Every gambler is used to a bad beat or two but there are some that stand out above all others for their sheer brutality and utter surprise. Wednesday evening brought about one such moment.

Queensland were the popular pick among punters for State of Origin III. The few Blues' backers had been driven off the New South Wales team after two heinous performances and most bookmakers reported that betting was running all one way for the Maroons. Punters wanted Queensland straight out. They wanted Queensland for the half-time/full-time double. And they wanted Queensland giving the start of 6 ½ points.

As part-professional writer, part-itinerant gambler and part-rugby league analyst, I had no choice but to take Queensland and lay the points. Queensland had done me well throughout the series and the gravy train didn't look like slowing down anytime soon even though it went against both principle and instinct to give such a big start to a road favourite in a dead rubber.

All appeared to be going to plan early on. Queensland had established a nice early lead and on the stroke of half-time Darren Lockyer punched a 45-metre field goal that was heaven sent for those betting the minus.

Tony Archer and Shayne Hayne sent Queensland fans and backers into a frenzy throughout the second half, however, with a number of dubious calls that all seemingly favoured the Blues. When Greg Bird scored to put the Blues up 18-13, all seemed lost with Queensland bettors spitting bitter and spite-filled utterings under their breath.

Then just like that, a glimmer of hope. Billy Slater scored, Queensland regained the ascendancy and the minus was back in play with Queensland ahead by one.

The following few moments are best explained by Job and his wise words: "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away."

The Blues tossed the ball around liberally. Willie Tonga scored a try. Queensland fans erupted as the sweep had been secured. Those on the minus - (that's to say, those who'd backed the Maroons to win by more than 6.5 points) - pumped their fists and then hoped like hell Johnathan Thurston would slot the conversion. Thurston had, of course, kicked 12 from 14 throughout the series and he is going at 88.57% in the NRL this year.

There was a quiet confidence that salvation had been snapped from the salivating clutches of sordid defeat. The margin was five points and a Thurston conversion would increase that to seven, giving all us Maroon backers at the margin a decent collect.

It was sometime moments later - I am not exactly sure as I blacked out with anger and fury - that the madness became apparent. In some kind of sick tribute to a player who betrayed the code that made him a star, the Queensland brains trust decided to give the final conversion to Israel Folau.

As a rugby league fan, it was an insulting gesture and a disgraceful act of treason by the Queenslanders.

As a gambler, the whole moment was sickening beyond belief and reminded me of That Day, that fateful day last September when Max Rooke and the Brisbane Broncos combined to make my life a misery and force me to reconsider my pursuit of the punt.

Within the space of hours, Max Rooke kicked a goal after the siren in the AFL Grand Final to cost those of us on the Saints plus, a low dribbling goal that was not even shown live and which seemed to take an eternity to bounce through, before a Billy Slater last-try wager was stolen five minutes after the final bell at Etihad Stadium when Brisbane, down 40-6, put up a bomb after receiving a penalty when most people had made it out of the stadium and scored when the bomb led to an uncontested try.

The conversion, of course, missed.

Israel Folau should not have been playing. He certainly shouldn't have been honoured for whoring himself out to another code.

Bookmakers don't pay out on should have, and would have, though. All that those on the Queensland minus collected was a hard luck story for the ages and even greater disdain for Israel Folau than the rugby league world already has.