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)
← 1999 State of Origin series 2001 →

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[]

Wednesday, 10 May, 2000

New South Wales	20 – 16	Queensland
Tries: Adam MacDougall (23', 48') 2 Ryan Girdler (71') 1 David Peachey (77') 1 Goals: Ryan Girdler 2/5 (10' pen, 49')	1st: 6 - 8 2nd: 14 - 8 (Report)	Tries: Adrian Lam (32', 44') 2 Mat Rogers (16') 1 Goals: Mat Rogers 1/3 (45') Darren Lockyer 1/1 (60' pen) Field Goals: Adrian Lam 0/1 Send Off: Gorden Tallis (71') 1

Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 61,511 Referee: Bill Harrigan Player 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[]

Wednesday, 24 May, 2000

Queensland	10 – 28	New South Wales
Tries: Gorden Tallis (50') 1 Goals: Mat Rogers 3/3 (2' pen, 33' pen, 51')	1st: 4 - 0 2nd: 6 - 28 (Report)	Tries: Brad Fittler (45') 1 Shaun Timmins (60') 1 Scott Hill (63') 1 David Furner (65') 1 Ryan Girdler (79') 1 Goals: Ryan Girdler 4/5 (46', 62', 64', 66') Andrew Johns 0/1

Suncorp Metway Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 38,796 Referee: Bill Harrigan Player 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[]

Wednesday, 7 June, 2000

New South Wales	56 – 16	Queensland
Tries: Ryan Girdler (16', 26', 52') 3 Matt Gidley (58', 80') 2 Adam Muir (19') 1 Andrew Johns (44') 1 Bryan Fletcher (65') 1 Adam MacDougall (71') 1 Goals: Ryan Girdler 10/10 (18', 21', 27', 37' pen, 45', 54', 60', 67', 72', 80')	1st: 20 - 10 2nd: 36 - 6 (Report)	Tries: Mat Rogers (23') 1 Darren Smith (30') 1 Gorden Tallis (77') 1 Goals: Mat Rogers 2/3 (24', 78')

Stadium Australia, Sydney Attendance: 58,767 Referee: Bill Harrigan Player 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 (since broken by Queensland in Game III, 2015)
* 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				Darren 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

Aftermath[]

A major turning point in State of Origin history occurred in this series, when, in the third game, Bryan Fletcher was seen celebrating his try by performing a fake hand grenade aimed towards the Queensland side.^[3] The try celebration forced Queensland to change their whole strategy towards Origin and it created a pathway for Queensland to win twelve of sixteen series since 2006 (and a record eight straight between 2006 and 2013). Former Queensland player Wendell Sailor said “As a Queenslander, you never forget that". Queensland Origin great Gorden Tallis had previously spoken about how that try celebration eventually led to a shift in the State of Origin balance of power which saw Queensland win back the Shield in 2001, and retain it in 2002. Former player Matthew Johns claims that the try celebration started a Queensland dynasty. Former Queensland coach Chris Close spoke about Fletcher's try celebration in 2016: "I thought it was disgraceful act and a disgraceful show of disrespect, You would certainly never, ever see that from any Queensland team, It still burns. F---ing oath it does".^[4][5]

See also[]

• 2000 NRL season

References[]

Sources[]

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