NSW will be ahead 16-12 with five minutes to go. On tackle five Hayne has a brain snap and goes for a field goal thinking that it will put the game out of reach. The attempt is successful, but it only puts them ahead by 5 instead of the 7 he was thinking.
In the 78th minute GI nails an intercept and starts his length of the field run with Locky in support. Bird was the one to throw the offending pass, and to his credit he does a gallant job of chasing them down. GI is a little dusty to start with, and then trips up slightly which gives Bird a chance to get a hand on him, but GI gets the pass away to Locky on the inside.
Bird turns his attention to Locky, but he just can't get there and Locky goes in to score right on the sideline. Out of frustration, Bird then comes in for a late tackle on Locky, followed by a fit of facial attention. The inevitable happens and it's a all-in-brawl which lasts until the hooter sounds.
It's all fun and games, and the referees don't penalise anyone. With full time already having passed and the scores at 17-16 to NSW, attention turns to Thurston who is left to kick the winning goal.
Thurston removes his head gear and turns to look at the vocal NSW crowd. He turns back to the sticks, then sends the ball on its banana-like trajectory towards victory. It looks like he hasn't put enough turn on it, but all eyes follow the ball as it keeps turning and turning and... straight over the black dot.
Qld win 18-17. Job done.