Game III
| 26 June 2000 | New South Wales | 56–16 | Queensland | Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 58,767 Referee/s: Bill Harrigan Man of the Match: Ryan Girdler |
| Ryan Girdler (32 - 10g, 3t) Matthew Gidley (8 - 2t) Adam Muir (4 - 1t) Andrew Johns (4 - 1t) Bryan Fletcher (4 - 1t) Adam MacDougall (4 - 1t) |
(Report) | (8 - 1t,2g) Mat Rogers (4 - 1t) Darren Smith (4 - 1t) Gorden Tallis |
New South Wales centre Ryan Girdler produced the performance of his life and the Blues were hailed as the greatest side in Origin history after they demolished Queensland and completed their third clean sweep. Girdler scored three tries and kicked 10 goals from 10 ten attempts for a record 32-point haul during which New South Wales crossed the Queensland line nine times. New South Wales had led 20-10 at half-time but a try to Andrew Johns after the break saw the floodgates open with six Origin records beaten or matched:
* Biggest winning margin in State of Origin history
* Most points in an Origin match
* Most points by an individual in an Origin match
* Most points by an individual in an Origin series (Girdler, 52)
* Most goals by an individual in an Origin match
* Most tries by an individual in an Origin match (Girdler's three equalled Chris Anderson's in 1983 and Kerry Boustead's in 1984)
Read more about this topic: 2000 State Of Origin Series
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