'I can't believe it': Tom Dearden cements spot in No.7 jersey and is awarded the Wally Lewis Medal

He may have started the series on the bench but Tom Dearden more than backed up one of the most gutsy selection decisions in recent Origin history, winning the Wally Lewis Medal after a stunning man of the match performance in the Maroons' 24-12 game three boilover.

From a remarkable try-saving tackle to scoring a double for his state, the Cowboys playmaker stepped into the breach superbly after Daly Cherry-Evans' axing following a disappointing game one loss at Suncorp Stadium.

While Dearden may not offer the same game managing ability or long kicking game as Cherry-Evans, he embodied the Origin spirit by being in the picture constantly in game three, with several last minute interventions that stopped the Blues from scoring.

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"I think anytime you get to pull on the Maroons jersey, it's the it's the greatest feeling and the greatest honour," the man of the match winner told Nine post-match.

"You get pretty nervous coming into these games... Our backs were against the wall and we fought hard for Queensland. I can't believe it.

"I don't think you can get a much better feeling than winning a decider like that."

Dearden's brilliance was put on display from the get go with the playmaker finishing the match with 142 run metres, two tries, a linebreak and a tackle break.

But a sensational try-saving tackle by Dearden on Brian To'o in the second half, as the Blues started to sense the possibility of a comeback, was given glowing praise by Queensland legend Cameron Smith.

Looking to reduce a 20-point margin, Latrell Mitchell created a hole out wide for To'o to dart down the sideline when a storming Dearden forced the star into touch.

The defensive display saw To'o just two metres away from snatching his team's first points, with no NSW Blues stars nearby to collect an offload and finish the job.

"That's an Origin play," Nine caller Mat Thompson said.

Smith added: "What a game it has been for Tommy Dearden. He has been in everything.

"Brian To'o is so hard to stop. How many times have you seen him in that position? Just stampede someone."

The No.7 stayed in the spotlight in the final minutes as he put the icing on the cake of a typical hard-nosed Queensland victory, burning a hole through the Blues defence in the 74th minute after receiving the ball close to the tryline.

Jarome Luai was left stunned by the star's brilliance this time, with the NSW five-eighth caught off-guard by a dummy to allow Dearden to ground the ball and start the celebrations.

"The No.7 jersey for Queensland is a pretty famous jersey," Andrew Johns said.

"But that was one of the great Origin performances (by Dearden)."