1991 State of Origin series

Australian rugby league series October 2022 1991 7th 100px 16px Queensland 2–1 62 107146 16px Mal Meninga (12) Chris Johns & Dale Shearer (2) The 1991 State of Origin series saw the tenth time the annual three-match State of Origin series between the New South Wales and Queensland representative rugby league teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. It was notable as Wally Lewis' farewell from Origin football and featured his half-time stoush with Mark Geyer in Game II which match culminated in Michael O'Connor's sensational match-winning sideline conversion in teeming rain. For the first time since State of Origin became a three-game series in 1982, Queensland named the same starting XIII for each game of the series. The Maroons only made two changes during the series, with Origin veterans Dale Shearer coming onto the bench for Game 2 in Sydney to replace Steve Renouf, and Bob Lindner, the player of the 1990 Kangaroo tour, named on the bench for Game 3 in Brisbane (replacing Gavin Allen) after recovering from a broken leg. This saw Queensland only use 19 players for the series. In contrast, NSW only had seven players there for the entire series (five of whom started each game) and used a total of 24 players. Game I Controversy preceded the start of the series when Maroon's coach and Queensland Origin figurehead Arthur Beetson was deposed in favour of Manly-Warringah's Kiwi coach Graham Lowe, a former New Zealand Test coach and former Wigan coach who first came to prominence in Australia as coach of Brisbane team Northern Suburbs from 1979 to 1982, winning the Premiership with the Devils in 1980. Lowe thus became the first and (as of 2024) only non-home grown Queenslander to have coached the Maroons in Origin. Two time Canberra Raiders premiership winning coach Tim Sheens got the job as New South Wales coach, replacing Supercoach Jack Gibson who had retired from coaching. 1990 Kangaroo tour vice-captain Ben Elias was retained as captain of the Blues, while Wally Lewis retained the captaincy of Queensland despite Mal Meninga being the incumbent Australian test captain. Queensland lost their Australian Test fullback Gary Belcher to a knee injury only two days before the game and he was replaced by giant 20-year-old Brisbane Broncos fullback Paul Hauff who at 197 cm ftin on is (as of 2024) the tallest recorded fullback in Premiership history. The Maroons also lost test hooker Kerrod Walters who had been suspended for 2 games. He was replaced by his older brother, Canberra Raiders premiership hooker Steve Walters. NSW coach Tim Sheens gave the Blues goal kicking duties to veteran Michael O'Connor over regular Penrith club kicker Greg Alexander despite O'Connor not having been Manly's first choice kicker since early in 1990 and having only kicked 2 goals to that point of the 1991 season. #eeeeee 20:00 Wednesday, 8 May 1991 (Report) Queensland 16px 16px New South Wales 6–4 (6 – 1 t, 1 g) Mal Meninga Laurie Daley (4 – 1 t) Lang Park 32,400State Of Origin – Game 1, 1991 https://web.archive.org/web/20070815221807/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game31.html 15 August 2007 at stats.rleague.com Bill HarriganQueensland def. New South Wales (6–4) – 8 May 1991 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095532/http://www.nrlstats.com/origin/match.cfm?MatchID=11195 4 March 2016 at nrlstats.com Wally LewisState Of Origin 1991 Series – Game 1 at rugbyleagueproject.org It took sixty-four minutes for the first try to be scored in a nailbiting series opener at Lang Park. The try featured the two veterans of the Queensland side – Wally Lewis ran wide and powered halfway through an opening and then found Mal Meninga in support who bulldozed through Greg Alexander and Andrew Ettingshausen's attempted tackle to score. Laurie Daley scored his team's only try late in the second half after grubber-kicking behind Michael Hancock into the corner and winning the race to the ball. Meninga landed only one of his four shots at goal but it proved decisive as both Michael O'Connor and Alexander missed their only attempts. O'Connor's conversion attempt of Daley's try went wide leaving Qld with a 6–4 lead. Alexander had a chance to level the scores after NSW received a penalty when Meninga's restart from the Daley try was kicked over the dead ball line on the full, but his kick from half way was wide and short and fell safely into the arms of Wally Lewis who took the tackle to end the game. After only being a late callup into the Queensland team, replacement fullback Paul Hauff put in a near man of the match performance in his Origin and representative debut, with most judges believing he would have won the award had he not been forced off midway through the second half with a dislocated shoulder. Early in the first half, Cliff Lyons worked his magic, breaking open the Maroons defence with a deft pop pass to send a flying Greg Alexander into open space only 45 out with only Hauff in front. Belying his inexperience, Hauff herded Alexander into the corner, then when the NSW fullback propped on his run, his opposite pounced to take Alexander into touch just 3 metres from the line. Then only minutes later, Mark Geyer popped a short pass to send Andrew Ettingshausen racing towards the posts only 20 metres out. But when confronted by the giant Queensland fullback (plus a converging Willie Carne), ET put in a grubber kick but Hauff was able to turn and prevent the Blues centre from picking up the ball and scoring next to the posts while also staying in the field of play. Game II #eeeeee 20:00 Wednesday, 29 May 1991 (Report) New South Wales 16px 16px Queensland 14–12 (4 – 1 t) Chris Johns (4 – 1 t) Mark McGaw (6 – 3 g) Michael O'Connor Mal Meninga (4 – 2 g) Willie Carne (4 – 1 t) Dale Shearer (4 – 1 t) Sydney Football Stadium 41,520State Of Origin – Game 2, 1991 https://web.archive.org/web/20070625022358/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game32.html 25 June 2007 at stats.rleague.com David MansonNew South Wales def. Queensland (14–12) – 29 May 1991 https://web.archive.org/web/20080916235300/http://www.nrlstats.com/origin/match.cfm?MatchID=11192 16 September 2008 at nrlstats.com Steve WaltersState Of Origin 1991 Series – Game 2 at rugbyleagueproject.orgright|150px|thumb|The iconic image of Wally Lewis confronting Mark Geyer with referee David Manson in the background and Ben Elias in the foreground. State of Origin – 1990s The Sydney Morning Herald Australia 27 April 2010 http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/state-of-origin--1990s-20100426-tndg.html 27 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100503194538/http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/state-of-origin--1990s-20100426-tndg.html 3 May 2010 liveGame II of 1991 is remembered for a number of dramatic incidents. Played in drenching rain, the game exploded into violence before half-time when volatile New South Wales forward Mark Geyer chopped down on Queensland hooker Steve Walters in a tackle. Prop Andrew Gee ran in to assist his teammate, sparking a brawl which involved most players from both teams. When the dust settled, referee David Manson issued a handful of cautions, but as players left the field for half-time, Queensland captain Wally Lewis continued to goad Geyer,Steve Ricketts Barry Dick Paul Malone The 30 greatest controversies in 30 years of State of Origin series http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/the-30-greatest-controversies-in-30-years-of-state-of-origin-series/story-e6frf9if-1226364330596 26 May 2012 The Courier-Mail 23 May 2012 clearly expecting the New South Wales forward to be antagonised into a violent response right in front of Manson that would have him sent off. This became a lasting image in Australian sporting folklore. Top 10 State of Origin moments centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/get-involved/top-tens/top-ten-state-of-origin-moments.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20080721043439/http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/get-involved/top-tens/top-ten-state-of-origin-moments.aspx dead 21 July 2008 9 July 2009Mr Wally Lewis AM http://www.qsport.org.au/qshof/biography.asp?ID=8 Queensland Sport Hall of Fame qsport.org.au 20 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140126085330/http://qsport.org.au/qshof/biography.asp?ID=8 26 January 2014 dead Soon after the break Geyer missed with a forearm directed towards Queensland fullback Paul Hauff, sparking another brawl when Peter Jackson and Gary Coyne ran in to target Geyer, while Wally Lewis was trying to calm his players by yelling that Geyer would be gone. However, referee David Manson, himself a Queenslander, only cautioned the Blues second-rower. Geyer was later suspended for five matches for his questionable elbow to Hauff. The Maroons looked to have the series wrapped up when an Allan Langer break and Lewis pass led to a try to Dale Shearer 12 minutes from full-time. But with six minutes remaining, a cut-out pass by Blues halfback Ricky Stuart led to a try to centre Mark McGaw out wide, levelling the scores at 12-all. As the rain continued to belt down, O'Connor, who wasn't in great form with the boot but was surprisingly given the kicking duties despite Illawarra Steelers goal kicking winger Rod Wishart in the team, lined up the conversion attempt and sensationally landed the goal to give the Blues a 14–12 victory just before full-time.Sydney Football Stadium Magic Moments sydneycricketground.com.au Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust http://www.scgt.nsw.gov.au/MM-SFS.html https://web.archive.org/web/20070816081038/http://www.scgt.nsw.gov.au/MM-SFS.html dead 16 August 2007 2 September 2009 Game III #eeeeee 20:00 Wednesday, 12 June 1991 (Report) Queensland 16px 16px New South Wales 14–12 (4 – 1 t) Paul Hauff (4 – 1 t) Michael Hancock (4 – 1 t) Dale Shearer (2 – 1 g) Mal Meninga Chris Johns (4 – 1 t) Michael O'Connor (4 – 1 t) Des Hasler (4 – 1 t) Lang Park 33,226State Of Origin – Game 3, 1991 https://web.archive.org/web/20070821094453/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game33.html 21 August 2007 at stats.rleague.com Bill HarriganQueensland def. New South Wales (14–12) – 12-Jun-1991 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050116/http://www.nrlstats.com/origin/match.cfm?MatchID=11198 4 March 2016 at nrlstats.com Martin BellaState Of Origin 1991 Series – Game 3 at rugbyleagueproject.org The Game III decider back in Brisbane was fast-paced and desperately fought with never more than four points separating the sides. Queensland led 8–4 at half-time but two New South Wales tries, both unconverted by O'Connor who also missed a long-range penalty goal from near half-way, took the Blues to a 12–8 lead. Strangely coach Sheens had stuck with Game 2 hero O'Connor as goal kicker despite him not being the regular kicker for Manly and the presence in the side of regular club kickers Greg Alexander (Penrith) and Rod Wishart (Illawarra). Late in the second-half a superb dash by Maroons' hooker Steve Walters paved the way for a try to replacement back Dale Shearer, levelling the match. Repeating O'Connor's deed in Sydney, Maroon centre Mal Meninga landed the sideline conversion (the only goal kicked in the game),Barrow 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 lifting Queensland to a 14–12 victory. Ten minutes before the end of the game the Lang Park ground announcer advised the 33,226 strong crowd that Wally Lewis was playing his last game for Queensland. Lewis had decided to retire from Origin football after receiving news on the day of the game that his daughter Jaime-Lee was deaf, with only his family and the Qld team knowing about his decision. The Maroons supporters roared as they never had before to lift their weary gladiators to the line and Lewis to his ultimate victory and slow farewell lap around his home ground, hand-in-hand with his two young sons Mitchell and Lincoln. Queensland manager Dick "Tosser" Turner later admitted that Lewis had given an instruction and plotted the perfect timing for the announcement to be made. Teams New South Wales PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3 Fullback Penrith 16 Greg Alexander Cronulla 16 Andrew Ettingshausen Penrith 16 Greg Alexander Wing Brisbane 16 Chris Johns Centre Cronulla 16 Andrew Ettingshausen Manly 16 Michael O'Connor Centre Canberra 16 Laurie Daley Cronulla 16 Mark McGaw Wing Manly 16 Michael O'Connor Illawarra 16 Rod Wishart Five-Eighth Manly 16 Cliff Lyons Penrith 16 Brad Fittler Halfback Canberra 16 Ricky Stuart Prop Balmain 16 Steve Roach Hooker Balmain 16 Ben Elias (c) Prop Manly 16 Ian Roberts Western Suburbs 16 David Gillespie Second Row Penrith 16 Mark Geyer Penrith 16 John Cartwright Second Row Balmain 16 Paul Sironen Manly 16 Ian Roberts Canberra 16 Bradley Clyde Lock Manly 16 Des Hasler Canberra 16 Bradley Clyde St George 16 Brad Mackay Interchange Canberra 16 Glenn Lazarus Manly 16 Des Hasler Interchange Western Suburbs 16 David Gillespie St George 16 Brad Mackay Penrith 16 Brad Izzard Interchange Cronulla 16 Mark McGaw Sydney Roosters 16 Craig Salvatori Interchange Penrith 16 Brad Fittler Penrith 16 John Cartwright North Sydney 16 David Fairleigh Coach Canberra 16 Tim Sheens Queensland PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3 Fullback Brisbane 16 Paul Hauff Wing Brisbane 16 Michael Hancock Centre North Sydney 16 Peter Jackson Centre Canberra 16 Mal Meninga Wing Brisbane 16 Willie Carne Five-Eighth Canada 16 Wally Lewis (c) Halfback Brisbane 16 Allan Langer Prop Manly 16 Martin Bella Hooker Canberra 16 Steve Walters Prop Western Suburbs 16 Steve Jackson Second Row Brisbane 16 Andrew Gee Second Row Newcastle 16 Mike McLean Lock North Sydney 16 Gary Larson Interchange Brisbane 16 Kevin Walters Interchange Brisbane 16 Steve Renouf Brisbane 16 Dale Shearer Interchange Canberra 16 Gary Coyne Interchange Brisbane 16 Gavin Allen Western Suburbs 16 Bob Lindner Coach Manly 16 Graham Lowe Sources External links Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition, News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney Chesterton, Ray (1996) Good as Gould, Ironbark, Sydney Category:State of Origin series State of Origin series