1985 State of Origin series

1985 State of Origin series
Won by	New South Wales (1st title)
Series margin	2-1
Points scored	81
Attendance	90,937 (ave. 30,312 per match)
Top points scorer(s)	Michael O'Connor (29)
Top try scorer(s)	Michael O'Connor (2) Dale Shearer (2)
← 1984 State of Origin series 1986 →

The 1985 State of Origin series was the fourth time the annual three-match series between New South Wales and Queensland was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. It was the year that New South Wales finally ended Queensland's dominance which had arisen with the State of Origin concept.

Games[]

Game I[]

Queensland centre Gene Miles was ruled out of State of Origin due to a knee injury.^[1]

Tuesday, 28 May 1985[2]

New South Wales	18–2	Queensland
(18 - 2 t, 5g) Michael O'Connor	(Report)	Mal Meninga (2 - 1 g)

Lang Park, Brisbane, Queensland Attendance: 33,011 Referee: Kelvin Roberts Man of the Match: Peter Wynn

Heavy rain confronted the players at Lang Park when the teams took the field for the opening match of the series, and it was thought players new to Origin football such as Michael O'Connor might struggle to cope with the conditions. However the former Wallaby displayed nerves of steel to complete one of Origin's most memorable debuts scoring two tries and kicking five goals to finish with all 18 of the Blue's points.

The relentless Blues defence led by Steve Roach, Pat Jarvis and Peter Wynn continually repelled the Maroons and helped keep the Blues line intact for the first time at Origin level. Five-eighth Brett Kenny earned wide praise for his efforts opposite Wally Lewis who was subjected to merciless pressure for almost the entire match. New coach Terry Fearnley and his captain Steve Mortimer had plotted for months to uncover a secret factor that would bring an end to the Maroons' Origin stranglehold. The strategy was to heap pressure on Lewis, Queensland's five-eighth and playmaker and the Blues carried out the plan perfectly.

Game II[]

Tuesday, 11 June 1985[3]

New South Wales	21–14	Queensland
(4 - 1 t) Chris Mortimer (4 - 1 t) Benny Elias (4 - 1 t) Brett Kenny (9 - 4 g, 1 fg) Michael O'Connor	(Report)	Bob Lindner(4 - 1 t) Ian French (4 - 1 t) Mal Meninga (6 - 3 g)

Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 39,068 Referee: Barry Gomersall Man of the Match: Wally Lewis

With history possibly in the making a large New South Wales home crowd turned out in wet conditions at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The match was played on a knife's edge when after the Blues had taken a 12-0 lead with two tries after only 16 minutes, Queensland struck back in typical style and took a 14-12 lead despite having lost Bob Lindner and Colin Scott with serious injuries.

The New South Wales forwards relentlessly hurled themselves at the Queensland defence until cracks slowly began to appear. A penalty goal and then a sharply taken field goal by O'Connor gave the Blues a 15-14 lead and then when Lewis attempted to level the scores with his own field goal attempt eight minutes from the end, Mortimer flew from the ruck to charge down the kick.

It was the inspiration the Blues needed and when five-eighth Brett Kenny dashed over for the decisive try a minute from full-time, it sparked scenes of jubilation among the New South Wales players. Broadcast images that now form part of Origin folklore captured a rapturous Mortimer chaired from the field and then falling to the ground full of emotion and pride in the Blues' historic first series victory.^[4]

Game III[]

Tuesday, 23 July 1985[5]

Queensland	20–6	New South Wales
(8 - 2 t ) Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t) John Ribot (4 - 1 t) Ian French (4 - 2 g) Mal Meninga	(Report)	Steve Ella (4 - 1 t) Michael O'Connor (2 - 1 g)

Lang Park Attendance: 18,825 Referee: Barry Gomersall Man of the Match: Wally Fullerton Smith

Queensland took the field in Game III determined to avoid a whitewash but also smarting from a national selection controversy. Blues coach Terry Fearnley was also the Australian national coach and the match was played after the Australia v New Zealand Test series that year. Fearnley had dropped four players, all of them Maroons after the second Test. The Kiwis went on to win the third test 18-0, the first time the Australian's had been held scoreless in a test match since 1956.

Queensland came out breathing fire and as the score mounted, late in the game Maroons forward Greg Dowling, one of the players axed by Fearnley, left the field replaced and stopped by the Blues bench to give Fearnley a passionate serve and tirade of abuse. Following this event ARL officials would legislate that the national coach never be a serving Origin coach to avoid the possibility of such embarrassing scenes or the potential for claims of bias.^[6]

Teams[]

New South Wales[]

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Garry Jack
Wing	Eric Grothe, Sr.
Centre	Michael O'Connor
Centre	Chris Mortimer
Wing	John Ferguson
Five-Eighth	Brett Kenny
Halfback	Steve Mortimer (c)				Des Hasler
Prop	Steve Roach
Hooker	Ben Elias
Prop	Pat Jarvis
Second Row	Noel Cleal				David Brooks
Second Row	Peter Wynn
Lock	Wayne Pearce				Wayne Pearce (c)
Replacement	Steve Ella
Replacement	Peter Tunks				Tony Rampling
Coach	Terry Fearnley

Queensland[]

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Colin Scott
Wing	John Ribot
Centre	Mal Meninga
Centre	Chris Close
Wing	Dale Shearer
Five-Eighth	Wally Lewis (c)
Halfback	Mark Murray
Prop	Greg Dowling
Hooker	Greg Conescu
Prop	Dave Brown
Second Row	Paul Vautin				Ian French
Second Row	Paul McCabe		Wally Fullerton-Smith
Lock	Bob Lindner				Paul Vautin
Replacement	Brett French		Tony Currie
Replacement	Ian French				Cavill Heugh
Coach	Des Morris

See also[]

• 1985 Winfield Cup

Sources[]

Footnotes[]

• Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition, News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney

External links[]

• State of Origin 1985 at rugbyleagueproject.org