Queensland and New South Wales proved that awkward idiom in the Rugby League lexicon, the ‘dead-rubber’, to be a misnomer once again, producing an Origin III of the highest quality and intensity despite the series result being decided inside two games.

The lopsided final score-line in favour of the Maroons did not reflect the tight nature of the battle, which for a long time seemed destined to go down to the wire.

Queensland used the occasion to pay homage to its recently broken eight-year dynasty, and ultimately that’s what the night turned out to be – a convincing 32-8 win built on determination, patience and flashes of brilliance.

But why sir? Paul Gallen objects to a penalty while Cameron Smith struggles to stifle his amusement. Photo: AAP

The pre-match promise of free-flowing attack and a bounty of points – after two tight, low-scoring affairs – only materialised in the latter stages, but it was not through a lack of intent or execution; amazing defensive commitment from both sides suggested there was much more on the line than mere pride.

The pre-match entertainment, however, wholeheartedly epitomised the term ‘dead-rubber’ – the Madden Brothers’ insipid pop-punk-by-numbers did little rouse the smallest Brisbane Origin crowd since Suncorp Stadium reopened in 2003.

But Maroons legend Billy Moore’s shameless XXXX beer promotion in the middle of the field – disguised as a rallying cry for Queensland patriotism – loosened the vocal chords of the throng, and they subsequently raised the roof as the ground announcer ran through the home side’s team sheet.

The dead-rubber billing of the contest wasn’t going to let down Origin’s reputation for unparalleled atmosphere; not on Queensland’s watch anyway. The ferocity of the opening exchanges matched that sentiment.

The smarting Maroons, as has been their way, started the stronger and created the first scoring chance when Greg Inglis muscled over in the sixth minute. But NSW’s composure and defensive desperation – newfound qualities and such key factor in breaking Queensland’s Origin stranglehold this year – narrowly denied the concept’s greatest try-scorer, forcing an error.

A run of penalties and concerted Queensland pressure could not bustle the scoreboard attendant, the Blues’ confidence on the other side of the ball rising as enforcer Beau Scott continued to have the wood on Maroons go-to man Johnathan Thurston.

The form of Thurston, who made his 30th consecutive Origin appearance tonight, has been a microcosm of Queensland’s series – the class is obviously still there, but slightly off the pace, disjointed and bereft of luck.

He flies through the air with the greatest of ease, that daring young Billy Slater. Photo: AAP

The rub of the green remained against Thurston and the Maroons, with the video referee contentiously overruling the on-field official’s call to rule ‘No Try’ on a messy last-tackle scramble at the 15-minute mark.

The relentless – and relentlessly talked about – niggle and cheap shots that spoiled game two were largely missing from the first half, but a late and high shot by Ben Te’o on Blues kicker Trent Hodkinson sparked the first group push-and-shove. But no punches, of course. It produced the first points though, Hodkinson nudging NSW 2-0 in front with a faultless effort off the tee.

A fired-up Greg Inglis joins the celebrations. Photo: Getty

More unbelievable NSW goal-line grit continued to keep the hosts at bay: Jarryd Hayne ball-and-all on Corey Parker; Daniel Tupou denying debutant Will Chambers with a last-ditch lunge; the phenomenal feat of Scott to hold tryscoring fiend Darius Boyd up over the line, and a combined effort to do the same to Inglis.

Thurston’s night nosedived courtesy of being captured on the sixth tackle, receiving a knock to his suspect knee, and firing a pass out over the sideline – all in quick succession.

But then, finally, a tangible riposte from the flaking Queensland dynasty. A dazzling break by Daly Cherry-Evans – free of the weighty No.7 responsibilities – and an astute kick from the Manly linchpin saw Cameron Smith finish off a 50-metre movement, the Maroons’ first try in 142 minutes of football. It also represented the eighth time in the last nine home Origins that Queensland had scored the opening try, garnering a halftime lead for 10th time in the last 12 games at all venues.

Twenty-two members of Queensland’s record-breaking streak were paraded in front of the crowd at halftime, with the loudest cheers reserved for injured trio Jharal Yow Yeh, Matt Scott and crutches-bound Brent Tate – although Suncorp Stadium always has plenty of love in store for Petero Civoniceva.

The mood improved further just three minutes after the resumption as an oh-so-flat Justin Hodges pass gave Billy Slater a saloon passage for his 12th Origin try; the Blues’ iron-clad defence was starting to unravel.

Thurston still couldn’t catch a break, slicing through the Blues before bombing a try by failing to link with his support, pulled down just short of the try-line on the last. Meanwhile, a pair of Dave Taylor handling errors in back-to-back possessions surely marked the rampaging forward’s representative cards for good.

Greg Bird ensured scrutiny from the Match Review Committee for putting club-mate Nate Myles in a dangerous position; Thurston goaled for 14-2, but Myles’ cocked elbow from the kick-off struck Bird in the throat and inadvertently allowed the Blues back into the contest. An immaculate set-play produced a superb try for Josh Dugan after lengthy deliberation from the men in the box, slashing the deficit to six points.

After a 10-minute holding pattern, tempers frayed again when Hodges’ open-palmed push to the back of Reynolds’ head attracted a dive of FIFA World Cup-proportions.

NSW captain Paul Gallen hoists the Origin series shield. Photo: Getty

The seemingly jinxed ‘JT’ belatedly recovered his talismanic qualities to seal the result inside the final 10 minutes, delivering an exquisite cut-out ball to send Boyd over out wide, before slotting the sideline conversion.

Hodges then delivered his second trademark assist, this time for hard-running backrower Aidan Guerra to grab his first Origin try, before returning halfback hero Cooper Cronk put Guerra through a hole and backed up to score. The redeemed Thurston equalled the Queensland record with his seventh goal, completing a flawless night with the boot.

The emphatic final score-line meant Queensland had outscored NSW by 18 points despite losing the series – an incongruity that has occurred just three times previously.

In an even more unfortunate anomaly, Paul Gallen became the first captain to receive the bittersweet honour of hoisting the Origin shield after losing a dead-rubber in enemy territory since Andrew Johns in 2003. Surely sense will prevail in future, and the victors will be presented with the spoils if they wrap up the series in game two at home.

Gallen was guaranteed two rounds of furious jeering after he was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal as the official Player of the Series, but he rose above the tastelessness of the crowd with a gracious acceptance speech.

The result was an unbefitting conclusion to a series in which the Blues covered themselves in glory and carved out arguably the most treasured success in their Origin history, but it was a result that should not detract from NSW’s achievement one bit.

Queensland’s win no less impressive than it was deserved, however, renewing optimism that the current side is not quite a spent force. Whatever transpires in 2015, the greatest team in State of Origin’s rich narrative was given an appropriate tribute in the death throes of the 2014 series, a match that was anything but a ‘dead-rubber’.