Flawless Queensland defy odds to stun NSW and claim State of Origin series

• Billy Slater's team win 24-12 in Game 3 decider in Sydney

• Maroons' 25th series victory comes despite losing opening game

Queensland captain Cameron Munster learned life is never perfect when his father died at age 58 on the weekend, but in one of the great State of Origin performances his teammates delivered a just about flawless display in Wednesday's decider, securing the shield for 2025 in a 24-12 victory.

The Maroons completed all 21 sets in an extraordinary first stanza, scoring three tries and kicking four-from-four to secure a 20-0 lead. Desperate defence held out the Blues for much of the second, allowing the Maroons to escape from Homebush with the shield in front of 80,256 mostly Blues fans hushed by the spectacle.