coverage on Digital and Local Radio and streaming here.

8.00pm: The Grandstand team says the biggest successful comeback in Origin history is from 18 points down. Will one of the sides need to produce a similar rearguard effort tonight?

7.48pm: To see how Queensland and New South Wales measure up in key areas since the first State of Origin was played in 1980, check out Origin by the numbers here

7.30pm: Grandstand's Quentin Hull (follow him on @QuentinHull) has said on Twitter he can't call the winner pre-match:

'#Origin3 too tight to call but I will predict it will go down to last 15min unlike last yr when Qld blew NSW away in first 30 min. Thoughts?'

7.09pm: Welcome to rugby league lovers and Origin newcomers alike to our live coverage of the deciding State of Origin game three at a sold-out Lang Park in Brisbane. The Blues set up a thrilling finish to the series when they won game two in Sydney 16-12 last month. Now the teams meet for a game that Blues coach Ricky Stuart has called 'one of the biggest games in rugby league history'.

Seventeen New South Wales players are the only thing standing between Queensland and a mind-boggling seventh straight Origin series victory, while 17 men in Maroon do not want to be the ones to lose the state's first series since 2005 in front of a highly expectant and vocal home crowd. No pressure then, gentlemen. Catch all of Grandstand's coverage on Digital and Local Radio and streaming here.

Teams

A mix of injuries and form have prompted a number of changes to the line-ups for the decider.

The biggest personnel change is the absence of Maroons full-back Billy Slater, who strained the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee in game two.

Greg Inglis moves from centre to full-back to replace Slater - who had the most metres gained of any Queenslander in the first two games of the series - and Melbourne's Dane Nielsen comes in at centre in place of Inglis.

Queensland coach Mal Meninga has brought back Broncos forward Sam Thaiday to the Maroons' pack after Thaiday recovered from injury which kept him out of the Sydney game.

Out goes South Sydney behemoth Dave Taylor, who had been underwhelming off the bench in game two. In comes another Bronco, Ben Te'o, whom the Maroons fervently hope will bring the hits for Origin III.

Fellow Bronco Corey Parker has made a full recovery after one of the nastier Origin injuries in game two. Parker cut his leg to the bone in the opening minutes of the second half, and doctors called it the worst injury of its type they had seen.

It hasn't stopped him from making it back for his eighth Origin match, moving from the interchange bench to a starting spot. Whether this makes him brave or just foolhardy we will see after the game.

Matt Gillett moves from the bench to accommodate Parker.

Johnathan Thurston plays his 24th consecutive Origin match tonight, equalling the record of Queensland forward Gary Larsen.

On the Blues' side, Brett Morris comes in to join his brother Josh in State of Origin football for the first time.

Morris replaces the Knights' Akuila Uate, who made plenty of runs in games one and two, but whose poor decision-making and defensive lapses cost him a spot in the decider.

In the forwards, Beau Scott is the replacement for the Sea Eagles' Glenn Stewart, who has been ruled out with a knee injury.

This is a direct reversal of last year, when Stuart brought Stewart in to replace St George Illawarra's Scott for game three when Scott picked up a knee injury.

Finally, Manly's Tony Williams gets a place on the interchange bench, returning to replace the Dragons' Trent Merrin.