| 1991 State of Origin series | |
|---|---|
| Won by | Queensland (7th series title) |
| Series margin | 2 - 1 |
| Points scored | 62 |
| Attendance | 107,146 (ave. 35,715 per match) |
| Top points scorer(s) | Mal Meninga (12) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Chris Johns & Dale Shearer (2) |
The 1991 State of Origin series was the 12th annual 'series contested between New South Wales and Queensland. 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.
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Controversy preceded the start of the series when Maroon's coach and Queensland Origin figurehead Arthur Beetson was deposed in favour of New Zealander Graham Lowe, the only non-Queenslander to have coached the Maroons.
| May 8, 1991 | Queensland | 6–4 | New South Wales | Lang Park Attendance: 32,400 Referee/s: Bill Harrigan Man of the Match: Wally Lewis |
| (6 - 1 t, 1 g) Mal Meninga | (Report) | Bradley Clyde (4 - 1 t) |
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 to score.
| May 29, 1991 | New South Wales | 14–12 | Queensland | Sydney Football Stadium Attendance: 41,520 Referee/s: David Manson Man of the Match: Steve Walters |
| (4 - 1 t) Chris Johns (4 - 1 t) Mark McGaw (6 - 3 g) Michael O'Connor |
(Report) | Mal Meninga (4 - 2 g) Willie Carne (4 - 1 t) Dale Shearer (4 - 1 t) |
Game 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, 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.[2]
Soon after the break Geyer delivered a vicious forearm on Queensland fullback Paul Hauff, sparking another brawl. Geyer was later suspended for five matches. 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 lined up the conversion attempt and sensationally landed the goal to give the Blues a 14-12 victory just before full time.[3]
| June 12, 1991 | Queensland | 14–12 | New South Wales | Lang Park Attendance: 33,226 Referee/s: Bill Harrigan Man of the Match: Martin Bella |
| (4 - 1 t) Paul Hauff (4 - 1 t) Michael Hancock (4 - 1 t) Dale Shearer (2 - 1 g) Mal Meninga |
(Report) | Chris Johns (4 - 1 t) Michael O'Connor (4 - 1 t) Des Hasler (4 - 1 t) |
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) took the Blues to a 12-8 lead. 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,[4] lifting Queensland to a 14-12 victory.
Ten minutes before the end of the game the Lang Park ground announcer reminded the capacity crowd that Wally Lewis was playing his last game for Queensland. 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. Queensland manager Dick "Tosser" Turner later admitted that Lewis had given an instruction and plotted the perfect timing for the announcement to be made.
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Greg Alexander | Andrew Ettingshausen | Greg Alexander | |||
| Wing | Chris Johns | |||||
| Centre | Andrew Ettingshausen | Michael O'Connor | ||||
| Centre | Laurie Daley | Mark McGaw | ||||
| Wing | Michael O'Connor | Rod Wishart | ||||
| Five-Eighth | Cliff Lyons | Brad Fittler | ||||
| Halfback | Ricky Stuart | |||||
| Prop | Steve Roach | |||||
| Hooker | Ben Elias (c) | |||||
| Prop | Ian Roberts | David Gillespie | ||||
| Second Row | Mark Geyer | John Cartwright | ||||
| Second Row | Paul Sironen | Ian Roberts | Bradley Clyde | |||
| Lock | Des Hasler | Bradley Clyde | Brad Mackay | |||
| Interchange | Glenn Lazarus | Des Hasler | ||||
| Interchange | David Gillespie | Brad Mackay | Brad Izzard | |||
| Interchange | Mark McGaw | Craig Salvatori | ||||
| Interchange | Brad Fittler | John Cartwright | David Fairleigh | |||
| Coach | Tim Sheens | |||||
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Paul Hauff | |||||
| Wing | Michael Hancock | |||||
| Centre | Peter Jackson | |||||
| Centre | Mal Meninga | |||||
| Wing | Willie Carne | |||||
| Five-Eighth | Wally Lewis (c) | |||||
| Halfback | Allan Langer | |||||
| Prop | Martin Bella | |||||
| Hooker | Steve Walters | |||||
| Prop | Steve Jackson | |||||
| Second Row | Andrew Gee | |||||
| Second Row | Mike McLean | |||||
| Lock | Gary Larson | |||||
| Interchange | Kevin Walters | |||||
| Interchange | Steve Renouf | Dale Shearer | ||||
| Interchange | Gary Coyne | |||||
| Interchange | Gavin Allen | Bob Lindner | ||||
| Coach | Graham Lowe | |||||
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