1985 State of Origin series

Australian rugby league series August 2019 1985 1st 100px Logo of the Australian Rugby League 16px New South Wales 2-1 81 90937 16px Michael O'Connor (29) 16px Michael O'Connor (2)16px Dale Shearer (2) The 1985 State of Origin series was the fourth time the annual three-match series between New South Wales and Queensland was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. It was the year that New South Wales finally ended Queensland's dominance which had arisen with the State of Origin concept. __TOC__ Games Game I Queensland centre Gene Miles was ruled out of State of Origin due to a knee injury. Gallaway Jack Origin: Rugby league's greatest contest 1980 - 2002 University of Queensland Press 2003 68 https://books.google.com/books?id=3nDbsx3Hk7QC 978-0-7022-3383-8 #eeeeee Tuesday, 28 May 19851985 Game 1 https://web.archive.org/web/20120318214706/http://www.nrlstats.com/origin/match.cfm?MatchID=11175 18 March 2012 at nrlstats.com (Report) New South Wales 16px 16px Queensland 18–2 (18 - 2 t, 5g) Michael O'Connor Mal Meninga (2 - 1 g) Lang Park, Brisbane, Queensland 33,011 Kelvin Roberts Peter Wynn Heavy rain confronted the players at Lang Park when the teams took the field for the opening match of the series, and it was thought players new to Origin football such as Michael O'Connor might struggle to cope with the conditions. However the former Wallaby displayed nerves of steel to complete one of Origin's most memorable debuts scoring two tries and kicking five goals to finish with all 18 of the Blues' points. In the Queensland rooms after the game, a far from happy Queensland Rugby League Chairman, Federal Senator Ron McAuliffe was heard to darkly remark that they were "Beaten by an ex-Queensland rugby bloody union international" The relentless Blues defence led by Steve Roach, Pat Jarvis and Peter Wynn continually repelled the Maroons and helped keep the Blues line intact for the first time at Origin level. Five-eighth Brett Kenny earned wide praise for his efforts opposite Wally Lewis who was subjected to merciless pressure for almost the entire match. New coach Terry Fearnley and his captain Steve Mortimer had plotted for months to uncover a secret factor that would bring an end to the Maroons' Origin stranglehold. The strategy was to heap pressure on Lewis, Queensland's five-eighth and playmaker and the Blues carried out the plan perfectly. Game II #eeeeee Tuesday, 11 June 19851985 Game 2 https://web.archive.org/web/20120318214713/http://www.nrlstats.com/origin/match.cfm?MatchID=11176 18 March 2012 at nrlstats.com (Report) New South Wales 16px 16px Queensland 21–14 (4 - 1 t) Chris Mortimer (4 - 1 t) Benny Elias (4 - 1 t) Brett Kenny (9 - 4 g, 1 fg) Michael O'Connor Bob Lindner(4 - 1 t) Ian French (4 - 1 t) Mal Meninga (6 - 3 g) Sydney Cricket Ground 39,068 Barry Gomersall Wally Lewis With history possibly in the making a large New South Wales home crowd turned out in wet conditions at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The match was played on a knife's edge when after the Blues had taken a 12–0 lead with two tries after only 16 minutes, Queensland struck back in typical style and took a 14–12 lead despite having lost Bob Lindner and Colin Scott with serious injuries. The New South Wales forwards relentlessly hurled themselves at the Queensland defence until cracks slowly began to appear. A penalty goal and then a sharply taken field goal by O'Connor gave the Blues a 15–14 lead and then when Lewis attempted to level the scores with his own field goal attempt eight minutes from the end, Mortimer flew from the ruck to charge down the kick. Five-eighth Brett Kenny scored the decisive try a minute from full-time, prompting celebrations among the New South Wales players. Broadcast images from the match showed Mortimer being chaired off the field, following the Blues' first series victory. Prichard Greg Scandals, losing streaks, injuries but there's never been a lost cause The Sydney Morning Herald Australia Fairfax Media 2010-06-15 http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/scandals-losing-streaks-injuries-but-theres-never-been-a-lost-cause-20100614-yach.html 2010-06-15 Game III #eeeeee Tuesday, 23 July 19851985 Game 3 https://web.archive.org/web/20120318214719/http://www.nrlstats.com/origin/match.cfm?MatchID=11177 18 March 2012 at nrlstats.com (Report) Queensland 16px 16px New South Wales 20–6 (8 - 2 t ) Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t) John Ribot (4 - 1 t) Ian French (4 - 2 g) Mal Meninga Steve Ella (4 - 1 t) Michael O'Connor (2 - 1 g) Lang Park 18,825 Barry Gomersall Wally Fullerton Smith Queensland took the field in Game III determined to avoid a whitewash but also smarting from a national selection controversy. Blues coach Terry Fearnley was also the Australian national coach and the match was played after the Australia v New Zealand Test series that year. Fearnley had dropped five players, four of them Maroons, after the second Test win. The Kiwis went on to win the third Test 18–0, the first time the Australians had been held scoreless in a Test match since the 3rd Ashes Test on the 1956–57 Kangaroo tour. Queensland came out breathing fire and as the score mounted, late in the game Maroons forward Greg Dowling, one of the players axed by Fearnley, left the field replaced and stopped by the Blues bench to give Fearnley a passionate serve and tirade of abuse. Following this event ARL officials would legislate that the national coach never be a serving Origin coach to avoid the possibility of such embarrassing scenes or the potential for claims of bias.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 Teams New South Wales With the departure of Frank Stanton, Terry Fearnley was brought in to coach the New South Wales side. PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3 Fullback Balmain 16 Garry Jack Wing Parramatta 16 Eric Grothe, Sr. Centre St George 16 Michael O'Connor Centre Canterbury 16 Chris Mortimer Wing Easts 16 John Ferguson Five-Eighth Parramatta 16 Brett Kenny Halfback Canterbury 16 Steve Mortimer (c) Manly 16 Des Hasler Prop Balmain 16 Steve Roach Hooker Balmain 16 Ben Elias Prop St George 16 Pat Jarvis Second Row Manly 16 Noel Cleal Balmain 16 David Brooks Second Row Parramatta 16 Peter Wynn Lock Balmain 16 Wayne Pearce Balmain 16 Wayne Pearce (c) Replacement Parramatta 16 Steve Ella Replacement Canterbury 16 Peter Tunks South Sydney 16 Tony Rampling Coach New South Wales 16 Terry Fearnley Queensland With the departure of Arthur Beetson, 1984 Brisbane Rugby League season-winning Wynnum Manly Seagulls coach, Des Morris was brought in to coach Queensland for the 1985 series. PositionGame 1Game 2Game 3 Fullback Wynnum-Manly 16 Colin Scott Wing Redcliffe Dolphins 16 John Ribot Centre Souths Magpies 16 Mal Meninga Centre Manly 16 Chris Close Wing Manly 16 Dale Shearer Five-Eighth Wynnum-Manly 16 Wally Lewis (c) Halfback Redcliffe Dolphins 16 Mark Murray Prop Wynnum-Manly 16 Greg Dowling Hooker Redcliffe 16 Greg Conescu Prop Easts 16 Dave Brown Second Row Manly 16 Paul Vautin Wynnum-Manly 16 Ian French Second Row Manly 16 Paul McCabe Redcliffe Dolphins 16 Wally Fullerton-Smith Lock Wynnum-Manly 16 Bob Lindner Manly 16 Paul Vautin Replacement Wynnum-Manly 16 Brett French Redcliffe Dolphins 16 Tony Currie Replacement Wynnum-Manly 16 Ian French Easts Tigers 16 Cavill Heugh Coach Wynnum-Manly 16 Des Morris See also 1985 Winfield Cup Sources Footnotes Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition, News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney External links State of Origin 1985 at rugbyleagueproject.org Category:State of Origin series State of Origin series