1998 State of Origin series

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1998 State of Origin series
Won byQueensland colours.svg Queensland (9th title)
Series margin2-1
Points scored106
Attendance115,469 (ave. 38,490 per match)
Top points scorer(s)Queensland colours.svg Darren Lockyer (14)
Top try scorer(s)Queensland colours.svg Walters, Langer,
New South Wales colours.svg Brasher, McGregor (2)

The 1998 State of Origin series saw the 17th 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 return of Super League-aligned stars to Origin following the end of the game's crippling civil war meant the stampeding Brisbane Broncos players were back - to the chagrin of the Blues. The series was notable for being the first in which no team won a game at home.

Game I[]

Friday, 22 May 1998
New South Wales colours.svg New South Wales 23–24 Queensland colours.svg Queensland
Rod Wishart (4 - 1t)
Tim Brasher (4 - 1t)
Laurie Daley (4 - 1t)
Brad Fittler (4 - 1t)
Steve Menzies (4 - 1t)
Andrew Johns (3 - 1g,1fg)
(Report) (8 - 4g) Darren Lockyer
(4 - 1t) Kevin Walters
(4 - 1t) Steve Price
(4 - 1t) Allan Langer
(4 - 1t) Tonie Carroll
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 36,070
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Player of the Match: Allan Langer

Game I was a classic Origin encounter with each side scrambling to gain ascendancy in front of a boisterous Sydney crowd. The Maroons capitalised on mistakes from their opposition to score twice early in the second half before the mercurial Brad Fittler crossed to regain the lead for New South Wales. When Steve Menzies scored close to full-time to give the Blues a 23-18 lead it seemed that they were heading for victory.

But with barely a minute remaining and Queensland stuck deep in their own territory, their five-eighth Kevin Walters produced the play of the series as he kicked ahead for replacement back Ben Ikin to regather. The Blues tried desperately to hold on for the few final tackles, but Walters destroyed their hopes by sending centre Tonie Carroll over alongside the posts. Darren Lockyer's conversion on debut after the siren gave Queensland a miracle 24-23 victory. It was a personal triumph for Walters coming only a few months after the death of his wife Kim.

Game II[]

Friday, 5 June 1998
Queensland colours.svg Queensland 10–26 New South Wales colours.svg New South Wales
Wendell Sailor (4 - 1t)
Matt Sing (4 - 1t)
Darren Lockyer (2 - 1g)
(Report) (8 - 2t) Paul McGregor
(6 - 3g) Andrew Johns
(4 - 1t) Brad Fittler
(4 - 1t) Adam MacDougall
(4 - 1t) Tim Brasher
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 40,447
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Player of the Match: Rodney Howe

In Game II, after falling behind early to a Wendell Sailor try, the Blues took control in the volatile surroundings of Suncorp Stadium. New South Wales centre Paul McGregor, replacing Andrew Ettingshausen in the starting line-up, scored twice and Brad Fittler added a third to give the visitors a commanding 20-6 lead from which the Maroons never recovered.

Andrew Johns was superb during the Blues' onslaught while Laurie Daley set up the try that levelled the score following Sailor's third-minute opener. A Tim Brasher try shortly after the break ended any hopes of another come-from-behind Queensland win and the final 26-10 scoreline was a fair reflection of the Blues domination over their opposition.

Game III[]

Before the Game III return to the Sydney Football Stadium for the decider there was little warning of the problems the New South Wales team were about to encounter when they were flattened by injury and illness. Six players from the selected squad including props Paul Harragon and Rodney Howe and inspirational hooker Geoff Toovey were forced to withdraw prior to the game.

Friday, 19 June 1998
New South Wales colours.svg New South Wales 4–19 Queensland colours.svg Queensland
Ken McGuinness (4 - 1t) (Report) (4 - 1t) Kevin Walters
(4- 1t) Ben Ikin
(4- 1t) Allan Langer
(4 - 2g) Darren Lockyer
(2 - 1g) Robbie O'Davis
(1 - 1fg) Jason Smith
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 39,952
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Player of the Match: Shane Webcke[1]

Queensland emerged full of running, tries to Walters, dummying his way over[2] and then Ikin, giving them a 12-4 lead before Allan Langer wrapped up the series with a late try.[3] A Jason Smith field goal rounded out the impressive Queensland 19-4 win.

New South Wales squad[]

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback South Sydney colours.svg Tim Brasher
Wing Illawarra colours.svg Rod Wishart
Centre Cronulla colours.svg Andrew Ettingshausen Illawarra colours.svg Paul McGregor Canberra colours.svg Laurie Daley (c)
Centre Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Terry Hill
Wing Newcastle colours.svg Adam MacDougall
Five-Eighth Canberra colours.svg Laurie Daley (c) Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Brad Fittler
Halfback Newcastle colours.svg Andrew Johns
Prop Melbourne colours.svg Rodney Howe Melbourne colours.svg Glenn Lazarus
Hooker Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Geoff Toovey Newcastle colours.svg Matthew Johns
Prop Newcastle colours.svg Paul Harragon Newcastle colours.svg Tony Butterfield
Second Row Parramatta colours.svg Dean Pay Canberra colours.svg David Furner
Second Row Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Nik Kosef Eastern Suburbs colours.svg David Barnhill
Lock Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Brad Fittler Parramatta colours.svg Jim Dymock
Interchange Eastern Suburbs colours.svg David Barnhill Cronulla colours.svg Andrew Ettingshausen Parramatta colours.svg Dean Pay
Interchange Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Steve Menzies
Interchange Newcastle colours.svg Matthew Johns Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Nik Kosef Melbourne colours.svg Robbie Kearns
Interchange Western Suburbs colours.svg Ken McGuinness Melbourne colours.svg Glenn Lazarus Western Suburbs colours.svg Ken McGuinness
Coach Western Suburbs colours.svg Tommy Raudonikis

Queensland squad[]

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Brisbane colours.svg Darren Lockyer
Wing Brisbane colours.svg Wendell Sailor
Centre Brisbane colours.svg Steve Renouf
Centre Brisbane colours.svg Darren Smith North Sydney colours.svg Ben Ikin
Wing Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Matt Sing Newcastle colours.svg Robbie O'Davis
Five-Eighth Brisbane colours.svg Kevin Walters
Halfback Brisbane colours.svg Allan Langer (c)
Prop Brisbane colours.svg Shane Webcke
Hooker Canterbury colours.svg Jason Hetherington Gold Coast Chargers colours.svg Jamie Goddard
Prop North Sydney colours.svg Gary Larson
Second Row St. George colours.svg Wayne Bartrim Brisbane colours.svg Brad Thorn Brisbane colours.svg Gorden Tallis
Second Row Parramatta colours.svg Jason Smith Brisbane colours.svg Gorden Tallis Parramatta colours.svg Jason Smith
Lock Brisbane colours.svg Peter Ryan St. George colours.svg Wayne Bartrim Brisbane colours.svg Darren Smith
Interchange North Sydney colours.svg Ben Ikin Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Matt Sing
Interchange Canterbury colours.svg Steve Price
Interchange Cronulla colours.svg Martin Lang Brisbane colours.svg Peter Ryan
Interchange Brisbane colours.svg Tonie Carroll Brisbane colours.svg Andrew Gee
Coach Brisbane colours.svg Wayne Bennett

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Barrow, Tim (6 July 2011). "State of Origin: The deciders". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  2. ^ Harms, John (2005). The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story. Australia: University of Queensland Press. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-7022-3536-8.
  3. ^ CNN/SI: "Langer leads way in what could be last game" - Friday June 19, 1998

Sources[]

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