The series produced an ugly and enduring Origin image when in Game II the parochial Queensland crowd showered the Lang Park playing arena with beer cans in protest at the sin-binning of their captain Wally Lewis.

With Queensland missing their captain and the world's best footballer Wally Lewis, New South Wales had expected to dominate in the encounter but were flat from the outset.

Arguably the best of the Blues on the night was their longest serving outside back, dual-international Michael O'Connor who looked dangerous whenever he touched the ball, while Ettingshausen got through a mountain of work trying to get NSW out from being pinned deep in their own half.

Then Wally Lewis was sentenced to 5 minutes in the sin-bin by referee Mick Stone for dissent after a scuffle between Phil Daley and Greg Conescu developed into an all-in brawl.

The parochial Queensland crowd was outraged and with their hero Lewis in the sheds the ground was showered with beer cans amid chants of "send Stone off".

The Blues were visibly rattled and a minute after play resumed big Maroon prop Sam Backo crashed over to give Queensland a 10-6 lead.

Following Queensland's first ever 3-0 Origin series whitewash, a record 9 Maroons were chosen for the first Ashes series test against the touring Great Britain Lions with the only Blues selected being fullback Garry Jack, winger Andrew Ettingshausen, centre Michael O'Connor, halfback Peter Sterling, front rower Phil Daley, the only NSW player in an almost all Queensland forward pack, and reserve forward Steve Folkes.