1999 State of Origin series
| 1999 State of Origin series | |
|---|---|
| Won by |   (drawn title) |
| Series margin | 1-1-1 |
| Points scored | 57 |
| Attendance | 165,800 (ave. 55,267 per match) |
| Top points scorer(s) | Mat Rogers (17) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Matt Geyer (2) |
The 1999 State of Origin series saw the 18th year 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 series was drawn and the shield retained by the previous year's victors, Queensland.[1] Each team claimed victory in a game and the deciding fixture finished at 10-all. It was the first series to end in a draw.
Game I
May 24, 1999 |
| Queensland |
9–8 | New South Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Mat Rogers (9 - 4g, 1fg) | (Report) | (4 - 2g) Ryan Girdler (4 - 1t) Anthony Mundine |
Game I was a dour affair played in hot and steamy conditions at Suncorp Stadium with Queensland scraping in 9-8. The match was memorable for winger Mat Rogers' debut. Despite straining a ligament and being forced from the field, the gutsy flanker returned to score all of Maroons' points including a field goal (the first of his career) six minutes from game's end to win the encounter.
Game II
9 June 1999 |
| New South Wales |
12–8 | Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| Laurie Daley (4 - 1t) Ryan Girdler (4 - 2g) Robbie Ross (4 - 1t) |
(Report) | (8 - 1t, 2g) Mat Rogers |
Game II was played at the new Olympic venue, Stadium Australia, in driving rain and in front of a record crowd. The conditions implied it would be another dour battle, but it turned out otherwise. Melbourne Storm fullback Robbie Ross grabbed his own piece of Origin history by scoring the fastest try in Origin after just 42 seconds. It temporarily took the wind out of the sails of Kevin Walters' Maroons.
All the scoring was done in the first half with a try to Rogers and conversion which put Queensland momentarily in front before Laurie Daley, making his final Origin appearance in Sydney, tore onto an Andrew Johns pass and scored under the posts. After the match, and in company with other NSW retirees Paul Harragon and Andrew Ettingshausen, Daley completed a lap of honour.
Game III
23 June 1999 |
| Queensland |
10–10 | New South Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Darren Lockyer (6 - 1t, 1g) Paul Green (4 - 1t) |
(Report) | (8 -2 t) Matt Geyer (2 - 1g) Ryan Girdler |
Game III played at Suncorp in treacherous wet conditions, featured plenty of dropped ball, but some of the skills on show made up for the errors. Laurie Daley once again demonstrated his prowess by miraculously scooping up a ball at his feet and off-loading to Terry Hill who then sent Matt Geyer over. Queensland's Paul Green somehow found his way through Ben Kennedy and Luke Ricketson to score and with Lockyer's conversion the Maroons led 6-4.
Adrian Lam whose club doctor at the Sydney Roosters had refused to allow him to play because of a dislocated shoulder, was cleared to play for Queensland and proved his worth by squeezing out a miracle pass to put Lockyer over. Geyer then scored for the Blues after an unlikely kick through by prop Rodney Howe to level the scores. Queensland, knowing a draw would be enough to retain the shield, had no interest in a field goal and put all their energy into holding New South Wales out.
The Blues were almost there until an inside pass from Daley to Ross went to ground. The Blues players stood around dumbfounded as the Queenslanders celebrated, having retained the title as per the rules of State of Origin at the time.
New South Wales squad
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Robbie Ross | |||||
| Wing |  Darren Albert |
Adam MacDougall | ||||
| Centre |  Laurie Daley |
Ryan Girdler | ||||
| Centre |  Terry Hill | |||||
| Wing | Matt Geyer | |||||
| Five-Eighth |  Brad Fittler (c) |
Laurie Daley |
Laurie Daley (c) | |||
| Halfback | Andrew Johns | |||||
| Prop |  Jason Stevens |
 Mark Carroll | ||||
| Hooker |  Craig Gower |
Geoff Toovey | ||||
| Prop | Rodney Howe | |||||
| Second Row | Bryan Fletcher | |||||
| Second Row | David Barnhill |
Nik Kosef |
David Furner | |||
| Lock | Nik Kosef |
Brad Fittler (c) |
Nik Kosef | |||
| Interchange | Glenn Lazarus |
 Michael Vella | ||||
| Interchange | Luke Ricketson | |||||
| Interchange | Ryan Girdler |
Ben Kennedy | ||||
| Interchange |  Anthony Mundine | |||||
| Coach |  Wayne Pearce | |||||
Queensland squad
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Robbie O'Davis |
 Darren Lockyer | |
| Wing | Mat Rogers |
Robbie O'Davis | |
| Centre |  Darren Smith |
Matt Sing |
Tonie Carroll |
| Centre | Matt Sing |
Darren Smith | |
| Wing | Wendell Sailor | ||
| Five-Eighth | Kevin Walters |
Kevin Walters (c) |
 Ben Ikin |
| Halfback | Adrian Lam (c) |
 Paul Green |
Adrian Lam (c) |
| Prop | Shane Webcke | ||
| Hooker | Jason Hetherington | ||
| Prop | Craig Greenhill | ||
| Second Row | Gorden Tallis | ||
| Second Row | Chris McKenna | ||
| Lock | Jason Smith | ||
| Interchange | Ben Ikin |
Paul Green | |
| Interchange | Steve Price | ||
| Interchange | Tonie Carroll |
Brad Thorn | |
| Interchange | Martin Lang | ||
| Coach |  Mark Murray | ||
See also
References
- ↑ Barrow, Tim (6 July 2011). "State of Origin: The deciders". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ↑ Hadfield, Dave (1999-06-10). "Daley's dose for Blues". The Independent. independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
Sources
- Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition, News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney