1998 State of Origin series

Australian rugby league series August 2019 1998 9th 150px 16px Queensland 2-1 106 115469 16px Darren Lockyer (14) 16px Walters, Langer, 16px 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. __TOC__ Game I #eeeeee Friday, 22 May 1998 16px Queensland 23–24 (Report) New South Wales 16px 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) (8 - 4g) Darren Lockyer (4 - 1t) Kevin Walters (4 - 1t) Steve Price (4 - 1t) Allan Langer (4 - 1t) Tonie Carroll Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney 36,070 Bill Harrigan 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 #eeeeee Friday, 5 June 1998 Queensland 16px 10–26 (Report) 16px New South Wales Wendell Sailor (4 - 1t) Matt Sing (4 - 1t) Darren Lockyer (2 - 1g) (8 - 2t) Paul McGregor (6 - 3g) Andrew Johns (4 - 1t) Brad Fittler (4 - 1t) Adam MacDougall (4 - 1t) Tim Brasher Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 40,447 Bill Harrigan 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. #eeeeee Friday, 19 June 1998 16px Queensland 4–19 (Report) New South Wales 16px Ken McGuinness (4 - 1t) (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 39,952 Bill Harrigan Shane WebckeBarrow Tim State of Origin: The deciders http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/state-of-origin-the-deciders-20110705-1h0sq.html 7 July 2011 The Sydney Morning Herald 6 July 2011 Queensland emerged full of running, tries to Walters, dummying his way over Harms John The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story University of Queensland Press 2005 Australia 195 https://books.google.com/books?id=OFE2EZ7JyEkC 978-0-7022-3536-8 and then Ikin, giving them a 12-4 lead before Allan Langer wrapped up the series with a late try. CNN/SI: "Langer leads way in what could be last game" - Friday June 19, 1998 A Jason Smith field goal rounded out the impressive Queensland 19-4 win. New South Wales squad PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3 Fullback South Sydney 16 Tim Brasher Wing Illawarra 16 Rod Wishart Centre Cronulla 16 Andrew Ettingshausen Illawarra 16 Paul McGregor Canberra 16 Laurie Daley (c) Centre Manly 16 Terry Hill Wing Newcastle 16 Adam MacDougall Five-Eighth Canberra 16 Laurie Daley (c) Sydney City 16 Brad Fittler Halfback Newcastle 16 Andrew Johns Prop Melbourne 16 Rodney Howe Melbourne 16 Glenn Lazarus Hooker Manly 16 Geoff Toovey Newcastle 16 Matthew Johns Prop Newcastle 16 Paul Harragon Newcastle 16 Tony Butterfield Second Row Parramatta 16 Dean Pay Canberra 16 David Furner Second Row Manly 16 Nik Kosef Sydney City 16 David Barnhill Lock Sydney City 16 Brad Fittler Parramatta 16 Jim Dymock Interchange Sydney City 16 David Barnhill Cronulla 16 Andrew Ettingshausen Parramatta 16 Dean Pay Interchange Manly 16 Steve Menzies Interchange Newcastle 16 Matthew Johns Manly 16 Nik Kosef Melbourne 16 Robbie Kearns Interchange Western Suburbs 16 Ken McGuinness Melbourne 16 Glenn Lazarus Western Suburbs 16 Ken McGuinness Coach Western Suburbs 16 Tommy Raudonikis Queensland squad PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3 Fullback Brisbane 16 Darren Lockyer Wing Brisbane 16 Wendell Sailor Centre Brisbane 16 Steve Renouf Centre Brisbane 16 Darren Smith North Sydney 16 Ben Ikin Wing Sydney City 16 Matt Sing Newcastle 16 Robbie O'Davis Five-Eighth Brisbane 16 Kevin Walters Halfback Brisbane 16 Allan Langer (c) Prop Brisbane 16 Shane Webcke Hooker Canterbury 16 Jason Hetherington Gold Coast Chargers 16 Jamie Goddard Prop North Sydney 16 Gary Larson Second Row St George 16 Wayne Bartrim Brisbane 16 Brad Thorn Brisbane 16 Gorden Tallis Second Row Parramatta 16 Jason Smith Brisbane 16 Gorden Tallis Parramatta 16 Jason Smith Lock Brisbane 16 Peter Ryan St George 16 Wayne Bartrim Brisbane 16 Darren Smith Interchange North Sydney 16 Ben Ikin Sydney City 16 Matt Sing Interchange Canterbury 16 Steve Price Interchange Cronulla 16 Martin Lang Brisbane 16 Peter Ryan Interchange Brisbane 16 Tonie Carroll Brisbane 16 Andrew Gee Coach Brisbane 16 Wayne Bennett See also 1998 NRL season References Sources Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition, News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney Category:State of Origin series State of Origin series