| 2005 State of Origin series | |
|---|---|
| Won by | New South Wales (12th title) |
| Series margin | 2-1 |
| Points scored | 140 |
| Attendance | 187,309 (ave. 62,436 per match) |
| Top points scorer(s) | Cameron Smith (18) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Matt Bowen Matt King (3) |
The 2005 State of Origin series was the 24th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules. The three matches drew a total attendance of 187,309. New South Wales won the series 2-1, their third consecutive series victory.
The Wally Lewis Medal for Player of the series was awarded to New South Wales' fullback, Anthony Minichiello.[1] The Ron McAuliffe Medal for Queensland player of the series was awarded to Cameron Smith. The Brad Fittler Medal for New South Wales player of the series was awarded to Matt King. It would turn out to be the last time the Brad Fittler Medal was to be awarded, with New South Wales losing the next six succeeding series after 2005.
Contents |
| 20:00 25 May[2] | Queensland | 24–20 | New South Wales | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,484 Referee/s: Paul Simpkins[3] Man of the Match: Steve Price |
| Cameron Smith (10 - 5g) Matt Bowen (4 - 1t) Michael Crocker (4 - 1t) Ty Williams (4 - 1t) Darren Lockyer (1 - 1fg) Johnathan Thurston (1 - 1fg) |
(Report) | (4 - 1t) Danny Buderus (4 - 1t) Craig Fitzgibbon (4 - 2g) Mark Gasnier (4 - 1t) Ben Kennedy (4 - 1t) Luke Rooney |
After fifty minutes, Queensland had raced away to a 19-0 lead. However New South Wales, under new coach Ricky Stuart made a strong comeback, bringing the score to 20-19 in their favour. A field goal from Johnathan Thurston saw the game go into Golden Point extra time. Brett Kimmorley, playing halfback in place of an injured Andrew Johns threw a pass intended for Matt King, but was instead intercepted by Matt Bowen, who snatched a 24-20 victory for the Maroons.
| 20:00 15 June[4] | New South Wales | 32–22 | Queensland | Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,389 Referee/s: Steven Clark[5] Man of the Match: Andrew Johns |
| Anthony Minichiello (8 - 2t) Craig Fitzgibbon (6 - 3g) Andrew Johns (6 - 3g) Danny Buderus (4 - 1t) Matt Cooper (4 - 1t) Steven Menzies (4 - 1t) |
(Report) | (6 - 3g) Cameron Smith (4 - 1t) Matt Bowen (4 - 1t) Petero Civoniceva (4 - 1t) Billy Slater (4 - 1t) Brad Thorn |
Andrew Johns made his comeback for Game II with a man-of-the-match performance after having made his first NRL reappearance from injury just ten days earlier.[6]
Queensland's decision to drop Billy Slater in favour of Matt Bowen led to outrage amongst Maroons fans.[7]
| 20:00 6 July[8] | Queensland | 10–32 | New South Wales | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 52,496 Referee/s: Paul Simpkins[9] Man of the Match: Anthony Minichiello[10] |
| Matt Bowen (4 - 1t) Johnathan Thurston (4 - 1t) Cameron Smith (2 - 1g) |
(Report) | (12 - 3t) Matt King (6 - 3g) Andrew Johns (4 - 1t) Braith Anasta (4 - 1t) Mark Gasnier (4 - 1t) Timana Tahu (2 - 1t) Craig Fitzgibbon |
After 25 years the 2005 decider was the 75th game between the two sides, with 36 wins for each side.[11] The crowd of 52,496 people at Suncorp Stadium was a record for the ground at the time. After an hour New South Wales had raced away to a 32-0 lead and late tries to Queensland proved too little too late. Matt King became only the 9th player (and 4th New South Welshman) to score a hat-trick in State of Origin.[12]
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Anthony Minichello | |||||
| Wing | Matt King | |||||
| Centre | Mark Gasnier | |||||
| Centre | Matt Cooper | |||||
| Wing | Luke Rooney | Timana Tahu | ||||
| Five-Eighth | Trent Barrett | Braith Anasta | ||||
| Halfback | Brett Kimmorley | Andrew Johns | ||||
| Prop | Luke Bailey | Steve Simpson | Luke Bailey | |||
| Hooker | Danny Buderus (c) | |||||
| Prop | Jason Ryles | |||||
| Second Row | Nathan Hindmarsh | |||||
| Second Row | Craig Fitzgibbon | |||||
| Lock | Ben Kennedy | |||||
| Interchange | Craig Wing | Craig Gower | ||||
| Interchange | Steve Simpson | Steve Menzies | ||||
| Interchange | Anthony Watmough | Luke Bailey | Steve Simpson | |||
| Interchange | Andrew Ryan | |||||
| Coach | Ricky Stuart | |||||
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Billy Slater | Matt Bowen | ||||
| Wing | Ty Williams | |||||
| Centre | Shaun Berrigan | |||||
| Centre | Paul Bowman | |||||
| Wing | Matt Sing | |||||
| Five-Eighth | Darren Lockyer (c) | |||||
| Halfback | Johnathan Thurston | |||||
| Prop | Steve Price | Brad Thorn | Danny Nutley | |||
| Hooker | Cameron Smith | |||||
| Prop | Petero Civoniceva | |||||
| Second Row | Michael Crocker | |||||
| Second Row | Brad Thorn | Carl Webb | Brad Thorn | |||
| Lock | Chris Flannery | |||||
| Interchange | Ben Ross | |||||
| Interchange | Carl Webb | Dane Carlaw | Corey Parker | |||
| Interchange | Casey McGuire | Ashley Harrison | ||||
| Interchange | Matt Bowen | Tonie Carroll | ||||
| Coach | Michael Hagan | |||||
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