1986 State of Origin series

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

The 1986 State of Origin series was the 7th annual 'series contested between New South Wales and Queensland. It was the year that New South Wales finally asserted some 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


Games

Game I

27 May[1] New South Wales 22–16 Queensland Lang Park, Brisbane
Attendance: 33,066
Referee/s: Kevin Roberts
Man of the 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, after a vicious hit by Queensland's Greg Dowling. 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 Man Of The Match Royce Simmons scored from dummy half to spark a magnificent comeback, dummying past a bewildered Wally Lewis. 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.

Simmons was interviewed in 2010: "The Queenslanders were going 'Ooohh, yeahh' when I fell over. They were really cheering me or bagging me or something...everytime I fell over. All I kept thinking was 'I can't get replaced; if I get replaced there goes my opportunity' so I struggled to get back up and few minutes later I was OK. It was a good win...and we played a very good Queensland side to do it"[2]

Game II

Queensland's preparation for game II was disrupted by injuries to key players and selectors were forced to name one of the Maroons' most inexperienced line-ups.

10 June[3] New South Wales 24–20 Queensland SCG, Sydney
Attendance: 40,707
Referee/s: Barry Gomersall
Man of the 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)

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 final minutes through Shearer but their hopes of a last-ditched victory were dashed.

Game III

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.

1 July[4] New South Wales 18–16 Queensland Lang Park, Brisbane
Attendance: 21,097
Referee/s: Kevin Roberts
Man of the 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)

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 offside when he appeared to be injured and out of play.

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

Teams

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

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

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ 1987 Game 1 at nrlstats.com
  2. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, (Daniel Lewis) May 3rd, 2010
  3. ^ 1986 Game 2 at nrlstats.com
  4. ^ 1986 Game 3 at nrlstats.com

Sources

External links