2005 State of Origin series

2005 State of Origin series
Won by New South Wales (12th title)
Series margin   2-1
Points scored 140
Attendance 187,309 (ave. 62,436 per match)
Top points scorer(s) Cameron Smith (18)
Top try scorer(s) Matt Bowen Matt King (3)

The 2005 State of Origin series saw the 24th time that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. The three matches drew a total attendance of 187,309 and New South Wales won the series 2-1, their third consecutive series victory.

The Wally Lewis Medal for Player of the series was awarded to New South Wales' fullback, Anthony Minichiello.[1] The Ron McAuliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series was awarded to Cameron Smith. The Brad Fittler Medal for New South Wales player of the series was awarded to Matt King.


Game I

New South Wales brought Ricky Stuart in to coach against Michael Hagan, the two having previously faced each other as opposing halves in the opening game of the 1990 State of Origin series.

20:00 25 May[2]
Queensland 24–20 New South Wales
Cameron Smith (10 - 5g)
Matt Bowen (4 - 1t)
Michael Crocker (4 - 1t)
Ty Williams (4 - 1t)
Darren Lockyer (1 - 1fg)
Johnathan Thurston (1 - 1fg)		 (Report) (4 - 1t) Danny Buderus
(8 - 1t, 2g) Craig Fitzgibbon
(4 - 1t) Mark Gasnier
(4 - 1t) Luke Rooney
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 52,484
Referee/s: Paul Simpkins[3]
Man of the Match: Steve Price

After fifty minutes, Queensland had raced away to a 19-0 lead. However New South Wales, under new coach Ricky Stuart made a strong comeback, bringing the score to 20-19 in their favour. A field goal from Johnathan Thurston saw the game go into Golden Point extra time. Brett Kimmorley, playing halfback in place of an injured Andrew Johns threw a pass intended for Matt King, but was instead intercepted by Matt Bowen, who snatched a 24-20 victory for the Maroons.

Game II

20:00 15 June[4]
New South Wales 32–22 Queensland
Anthony Minichiello (8 - 2t)
Craig Fitzgibbon (6 - 3g)
Andrew Johns (6 - 3g)
Danny Buderus (4 - 1t)
Matt Cooper (4 - 1t)
Steven Menzies (4 - 1t)		 (Report) (6 - 3g) Cameron Smith
(4 - 1t) Matt Bowen
(4 - 1t) Petero Civoniceva
(4 - 1t) Billy Slater
(4 - 1t) Brad Thorn
Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 82,389
Referee/s: Steven Clark[5]
Man of the Match: Andrew Johns

Andrew Johns made his comeback for Game II with a man-of-the-match performance after having made his first NRL reappearance from injury just ten days earlier.[6]

Game III

Queensland's decision to drop Billy Slater in favour of Matt Bowen led to outrage amongst Maroons fans.[7]

20:00 6 July[8]
Queensland 10–32 New South Wales
Matt Bowen (4 - 1t)
Johnathan Thurston (4 - 1t)
Cameron Smith (2 - 1g)		 (Report) (12 - 3t) Matt King
(6 - 3g) Andrew Johns
(4 - 1t) Braith Anasta
(4 - 1t) Mark Gasnier
(4 - 1t) Timana Tahu
(2 - 1g) Craig Fitzgibbon
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 52,496
Referee/s: Paul Simpkins[9]
Man of the Match: Anthony Minichiello[10]

After 25 years the 2005 decider was the 75th game between the two sides, with 36 wins for each side.[11] The crowd of 52,496 people at Suncorp Stadium was a record for the ground at the time. After an hour New South Wales had raced away to a 32-0 lead and late tries to Queensland proved too little too late. Matt King became only the 9th player (and 4th New South Welshman) to score a hat-trick in State of Origin.[12]

New South Wales squad

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Anthony Minichiello
Wing Matt King
Centre Mark Gasnier
Centre Matt Cooper
Wing Luke Rooney Timana Tahu
Five-Eighth Trent Barrett Braith Anasta
Halfback Brett Kimmorley Andrew Johns
Prop Luke Bailey Steve Simpson Luke Bailey
Hooker Danny Buderus (c)
Prop Jason Ryles
Second Row Nathan Hindmarsh
Second Row Craig Fitzgibbon
Lock Ben Kennedy
Interchange Craig Wing Craig Gower
Interchange Steve Simpson Steve Menzies
Interchange Anthony Watmough Luke Bailey Steve Simpson
Interchange Andrew Ryan
Coach Ricky Stuart

Queensland squad

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Billy Slater Matt Bowen
Wing Ty Williams
Centre Shaun Berrigan
Centre Paul Bowman
Wing Matt Sing
Five-Eighth Darren Lockyer (c)
Halfback Johnathan Thurston
Prop Steve Price Brad Thorn Danny Nutley
Hooker Cameron Smith
Prop Petero Civoniceva
Second Row Michael Crocker
Second Row Brad Thorn Carl Webb Brad Thorn
Lock Chris Flannery
Interchange Ben Ross
Interchange Carl Webb Dane Carlaw Corey Parker
Interchange Casey McGuire Ashley Harrison
Interchange Matt Bowen Tonie Carroll
Coach Michael Hagan

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Annual Report 2005 - Australian Rugby League
  2. ↑ 2005 Game 1 at nrlstats.com
  3. ↑ State Of Origin - Game 1, 2005 at stats.rleague.com
  4. ↑ 2005 Game 2 at nrlstats.com
  5. ↑ State Of Origin - Game 2, 2005 at stats.rleague.com
  6. ↑ Prichard, Greg (2010-06-15). "Scandals, losing streaks, injuries but there's never been a lost cause". The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia: Fairfax Media). Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  7. ↑ Roy Masters (5 July 2005). "Slater axing has fans all at sea". The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia: Fairfax Media). Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  8. ↑ 2006 Game 3 at nrlstats.com
  9. ↑ State Of Origin - Game 3, 2005 at stats.rleague.com
  10. ↑ Barrow, Tim (6 July 2011). "State of Origin: The deciders". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  11. ↑ "Clockwatch: Queensland 10-32 NSW". BBC Sport (UK: BBC). 6 July 2005. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  12. ↑ AAP (6 July 2005). "Blues rout Maroons". The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia: Fairfax Media). Retrieved 30 October 2010.

External links

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