Queensland

QLD waiting to see NRL plan

The NRL is looking to resume its season on May 28, with clubs to return to training early next month despite the coronavirus pandemic.

But Palaszczuk said she was still waiting to hear from the NRL, which has three clubs – Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans – based in Queensland.

"I have not seen any detailed plan," she told a news conference on Thursday.

Fresh warnings in Queensland and New South Wales

About 150 fires are still burning in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, feeding off tinder-dry conditions.

Fifty houses were destroyed or damaged in NSW on Tuesday but no lives were lost, officials said. At one point, fires broke out in suburbs of Sydney.

On Wednesday, blazes caused fresh emergencies in Queensland.

"The conditions are of concern to us," Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters.

The threat in NSW has been downgraded from catastrophic - the highest level - but officials urged residents to remain vigilant.

State of Origin: The key numbers as NSW Blues hope to make home advantage count in decider

After the bitter blow of losing to Queensland Maroons in Brisbane first time out, a thumping 38-6 victory for the Blues in Game II was a stark contrast.

Yet ahead of this week's crucial game, Queensland can point to having won on four of their last seven visits to the former Olympic Stadium, while they also possess a supreme recent record in deciding games.

We look at key facts and figures with the help of Opta numbers ahead of Game III.

Queensland win Origin opener

A try-scoring double by man of the match Dane Gagai helped the Maroons overcome an 8-0 halftime deficit and a string of missed chances to draw first blood in front of 52,191 fans.

It was a dream start for Queensland's new Origin era as they look to reclaim the title.

And it was a pretty good look for polarising mind coach Bradley Charles Stubbs.

Ahead of his fourth campaign, Maroons coach Kevin Walters was looking for inspiration as his side began an Origin series without the last of their future Immortals, Billy Slater and Greg Inglis.

NSW seal Origin series in Sydney

Blues coach Brad Fittler, new to the role this year, guided New South Wales to victory in his first match in Melbourne and they wrapped up just their second series win in 13 years with a game to spare on Sunday.

Unlike in 2017, NSW were able to build on their opening victory, even with veteran Billy Slater back from injury for the Maroons.

NSW set to rival Queensland for Indigenous representation

While the Origin teams aren't named for another three weeks, there are more players of Indigenous heritage under genuine consideration for Blues selection than in any previous series, with the possibility of a three-quarter line-up featuring Blake Ferguson, Latrell Mitchell, James Roberts and Josh Addo-Carr.

Wade Graham is expected to be selected if fit, while Tyrone Peachey is in strong contention for a utility role, and Jack Bird and Nathan Peats are incumbent members of a Blues team which last year fielded more Indigenous players than the Maroons for the first time.

US Marines feared dead off Queensland

Twenty-three of the MV-22 Osprey's crew were rescued in a search and rescue operation after the aircraft "entered the water" about 4pm during "regularly scheduled operations" on Saturday, according to the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

The tilt-rotor aircraft had been in Queensland as part of the Talisman Sabre joint training exercise between Australian and United States military forces, which ended on July 25.

The exercises were taking place in Shoalwater Bay training area near Rockhampton in Central Queensland.

Emotions get the better of Slater

Slater feared at times his career would end prematurely after season-ending shoulder injuries in the past two seasons. 

The former Kangaroos fullback was visibly emotional during an interview on-field following the side's two-point victory and Slater admitted the successful comeback got the better of him with the Maroons pulling off a miracle to level the State of Origin series at 1-1 heading into the decider at Suncorp Stadium in July 12. 

'Wallpaper of blue blubber jellyfish' wash up on Queensland beach

There was no sand in sight at Deception Bay at the weekend when thousands of jellyfish stranded themselves, in what is known as a bloom.

Marine biologist Dr Lisa-Ann Gershwin, who specialises in jellyfish, said the bloom was one of the biggest she had seen in her 25 years of research.

"Jellyfish bloom is part of their lifecycle and if the winds blow just right and if the water level falls with the tide, then they get stranded.

"We see jellyfish bloom, but not like this, this is jaw dropping."

Dr Gershwin described the sight as "a wallpaper of jellyfish".

Queensland dominance set to continue

The Maroons have now won 10 Origin series in the past 11 years after their 26-16 Game Two win on Wednesday night and Queensland admit they want more of where that came from. 

The series win means that rookie Maroons coach Kevin Walters has a 100 per cent success rate in Origin matches, with the fan favourite starting where now-Australian coach Mal Meninga left off.