1986 Rugby League State of Origin series

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1986 State of Origin series
Won by New South Wales (2nd title)
Series margin   3-0
Points scored 116
Attendance 94,840 (average 31,613 per match)
Top points scorer(s) Michael O'Connor(22 points)
Top try scorer(s) O'Connor, Wayne Pearce
Dale Shearer (2 tries)

The 1986 State of Origin series was the 7th annual Australian Rugby League State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland. It was the year that New South Wales finally asserted a dominance and won the series in the first ever 3-0 Origin whitewash. It was an inauspicious introduction to Origin coaching for Wayne Bennett who soon afterwards began plotting a reversal of fortunes that would lead to a pending period of Queensland dominance.

Contents


[edit] Games

[edit] Game One

May 27, 1986
New South Wales 22–16 Queensland Lang Park
Attendance: 33,066
Referee: Kevin Roberts
Man of Match: Royce Simmons
(4 - 1 t) Garry Jack
(4 - 1 t) Chris Mortimer
(4 - 1 t) Andrew Farrar
(4 - 1 t) Royce Simmons
(6, 3g) Michael O'Connor		 (Report) Gene Miles (4 - 1 t)
Greg Dowling (4 - 1 t)
Mal Meninga (8 - 4 g)


The Blues finally brought to Origin a passion that had hitherto been associated mainly with Queensland and fielded a formidable halves pairing in Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny that found the measure of Maroons star Wally Lewis. Blues hooker Royce Simmons typefied the newfound New South Wales' spirit when early in the opening game he was knocked senseless. He staggered back into position, falling over and regaining his feet then waving trainers away as he took his place in the defensive formation before pulling off a try-saving tackle on his own tryline soon after.

The Blues led 12-2 early but by half-time the lead was cut to 12-10. Two minutes after the break Queensland forged to the front when prop Greg Dowling scored after centre Gene Miles recovered a Wally Lewis bomb. The Maroons then began to tire and Simmons scored from dummy half to spark a magnificent comeback. A mistake by Queensland winger Dale Shearer opened the door for Blues' centre Andrew Farrar to score his first Origin try and the Blues led 22-16 with 13 minutes remaining and were able to hold onto a lead.


[edit] Game Two

June 10, 1986
New South Wales 24–20 Queensland Sydney Cricket Ground
Attendance: 40,707
Referee: Barry Gomersall
Man of Match: Peter Sterling
(4 - 1 t) Andrew Farrar
(4 - 1 t) Brett Kenny
(4 - 1 t) Wayne Pearce
(4 - 1 t) Noel Cleal
(7 - 1 t, 2 g) Michael O'Connor		 (Report) Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t)
Les Kiss(4 - 1 t)
Ian French (4 - 1 t)
Bob Lindner(4 - 1 t)
Mal Meninga (4 - 2 g)


Queensland's prepartion for game II was disrupted by injuries to kep players and selectors were forced to name one of the Maroons' most inexperienced line-ups. Before a record Origin crowd of 40,707 at the SCG, the class of Lewis and Queensland again led into the second half 16-12 after 52 minutes before Sterling and Kenny engineered a New South Wales onslaught. Man-of-the-match Sterling then threw a sweetly timed pass for Kenny to take New South Wales to an 18-16 lead and four minutes later second-rower Noel Cleal crashed over between the posts for an unassailable 24-16 scoreline. Queensland scored in the the final minutes through Shearer but their hopes of a last-ditched victory were dashed.

[edit] Game Three

July 1, 1986
New South Wales 18–16 Queensland Lang Park
Attendance: 21,097
Referee: Kevin Roberts
Man of Match: Brett Kenny
(9 - 1 t, 3g ) Michael O'Connor
(4 - 1 t) Wayne Pearce
(4 - 1 t) Peter Tunks		 (Report) Gary Belcher(4 - 1 t)
Les Kiss (4 - 1 t)
Greg Conescu (4 - 1 t)
Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t)


For the third year running the final match of the series was a Dead-rubber, but with Test positions on the line for the three clashes with New Zealand and the end of season Kangaroo tour plus the opportunity for New South Wales to become the first team to win 3-0, there was plenty to play for.

The first half produced one of Origin's most frenetic periods. By the time the teams left the field at the break seven tries had been scored and the scores were locked at 16-all. In the second stanza no more tries were added. The game was controversially won by a Michael O'Connor penalty goal after referee Kevin Roberts had penalised Maroon's skipper Lewis for offisde when he appeared to be injured and out of play.

With the victory New South Wales enjoyed the first ever 3-0 series whitewash.

[edit] Teams

[edit] New South Wales

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Garry Jack
Wing Steve Morris Brian Hetherington Brian Johnston
Centre Michael O'Connor
Centre Chris Mortimer
Wing Andrew Farrar Eric Grothe, Sr.
Five-Eighth Brett Kenny
Halfback Peter Sterling
Prop Steve Roach
Hooker Royce Simmons
Prop Peter Tunks
Second Row Steve Folkes
Second Row Noel Cleal
Lock Wayne Pearce (c)
Replacement Terry Lamb
Replacement David Gillespie
Coach Ron Willey

[edit] Queensland

Position Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Fullback Colin Scott Gary Belcher
Wing Dale Shearer
Centre Mal Meninga
Centre Gene Miles
Wing Chris Close Les Kiss
Five-Eighth Wally Lewis (c)
Halfback Mark Murray
Prop Greg Dowling Cavill Heugh Brad Tessmann
Hooker Greg Conescu
Prop Dave Brown Darryl Brohman Cavill Heugh
Second Row Bryan Niebling Bob Lindner Bryan Niebling
Second Row Gavin Jones
Lock Bob Lindner Ian French Bob Lindner
Replacement Peter Jackson
Replacement Ian French Brad Tessmann Ian French
Coach Wayne Bennett


[edit] Sources

  • Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition , News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney
State of Origin
New South Wales Queensland
The Team
Players • Records
Captains and Coaches		 The Team
Players • History • Records
Captains and Coaches
Series
1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989
1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999
2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009
Other
Results & Statistics • Roy and HG's commentary
Super League Tri-Series
Governing Bodies
Australian Rugby League
New South Wales Rugby League • Queensland Rugby League