2006 State of Origin series

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2006 State of Origin series
Won byQueensland colours.svg Queensland (11th title)
Series margin2-1
Points scored99
Attendance180,074 (ave. 60,025 per match)
Player of the seriesQueensland colours.svg Darren Lockyer
Top points scorer(s)Queensland colours.svg Johnathan Thurston (14)
Top try scorer(s)Queensland colours.svg Adam Mogg (3)

The 2006 State of Origin series was the 25th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. It was decided in three matches which drew a total attendance of 180,074. Queensland won the series 2-1, their first outright series victory since 2001 and the first in their record-breaking run of eight consecutive series wins. Prior to game one there was growing concern about the long term future of State of Origin, many commentators were beginning to wonder if Queensland would ever win another series after three consecutive New South Wales victories.

Game I[]

Craig Gower was originally picked for the New South Wales side at halfback but pulled out because of injury. Matt Orford was forced to turn down selection as cover for Gower, also because of injury. Both Andrew Johns and Trent Barrett turned down coming out of retirement to play in the fixture[1] so eventually Brett Finch was selected to start at halfback in jersey no. 20 for New South Wales as a last-minute inclusion.

The Queensland selectors picked a total of seven State of Origin debutants for game I.

Wednesday, 24 May 2006[2]
New South Wales colours.svg New South Wales 17–16 Queensland colours.svg Queensland
Brett Finch (5 - 1t,1fg)
Brett Hodgson (4 - 2g)
Matt King (4 - 1t)
Willie Mason (4 - 1t) 		(Report) (8 - 2t) Greg Inglis
(4 - 1t) Steven Bell
(4 - 2g) Johnathan Thurston
Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 72,773
Referee: Sean Hampstead[3]
Player of the Match: Willie Mason


Game I was played at Telstra Stadium, Sydney, and won by New South Wales 17-16, following a late field goal by NSW late-choice halfback, Brett Finch.[4]

Game II[]

For Queensland, Origin debutant Adam Mogg replaced the injured Greg Inglis[5]

Wednesday, 14 June 2006[6]
Queensland colours.svg Queensland 30–6 New South Wales colours.svg New South Wales
Johnathan Thurston (10 - 5g)
Adam Mogg (8 - 2t)
Shaun Berrigan (4 - 1t)
Justin Hodges (4 - 1t)
Carl Webb (4 - 1t) 		(Report) (4 - 1t) Timana Tahu
(2 - 1g) Brett Hodgson
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 52,468
Referee: Steve Clark[7]
Player of the Match: Darren Lockyer


In game II, Queensland levelled the series at home at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, with a commanding 30-6 victory.

Game III[]

Justin Hodges was ruled out of the Queensland side for game III after he re-tore his hamstring[8] and was replaced by Josh Hannay. Steven Bell was also ruled out after he sustained a fractured cheekbone in game II.[9]

After the heavy loss in game II the New South Wales selectors made five changes, bringing in Matt Cooper, Paul Gallen, Craig Gower, Luke O'Donnell and Ben Hornby as well as moving Matt King into the centres, Mark Gasnier to five-eighth and Luke Bailey into the starting side.

Wednesday, 5 July 2006[10]
New South Wales colours.svg New South Wales 14–16 Queensland colours.svg Queensland
Eric Grothe, Jr. (8 - 2t)
Matt King (4 - 1t)
Brett Hodgson (2 - 1g) 		(Report) (4 - 1t) Darren Lockyer
(4 - 1t) Adam Mogg
(4 - 1t) Brent Tate
(4 - 2g) Clinton Schifcofske
Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Attendance: 54,833
Referee: Steven Clark[11]
Player of the Match: Brent Tate

Game III was held at Telstra Dome, Melbourne, and was the first decider played at a neutral venue.[12] Some controversial video referring decisions in the first ten minutes of the second half saw Queensland trailing 14-4 with ten minutes remaining. Queensland, however, scored two converted tries in the space of five minutes – first Brent Tate's long-range try after a line break from Thurston and then Lockyer intercepting a Hodgson pass inside New South Wales' own half – to take the match and series, winning 16-14.

  • The Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series was awarded to Darren Lockyer
  • The Ron McAuliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series was awarded to Darren Lockyer

New South Wales squad[]

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Wests Tigers colours.svg Brett Hodgson
Wing Melbourne colours.svg Matt King Parramatta colours.svg Timana Tahu
Centre St. George Illawarra colours.svg Mark Gasnier Melbourne colours.svg Matt King
Centre Parramatta colours.svg Timana Tahu St. George Illawarra colours.svg Matt Cooper
Wing Parramatta colours.svg Eric Grothe, Jr.
Five-Eighth Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Braith Anasta St. George Illawarra colours.svg Mark Gasnier
Halfback Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Brett Finch Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2017 colours.svg Craig Gower
Prop Canterbury colours.svg Willie Mason
Hooker Newcastle colours.svg Danny Buderus (c)
Prop Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Brent Kite St. George Illawarra colours.svg Luke Bailey
Second Row Newcastle colours.svg Steve Simpson
Second Row Parramatta colours.svg Nathan Hindmarsh
Lock North Queensland colours.svg Luke O'Donnell Canterbury colours.svg Andrew Ryan North Queensland colours.svg Luke O'Donnell
Interchange Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Craig Wing Cronulla colours.svg Paul Gallen
Interchange Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Steve Menzies
Interchange Canterbury colours.svg Mark O'Meley
Interchange Canterbury colours.svg Andrew Ryan St. George Illawarra colours.svg Luke Bailey St. George Illawarra colours.svg Ben Hornby
Coach North Queensland colours.svg Graham Murray

Queensland squad[]

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback North Queensland colours.svg Matt Bowen Brisbane colours.svg Karmichael Hunt Canberra colours.svg Clinton Schifcofske
Wing Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Steven Bell Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2017 colours.svg Rhys Wesser
Centre Brisbane colours.svg Justin Hodges North Queensland colours.svg Josh Hannay
Centre Brisbane colours.svg Brent Tate
Wing Melbourne colours.svg Greg Inglis Canberra colours.svg Adam Mogg
Five-Eighth Brisbane colours.svg Darren Lockyer (c)
Halfback North Queensland colours.svg Johnathan Thurston
Prop New Zealand colours.svg Steve Price
Hooker Melbourne colours.svg Cameron Smith
Prop Brisbane colours.svg Petero Civoniceva
Second Row Brisbane colours.svg David Stagg Canterbury colours.svg Nate Myles
Second Row North Queensland colours.svg Matthew Scott North Queensland colours.svg Carl Webb
Lock Melbourne colours.svg Dallas Johnson
Interchange Brisbane colours.svg Shaun Berrigan
Interchange North Queensland colours.svg Carl Webb Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Chris Flannery
Interchange Brisbane colours.svg Sam Thaiday
Interchange Canterbury colours.svg Nate Myles North Queensland colours.svg Jacob Lillyman Brisbane colours.svg Tonie Carroll
Coach Queensland colours.svg Mal Meninga

See also[]

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ Finch replaces Gower
  2. ^ 2006 Game 1 at nrlstats.com
  3. ^ State Of Origin - Game 1, 2006 at stats.rleague.com
  4. ^ foxsports.com.au (1 July 2008). "Classic State of Origin IIIs". Fox Sports. Australia: Premier Media Group. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  5. ^ Mogg gets Origin call-up
  6. ^ 2006 Game 2 at nrlstats.com
  7. ^ State Of Origin - Game 2, 2006 at stats.rleague.com
  8. ^ Hodges out in blow to Maroons
  9. ^ Bell out of Origin decider
  10. ^ 2006 Game 3 at nrlstats.com
  11. ^ State Of Origin - Game 3, 2006 at stats.rleague.com
  12. ^ Barrow, Tim (6 July 2011). "State of Origin: The deciders". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 July 2011.

External links[]

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