2000 State of Origin series

2000 State of Origin series
Won by New South Wales (9th title)
Series margin   3-0
Points scored 146
Attendance 159,074 (ave. 53,025 per match)
Top points scorer(s) Ryan Girdler (52)
Top try scorer(s) Ryan Girdler (5)

The 2000 State of Origin series was the 19th year that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. During the 2000 series Gorden Tallis was sent off for calling the referee a cheat, Ryan Girdler amassed an incredible 32 points in one match and New South Wales whitewashed the series in a combined scoreline of 104 to 42 - the biggest gap between the two sides in history.


Game I

10 May 2000
New South Wales 20–16 Queensland
Ryan Girdler (8 - 2g,1t)
Adam MacDougall (8 - 2t)
David Peachey (4 - 1t)		 (Report) (8 - 2t) Adrian Lam
(6 - 1t,1g) Mat Rogers
(2 - 1g) Darren Lockyer
Stadium Australia, Sydney
Attendance: 61,511
Referee/s: Bill Harrigan
Man of the Match: Adam MacDougall

After Ryan Girdler had scored a try to level at 16-all which appeared to have included two knock-ons in the lead up, a furious Gorden Tallis confronted Bill Harrigan and was immediately dismissed after calling him a cheat.[1][2] Six minutes later the Blues took advantage of the extra man for David Peachey to cross out wide and secure a 20-16 win.

Immediately after the game Tallis was summonsed to a judiciary hearing at the ground but was not suspended. He had been to the referee's room beforehand and apologised to Harrigan. Blues prop Robbie Kearns later claimed in the Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper that Tallis was to blame for Queensland's loss by showing poor discipline and that he had let himself and his side down.

Game II

5 June 2000
Queensland 10–28 New South Wales
Mat Rogers (6 - 3g)
Gorden Tallis (4 - 1t)		 (Report) (12 - 1t, 4g) Ryan Girdler
(4 - 1t) Brad Fittler
(4 - 1t) Shaun Timmins
(4 - 1t) Scott Hill
(4 - 1t) David Furner
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 38,796
Referee/s: Bill Harrigan
Man of the Match: Tim Brasher

New South Wales' win in the second game secured their first series win since 1997 and the 28-10 scoreline would be their biggest ever winning margin until game III two weeks later.

Game III

26 June 2000
New South Wales 56–16 Queensland
Ryan Girdler (32 - 10g, 3t)
Matthew Gidley (8 - 2t)
Adam Muir (4 - 1t)
Andrew Johns (4 - 1t)
Bryan Fletcher (4 - 1t)
Adam MacDougall (4 - 1t)		 (Report) (8 - 1t,2g) Mat Rogers
(4 - 1t) Darren Smith
(4 - 1t) Gorden Tallis
Stadium Australia, Sydney
Attendance: 58,767
Referee/s: Bill Harrigan
Man of the Match: Ryan Girdler

New South Wales centre Ryan Girdler produced the performance of his life and the Blues were hailed as the greatest side in Origin history after they demolished Queensland and completed their third clean sweep. Girdler scored three tries and kicked 10 goals from 10 ten attempts for a record 32-point haul during which New South Wales crossed the Queensland line nine times. New South Wales had led 20-10 at half-time but a try to Andrew Johns after the break saw the floodgates open with six Origin records beaten or matched:
* Biggest winning margin in State of Origin history
* Most points in an Origin match
* Most points by an individual in an Origin match
* Most points by an individual in an Origin series (Girdler, 52)
* Most goals by an individual in an Origin match
* Most tries by an individual in an Origin match (Girdler's three equalled Chris Anderson's in 1983 and Kerry Boustead's in 1984)

Teams

New South Wales

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback David Peachey Tim Brasher
Wing Adam MacDougall
Centre Ryan Girdler
Centre Shaun Timmins Matt Gidley
Wing Jamie Ainscough
Five-Eighth Brad Fittler (c)
Halfback Brett Kimmorley
Prop Robbie Kearns
Hooker Geoff Toovey
Prop Rodney Howe Jason Stevens
Second Row Bryan Fletcher
Second Row David Furner Ben Kennedy
Lock Ben Kennedy Scott Hill
Interchange Scott Hill Andrew Johns
Interchange Terry Hill David Furner
Interchange Michael Vella Adam Muir
Interchange Jason Stevens Michael Vella
Coach Wayne Pearce

Queensland

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Darren Lockyer
Wing Mat Rogers
Centre Paul Bowman
Centre Darren Smith Matt Sing
Wing Wendell Sailor Matt Sing Wendell Sailor
Five-Eighth Ben Ikin Julian O'Neill Ben Ikin
Halfback Adrian Lam (c)
Prop Shane Webcke
Hooker Jason Hetherington
Prop Martin Lang
Second Row Gorden Tallis
Second Row Brad Thorn Chris McKenna
Lock Jason Smith
Interchange Paul Green Julian O'Neill
Interchange Tonie Carroll Brad Thorn
Interchange Russell Bawden Tonie Carroll
Interchange Steve Price Craig Greenhill
Coach Mark Murray

See also

Sources

  1. ↑ Steve Ricketts, Barry Dick, Paul Malone (23 May 2012). "The 30 greatest controversies in 30 years of State of Origin series". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "State of Origin - 2000s". The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia: Fairfax Digital). 2010-04-27. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
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