2025 State of Origin Game 3
Wednesday 9 July, Sydney Olympic Stadium
7:30pm Central Australian Time
Where’s Tanunda? That’s in Queensland!
Last Tuesday, on the eve of the decider, the messages went something like this:
JTH: Do you have plans for tomorrow night?
RITV: No, not at this stage, Tanunda Club 6:30pm?
JTH: I reckon that’s the go, worked for Game 2! (Queensland two-point winners in Perth, series level at 1-all)
The lamb and rosemary bangers and mash were the perfect meal on a cold Barossa Valley winter’s night as a dozen or so Queenslanders wondered into a bar (the Tanunda Club) for the 2025 series decider.
Following a comprehensive loss to the Blues in Game 1 in Brisbane, Queensland squared the series in Perth. Maroons coach Billy Slater courageously dropped captain Daley Cherry-Evans for Game 2.
The lead up to the game was rather remarkable. Queensland captain Cameron Munster left the Queensland camp on the Sunday morning following the passing of his father, Steven. Munster returned from Melbourne for the pre-game captain’s run.
An incredible feat of courage.
For Game 3, Slater dared to change a winning combination, with big ‘Papa’ Josh Papalii returning to the line-up as a 33-year-old for his 24th game for Queensland. The Hammer, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, moved to fullback, with one of the biggest selection bolters in Origin history, the journeyman, Broncos centre (and South Sydney player 1195) Gehamat Shibasaki chosen to debut in the centres.
Much pre-match discussion focused on the rookie Queenland centre pairing of Robert Tio – 13 NRL matches, and two Origins and the rookie Shibasaki, the man with the best goatee in Australian sport since the Test double century maker Jason Gillespie, up against the elite New South Wales pairing of Stephen Crichton and Latrell.
Queensland, with halfback Tom Dearden playing outstanding football, took a strong 20-0 advantage to oranges.
Could New South Wales mount a second half revival, as per the script in game two?
In short, the answer was no. The Blues finally scored in the 55th minute through dangerman Stephen Crichton. For most of the contest, the Queensland rookie centre pairing of Toia and Shibasaki kept Latrell and Crichton quiet.
Along with strong performances from Grant, the captain Munster, and player of the match Dearden, Queensland outplayed New South Wales in every facet of match.
Queensland’s forwards were dominant in both attack and defence, along with Tabuai-Fidow, who was put under pressure often at fullback, however each time, the Hammer had the answer.
This was one the best Queensland series wins in Origin history, and a reminder of how quickly things can turn. After Game 1 in Brisbane, it was Queensland and Billy Slater under the pump, having lost the 2024 series to the Blues, and staring down the barrel of consecutive series losses.
At full-time in the warmth of the Tanunda Club, the consensus to the question: Where is Tanunda? Most of the punters’ answer was an emphatic: that’s in Queensland!
Thank you, Denis Carnahan and “rugby league the musical!” He penned the ditty That’s In Queensland!
This song has become legendary in rugby league climes.
Full time: Queensland 24 defeated New South Wales 12
Series: Queensland 2-1
Overall: (series wins) Queensland 27, New South Wales 17
New South Wales team list: Edwards, To’o, S Crichton, Latrell, Lomax, Luai, Cleary, King, Robson, Haas, Martin, A Crichton, Yeo (capt.) bench: Watson, Leniu, Young, Otoikamanu.
Queensland team list: Tabuai-Fidow, Coates, Toia, Shibasaki (debut: Origin player 236), Holmes, Munster (capt.), Dearden, Papalii, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Cotter, Capewell, Loirero, bench: Mann, Collins, Carrigan, Nanai
Points:
Queensland: tries (4) Coates 17’, Dearden 26’, Grant 38’, Dearden 73’, goals: Holmes 4/5
New South Wales: (2) S Crichton 55’, To’o 79’, goals: Lomax 2/2
Half time: Queensland 20-0
Penalties: New South Wales 7-3
Referee: Ashley (Calvin) Klein, bunker: Chris Butler
Attendance: 80, 256
Highlights:
2025 State of Origin Highlights: NSW v QLD Game 3 | NRL on Nine
Press conferences:
2025 State of Origin Press Conference | QLD Maroons | Game 3
RITV Origin player of the series points:
Game 3 points: 3 – Tom Dearden, 2 – Cameron Munster, 1 – Harry Grant
Series votes (total):
4 – Cameron Munster and Payne Haas, 3 – Tom Dearden and Kurt Capwell, 2 – Isaiah Yeo, 1 – Stephen Crichton and Harry Grant
Game 2: 3 – Kurt Capewell, 2 – Cameron Munster, 1 – Payne Haas
Game 1: 3- Payne Haas, 2 – Isaiah Yeo, 1 – Stephen Crichton
Rabbit in the Vineyard 2025 Players of the Series:
Cameron Munster (Queensland) and Payne Haas (New South Wales)
South Sydney weekend results
NRL Round 19: South Sydney had a narrow win against the BYE
NSW Cup: Newcastle 36 defeated South Sydney 24
Flegg: South Sydney 18 defeated Newcastle 10
NSW women’s: South Sydney and Penrith drew 22-all
Barossa Valley red wine of the week:
*Gomersall: a famous Origin name: Barry Gomersall, the colourful and somewhat controversial referee from North Queensland, who refereed nine Origin matches in the early 1980s. Queensland won seven of those games.
*Gomersal Barossa Valley 2022 Graciano
Russel Hansen, South Sydney football club diamond member 6199, lives in Nuriootpa, Barossa Valley, South Australia. His golden retriever, Murray, is named after the (injured – for the season) South Sydney captain. Twitter/X: @Rabbit in the Vineyard @Russel_Hansen
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About Russel Hansen
Russel Hansen Has worked in schools for over thirty years – as a teacher, coach, coach educator, sports coordinator and in pastoral care roles. Whilst at Brisbane Boys’ College as Director of Athletics, he led teams to six GPS premierships in track and field, and cross country. He has coached (athletics) at all levels from school to international. His squad at the University of Queensland (to January 2023) included Lachlan Kennedy OLY, Paris 4x100m relay runner, Australian record holder. He is married to Heidi, a Primary school principal, and is father to two adult daughters. Twitter: @Russel_Hansen
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I appreciate that BYE is still to record its first win for the season, but I still thought it was a gutsy effort by Souths. Their 2 wins against BYE this season have made up 25% of their points!
a very well-made point, Karl!
If the South Sydney-BYE fixture had gone into golden point, I think Souths would have been in strife!
& the BYE’s defence was quite impressive, in comparison to South Sydney’s!!!
I was out getting my Friday fish and chips listening to a great interview with Roy Masters on SEN with jimmy smith about the first Australian schoolboys’ team and who should text in from the Barossa valley but the RITV, listening on the SEN app. I can recommend ” The run home” especially if you are a betting man as Joel ” sugar ” Caine is pretty astute with his betting advice, including tipping Dearden to win the Wally Lewis medal at $61 before game 2. Certainly, more financially rewarding than following the tips of the Prop by the sea.
Yes Prospector, it was I messaging Rabbitoh 932 Jimmy Smith … “working from home” is SO 2025, and allows for SEN listening and/or podcasts
What a legend Roy Masters is: he featured in the Craig Bellamy documentary (on Stan, from memory?!) – I heard a great interview:
https://thegreatcoachespodcast.com/episode/roy-masters/
& for anyone who missed it – here is Jimmy Smith’s chat from Friday …
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/lunch-with-a-legend-roy-masters-18-07-25/id1536354569?i=1000717835520
Rabbit in the vineyard
I’m not sure if the prospector is giving me due respect! I have given him a start and my tips place me ahead of my cronies! Admittedly I a am currently in the 70000th percentile! Anyway it is good to see we multi media on the almanac. Unfortunately RITV your season 25 is over!
Yes Prop – South Sydney’s season is over, and has been over for some time, to be fair
Koloamatangi is a bigger loss than Cody, or Latrell, in my humble opinion … Bennett in unfamiliar territory near the bottom of the ladder