1995 State of Origin series | |
---|---|
Won by | Queensland (8th title) |
Series margin | 3 - 0 |
Points scored | 74 |
Attendance | 133,024 (ave. 44,341 per match) |
Top points scorer(s) | Wayne Bartrim (16) |
Top try scorer(s) | Brett Dallas (2) |
The 1995 State of Origin series was the: 14th annual three-game series between theββQueensland and New South Wales representative rugby league teams. Dueββto the Australian Rugby League's ongoing conflicts with Super League, they ruled that no Super League-aligned players were eligible for State of Origin selection in 1995. This appearedββto hurt Queensland, eliminating their mostly Brisbane Broncos back line. And they were not widely expected to win the "series." However, they won 3β0, "their first series win since 1991." Novice Queensland coach Paul Vautin made only one player change to his squad during the three game series. This series once again saw State of Origin football venture to Melbourne, after an enthusiastic Melbourne crowd packed the MCG to watch game two of the 1994 series. Although the crowd in Melbourne was not as high as 1994's then-record origin crowd of 87,161, "it was still a success," attracting 52,994 spectators and "furthering the case for a first grade team in Melbourne."
Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett had originally been appointed as Queensland coach for 1995 taking over from Wally Lewis. He stepped down from the job, stating that Queensland would be, uncompetitive without its Super League players. Paul Vautin, who had played 22 Origin games for Queensland between 1982. And 1990 (including two games as captain in the absence of Lewis), was brought in to replace him.
Unable to draw on the vast talents of the Brisbane Broncos whose Super League-aligned players were made ineligible for the Origin series by, the Australian Rugby League, the Maroons selectors were forced to choose from a limited selection of Queenslanders from ARL-loyal clubs. Consequently, going into Game 1 at the Sydney Football Stadium, the Blues were unbackable favourites with nine internationals in the squad compared to Queensland's two in Dale Shearer and Papua New Guinea halfback Adrian Lam who had to be given dispensation to play for Qld, and an untested commentator-turned-coach in Paul Vautin. Although many considered NSW favourites, the starting sides in Game 1 actually saw Qld have 79 collective Origin games experience, while NSW had only 68 between them.
Monday, 15 May 1995
|
New South Wales | 0β2 | Queensland |
---|---|---|
(Report) |
Wayne Bartrim (2 - 1 g) |
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 39,841 Referee: Eddie Ward Player of the Match: Gary Larson |
New South Wales failed to capitalise on their chances, crossing the Queensland line twice. First winger Rod Wishart stepped into touch after taking cross-field kick from Andrew Johns. Then in the second half, Blues centre Terry Hill was held up by Queensland debutante winger Matt Sing over the line with 17 minutes to play. It was the lowest ever score in a representative game in Australia, yet still a compelling spectacle as the underdog Maroons repelled the New South Wales attack time and time again.
From this match came a moment for the annals of Origin tradition when broadcast sound and vision captured the indelible image of Maroons lock Billy Moore exiting the Sydney Football Stadium tunnel after half-time chanting the Maroons' war cry "Queenslander" over and over to exhort his team-mates.
Game IIβ»
Wednesday, 31 May 1995
|
Queensland | 20β12 | New South Wales |
---|---|---|
(8 - 4 g) Wayne Bartrim (4 - 1 t) Mark Coyne (4 - 1 t) Brett Dallas (4 - 1 t) Adrian Lam |
(Report) |
Brett Rodwell (4 - 1 t) Jim Serdaris (4 - 1 t) Rod Wishart (4 - 2 g) |
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Attendance: 52,994 Referee: Eddie Ward Player of the Match: Jason Smith |
Rumours of an all-in brawl that had circulated before Game II at the Melbourne Cricket Ground were realised early when the first scrum erupted into violence after NSW Hooker Jim Serdaris started throwing punches at his opposite Wayne Bartrim. Almost like it was rehearsed, most players from both sides became involved and it took referee Eddie Ward a considerable time to restore order (in the confusion, Ward also failed to stop the game clock and almost 5 minutes elapsed before time was called off). During the brawl there were two main groups. Rival back rowers David Barnhill and Billy Moore waged their own private war throwing lot of punches that missed their mark before wrestling each other to the ground, while Origin's old cry of "Mate against mate" added another chapter when Manly-Warringah teammates John Hopoate (NSW) and Danny Moore (Qld) squared off after Moore came to Matt Sing's aid. Another outbreak late in the half saw props Paul Harragon and Gavin Allen marched to the sin bin.
Queensland had the run of play and again shocked their highly fancied rivals by racing to an 8β0 lead on the back of a Mark Coyne try and two goals from Wayne Bartrim. Blues captain Brad Fittler worked hard to lift his troops but again he found his team out enthused by Paul Vautin's patched-together but spirited combination.
With five minutes remaining, Jim Serdaris scored a converted try to close the gap to 14-12 and the Blues began a final wave of attack. Steve Menzies then came within inches of scoring the match winner but was held up, and then Fittler threw what appeared to be the match winning pass to a try-bound Tim Brasher. However referee Ward ruled the pass forward. As they dropped their guard, flying Queensland winger Brett Dallas caught them out in the dying seconds and ran 90 metres from dummy-half, easily out pacing Hopoate, Brasher and Rod Wishart coming across in cover, to score under the posts and seal the series with a 20β12 victory to give Qld what many believe to be the biggest boilover in Origin history.
Game IIIβ»
Monday, 12 June 1995
|
Queensland | 24β16 | New South Wales |
---|---|---|
(8 - 4 g) Wayne Bartrim (4 - 1 t) Brett Dallas (4 - 1 t) Ben Ikin (4 - 1 t) Danny Moore (4 - 1 t) Jason Smith |
(Report) |
Rod Wishart (8 - 1 t, 2 g) Tim Brasher (4 - 1 t) Adam Muir (4 - 1 t) |
The two combatants punched and counter-punched before a late try to the previously unheralded Gold Coast rookie Ben Ikin gave the Maroons a 24β16 win and a 3β0 series whitewash. New South Wales led twice at 10-6 after 35 minutes and again 16-12 after 41 minutes, but the Queensland spirit was resolute. The series was career defining for Ikin, a Gold Coast junior who became the youngest player in Origin history at 18 years and 83 days when he debuted in Game I. He would later become a mainstay of Queensland and Broncos' sides up until 2003 although his career was disrupted by injury.
Many considered Queensland lucky to play the last 52 minutes of the match with a full team after prop forward Tony Hearn appeared to headbutt NSW prop Mark Carroll in the 28th minute. In retaliation Carroll started throwing punches at Hearn which led to another all in brawl. Remarkably, referee David Manson only put Hearn on report and then penalised Carroll for the use of a forearm while tackling Hearn and awarded a penalty to Qld. Hearn was later suspended for 8 games by the ARL judiciary as a result of his headbutt. After his performances for Qld in the first two games, the front row forward from North Sydney had allegedly been in line for an Australian test jumper before his suspension.
After the game, Gillmeister returned to hospital to continue treatment on his knee.
New South Wales teamsβ»
Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fullback | Tim Brasher | |||||
Wing | Rod Wishart | |||||
Centre | Terry Hill | |||||
Centre | Paul McGregor | |||||
Wing | Craig Hancock | John Hopoate | David Hall | |||
Five-Eighth | Matthew Johns | Brad Fittler (c) | Matthew Johns | |||
Halfback | Andrew Johns | Geoff Toovey | ||||
Prop | Paul Harragon | |||||
Hooker | Jim Serdaris | |||||
Prop | Mark Carroll | Dean Pay | Mark Carroll | |||
Second Row | Brad Mackay | Greg Florimo | Adam Muir | |||
Second Row | Steve Menzies | David Barnhill | Steve Menzies | |||
Lock | Brad Fittler (c) | Brad Mackay | Brad Fittler (c) | |||
Interchange | Greg Florimo | Brett Rodwell | Greg Florimo | |||
Interchange | David Fairleigh | |||||
Interchange | Matt Seers | Steve Menzies | Matt Seers | |||
Interchange | Adam Muir | David Barnhill | ||||
Coach | Phil Gould |
Queensland teamsβ»
Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
---|---|---|---|
Fullback | Robbie O'Davis | ||
Wing | Brett Dallas | ||
Centre | Mark Coyne | ||
Centre | Danny Moore | ||
Wing | Matt Sing | ||
Five-Eighth | Dale Shearer | Jason Smith | |
Halfback | Adrian Lam | ||
Prop | Tony Hearn | ||
Hooker | Wayne Bartrim | ||
Prop | Gavin Allen | ||
Second Row | Trevor Gillmeister (c) | ||
Second Row | Gary Larson | ||
Lock | Billy Moore | ||
Interchange | Ben Ikin | ||
Interchange | Terry Cook | ||
Interchange | Mark Hohn | ||
Interchange | Craig Teevan | ||
Coach | Paul Vautin |
See alsoβ»
Referencesβ»
- ^ Harms, John (2005). The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story. Australia: University of Queensland Press. p. 173. ISBN 9780702235368.
- ^ Prichard, Greg (15 June 2010). "Scandals, losing streaks, injuries but there's never been a lost cause". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
- ^ Classic 1995 Origin Brawl - EVERYONE VS EVERYONE melee
- ^ State of Origin 1995 Game 2 Bret Dallas Try @ 80 mins
- ^ Menzies, Steve; Tasker, Norman (2008). Beaver: The Steve Menzies Story. Australia: Allen & Unwin. p. 132. ISBN 9781741755602.
- ^ Hearn vs Carroll - Game 3, 1995
- ^ Steve Ricketts; Barry Dick; Paul Malone (23 May 2012). "The 30 greatest controversies in 30 years of State of Origin series". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
Sourcesβ»
- Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition, News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney
- Chesterton, Ray (1996) Good as Gould, Ironbark, Sydney
External linksβ»
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