The atmosphere flips as Cameron Munster jogs into the cauldron. He leads Queensland, top to toe in maroon, and the crowd rises in acclaim.

Here come the Blues! The roof nearly comes off Suncorp Stadium as a deafening rumble of boos shakes the venue to its foundations. In case you were unaware, NSW are wearing sky blue jerseys and navy shorts.

Jai Arrow, wearing his Queensland jersey, fights back the tears as he brings the State of Origin shield on to the pitch.

As the two sets of players finalise their preparations, a quick recap on the team news:

Queensland’s starting XIII is unchanged, following just the one tweak ahead of game two. There are a couple of switches on the interchange with Pat Carrigan and Lindsay Collins swapping places in the sick bay, and the in-form Jeremiah Nanai forcing his way onto the bench ahead of Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.

NSW selection remains a free for all. Jack Bostock and Bradman Best have been handed their first run-ons of the series, and Stephen Crichton has been recalled, leaving James Tedesco as the only outside back to start all three matches. Mitchell Moses retains his place alongside Nathan Cleary in the halves despite a quiet showing in game two and Ethan Strange excelling as his understudy in game one. The forward pack is comparatively stable, but it still includes Hudson Young’s third second row partner this winter, with the roulette wheel stopping on Liam Martin.

It is cool and dry and still under the Lang Park lights, but Andrew Johns suggests it’s a little slippery underfoot.

Ashley Klein is the man in the middle once more. He was crucial on opening night, he’ll be hoping he has less to do in the decider.

Billy Slater matches with: “It’s been a great prep”.

Tactically: “Be confident and go and get your game… Chase your game, go and get it.”

“The boys are really dialled in,” enthuses Laurie Daley. “They know what they need to do. They just have to do it.”

Tactically: “Expect some different interchange plans”.

The two five eighths have said a few words on their ways into Suncorp Stadium.

“Don’t go chasing points or opportunities,” was Cameron Munster’s insight. “Win the little moments that can build into big moments.”

Nathan Cleary’s mantra: “Control”.

Speaking of Channel 9, this is the kind of night they would have previously looked to roll out Karl Stefanovic. Not any more.

Andrew Abdo has just been on Channel Nine spruiking the NRL’s new massive broadcast deal.

Nine Entertainment and Foxtel have retained the media rights to the NRL in a $5.3bn deal which will see the games aired on the free-to-air network and the global streaming company DAZN until 2034.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) chair Peter V’landys said the seven-year agreement from 2028 marked “a defining moment for rugby league”…

V’landys claimed the NRL was “the most viewed program in Australia and in the Pacific”.

“Don’t listen to what other people tell you, especially down south, we are the No 1-viewed sport in Australia,” he said. “The deal future-proofs the game for everybody … our ambition is to grow the game globally.”

Since the beginning of the three-game Origin series in 1982, there have been 10 deciders played in Queensland; seven have been won by the home state, three by NSW and a sole draw in 1999.

This series’ game three looks to be an uphill battle for the Blues after they were battered in front of a Queensland-centric crowd at the MCG in game two. In Brisbane, it will be a different story again, and there are doubts about whether the Blues can win the decider against a loud and proud Maroons crowd at home.

If Martin brings the mayhem, Cleary plays a blinder and Best finds room to gallop, NSW can give their longsuffering coach a sweet goodbye. But if Queensland pick up where they left off in Melbourne and snap NSW’s spirit with an early points blitz, the Suncorp earth might open up and swallow the men in Blue as it has so many others.