Mardo Gray, rugby league correspondent

The 2011 State of Origin Series, arguably the most fiercely contested game of Rugby League in the world will be decided in Brisbane in July, with NSW and Queensland winning one game each.

After the first 25 years the number of games won by each team was equal and only a 1 point for and against difference.  The series is traditionally close but the last 5 series have been won by Queensland with New South Wales barely ever looking like changing that, until this year.

NSW Coach Ricky Stuart promised a change and in Brisbane in Game One it almost came with the Blues leading until the final minutes when Thurston, Lockyer and Slater combining once again to tie the score with an easy kick to follow. Queensland dominated the forwards battle in Game One and Billy Slater was allowed too much room but several refereeing blunders allowed the Maroons to escape a shock home loss: Queensland 14, NSW 12.

In Game Two Stuart switched to a more mobile, smaller forward pack with the aim to run Queensland’s large pack ragged. The plan worked, using Akuila Uate, Jamie Soward and a returned-to-form Anthony Minachello to back up the captain, Paul Gallen, NSW kept turning the ball inside and tired out the slower Queensland props. Slater was given less room at the back and the NSW attack was boosted by an unusually passionate home crowd. Debutante Will Hopoate, son of infamous league bad boy John, put NSW in the lead with a spectacular sideline diving try, which more than justified his place in the team while costing him a hamstring injury, but Captain Gallen was the player of the night, leading from the front and staking a claim for a possible job as captain of the national side later this year: NSW 18, Queensland 8.

Pundits are already talking up Game Three as possibly one of the greatest before the teams have even been picked. The game was sold out months ago, but many Queenslanders now fear the fairy-tale may be over. Stuart’s use of the small forwards has re-ignited talk that the traditional big men’s game at the front may be over and how Queensland defends in the next game could be telling. Both games have been passionate and exciting affairs, with the matches being broadcast live to America thanks to Russell Crowe’s influence, if Rugby league wanted a showpiece to sell the game to the world, this is it.