2005 State of Origin series

The 2005 State of Origin series saw the 24th 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 three matches drew a total attendance of 187,309 and New South Wales won the series 2-1, their third consecutive series victory, and their last until 2014.

2005 State of Origin series
Won by New South Wales (12th title)
Series margin2-1
Points scored140
Attendance187,309 (ave. 62,436 per match)
Player of the series Anthony Minichiello
Top points scorer(s) Cameron Smith (18)
Top try scorer(s) Matt Bowen Matt King (3)

The Wally Lewis Medal for Player of the Series was awarded to New South Wales' fullback, Anthony Minichiello.[1] The Ron McAuliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series was awarded to Cameron Smith. The Brad Fittler Medal for New South Wales player of the series was awarded to Matt King.

Game I
Wednesday, 25 May 2005[2]
8:00pm (AEST)
Queensland 24 – 20 New South Wales
Tries:
Ty Williams (20') 1
Michael Crocker (48') 1
Matt Bowen (84') 1
Goals:
Cameron Smith 5/5
(7' pen, 18' pen, 21', 34' pen, 50')
Darren Lockyer 0/1
Field Goals:
Darren Lockyer 1/3
(40')
Johnathan Thurston 1/1
(78')		 1st: 13 - 0
2nd: 7 - 20
g.p.: 4 - 0
(Report)
 Tries:
Luke Rooney (52') 1
Mark Gasnier (61') 1
Craig Fitzgibbon (68') 1
Danny Buderus (71') 1
Goals:
Craig Fitzgibbon 2/3
(69', 72')
Brett Kimmorley 0/1
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 52,484
Referee: Paul Simpkins[3]
Player of the Match: Steve Price

The crowd of 52,484 people at Suncorp Stadium was a record for the ground at the time. After fifty minutes, Queensland had raced away to a 19-0 lead. However New South Wales, under new coach Ricky Stuart made a strong comeback, bringing the score to 20-19 in their favour. A field goal from Johnathan Thurston, in his first match for the Maroons, saw the game go into 'golden point' extra time. Brett Kimmorley, playing halfback in place of an injured Andrew Johns, threw a pass intended for Matt King, but was instead intercepted by Matt Bowen, who snatched a 24-20 victory for the Maroons.

Game II
Wednesday, 15 June 2005[4]
8:00pm (AEST)
New South Wales 32 – 22 Queensland
Tries:
Anthony Minichiello (15', 44') 2
Steve Menzies (48') 1
Matt Cooper (59') 1
Danny Buderus (76') 1
Goals:
Andrew Johns 3/3
(46', 50', 61')
Craig Fitzgibbon 3/3
(15', 18' pen, 78')		 1st: 8 - 12
2nd: 24 - 10
(Report)
 Tries:
Brad Thorn (23') 1
Billy Slater (32') 1
Matt Bowen (69') 1
Petero Civoniceva (80') 1
Goals:
Cameron Smith 3/4
(24', 34', 80')
Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 82,389
Referee: Steve Clark[5]
Player of the Match: Andrew Johns

Having made his first NRL reappearance just ten days earlier following recovery from injury, Andrew Johns made his State of Origin comeback for Game II with a man-of-the-match performance to help level the 2005 series.[6] This game opened with the Blues sustaining immense pressure on their own line for the opening 15 minutes of the match before breaking through for a try to Minichiello to open the scoring.

Game III
Wednesday, 6 July 2005[7]
8:00pm (AEST)
Queensland 10 – 32 New South Wales
Tries:
Johnathan Thurston (74') 1
Matt Bowen (77') 1
Goals:
Cameron Smith 1/2
(75')		 1st: 0 - 18
2nd: 10 - 14
(Report)
 Tries:
Matt King (31', 47', 64') 3
Braith Anasta (21') 1
Mark Gasnier (27') 1
Timana Tahu (53') 1
Goals:
Andrew Johns 3/5
(22', 29', 48')
Craig Fitzgibbon 1/2
(9' pen)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 52,436
Referee: Paul Simpkins[8]
Player of the Match: Anthony Minichiello[9]

After 25 years the 2005 decider was the 75th game between the two sides, with 36 wins for each side.[10] After an hour New South Wales had raced away to a 32-0 lead and late tries to Queensland proved too little too late. Matt King became only the ninth player (and fourth New South Welshman) to score a hat-trick in State of Origin.[11]

New South Wales squad
Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Anthony Minichiello
Wing Matt King
Centre Mark Gasnier
Centre Matt Cooper
Wing Luke Rooney Timana Tahu
Five-Eighth Trent Barrett Braith Anasta
Halfback Brett Kimmorley Andrew Johns
Prop Luke Bailey Steve Simpson Luke Bailey
Hooker Danny Buderus (c)
Prop Jason Ryles
Second Row Nathan Hindmarsh
Second Row Craig Fitzgibbon
Lock Ben Kennedy
Interchange Craig Wing Craig Gower
Interchange Steve Simpson Steve Menzies
Interchange Anthony Watmough Luke Bailey Steve Simpson
Interchange Andrew Ryan
Coach Ricky Stuart

Queensland squad
Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Billy Slater Matt Bowen
Wing Ty Williams
Centre Shaun Berrigan
Centre Paul Bowman
Wing Matt Sing
Five-Eighth Darren Lockyer (c)
Halfback Johnathan Thurston
Prop Steve Price Brad Thorn Danny Nutley
Hooker Cameron Smith
Prop Petero Civoniceva
Second Row Michael Crocker
Second Row Brad Thorn Carl Webb Brad Thorn
Lock Chris Flannery
Interchange Ben Ross
Interchange Carl Webb Dane Carlaw Corey Parker
Interchange Casey McGuire Ashley Harrison
Interchange Matt Bowen Tonie Carroll
Coach Michael Hagan

See also

Footnotes
  1. Annual Report 2005 Archived July 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine - Australian Rugby League
  2. 2005 Game 1 Archived 18 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine at nrlstats.com
  3. State Of Origin - Game 1, 2005 Archived 23 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine at stats.rleague.com
  4. 2005 Game 2 Archived 18 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine at nrlstats.com
  5. State Of Origin - Game 2, 2005 Archived 23 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine at stats.rleague.com
  6. Prichard, Greg (15 June 2010). "Scandals, losing streaks, injuries but there's never been a lost cause". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  7. 2006 Game 3 Archived 18 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine at nrlstats.com
  8. State Of Origin - Game 3, 2005 Archived 18 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine at stats.rleague.com
  9. Barrow, Tim (6 July 2011). "State of Origin: The deciders". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  10. "Clockwatch: Queensland 10-32 NSW". BBC Sport. UK: BBC. 6 July 2005. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  11. AAP (6 July 2005). "Blues rout Maroons". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
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