Gladys Berejiklian savaged over ill-timed State of Origin tweet

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian hasn't exactly nailed her State of Origin tweets over the past few months.

Before Game I she became an instant meme after posting a bizarre photo of herself wearing a NSW beanie and holding an unopened can of coke while watching a TV screen approximately four hours before kick-off.

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Then before Game II she was criticised for posting a photo with NSW coach Brad Fittler that showed neither of them wearing masks or social-distancing.

The photo had been taken before the current virus outbreak in Sydney, but many believed it was a poorly-timed post considering masks and social-distancing had been brought back in.

And things got even worse on Wednesday night before Game III.

Ms Berejiklian decided to scrap the photos and simply post a tweet urging on NSW in their attempt to complete a rare series clean-sweep.

"Looking forward to Freddy and the NSW Blues taking on QLD tonight. Three out of three is what we need!" the Premier posted about two hours before kick-off.

Unfortunately for Ms Berejiklian the tweet went down like a lead balloon, with many pointing out the Premier's poor timing once again.

Earlier on Wednesday, a lockdown in NSW had been extended for another two weeks after the state recorded 97 new local Covid-19 cases.

Stay-at-home provisions for Greater Sydney were scheduled to end on Friday after three weeks of lockdown, but will now remain in place until at least July 30.

Many felt it was inappropriate for the Premier to be tweeting about State of Origin considering the dire situation the state finds itself in.

Queensland salvage some pride in Origin finale

Meanwhile, Queensland managed to avoid a series clean-sweep as Ben Hunt and Kalyn Ponga starred in a 20-18 victory on the Gold Coast.

Coach Paul Green lauded his men after "living through" and prevailing in a classic State of Origin win that restored some pride and dashed NSW's hopes of a 3-0 series triumph.

The Maroons won at Cbus Super Stadium on Wednesday, rallying after losing the lead early in the first half then defending their line as the Blues looked set to break their hearts at the death.

Makeshift hooker Hunt scored twice, fullback Ponga was electric in his first game of the series and punches were thrown on the full-time siren as Green's under-pressure side breathed some late life into a series they had already meekly surrendered.

"We talk about Origin efforts and sometimes don't know what your'e talking about, but our team lived through that tonight," Green said.

"(I'm) really happy; it was a great win ... it was a real Origin-type game and we came out on top."

Despite the loss, NSW recorded the biggest series margin win in Origin history, outscoring Queensland by 68 points to eclipse their 62-point margin set in 2000.

"I don't think it slipped away, I never felt we were in control at any stage really," Blues coach Brad Fittler said.

"We had our chances at the death but weren't playing good enough to take those and that's why they're (clean sweeps) hard ... that was their (Queensland's) best game of the series without a doubt."

with AAP

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