Rugby League State of Origin
The State of Origin is a series of three interstate rugby league matches between Queensland and New South Wales, played annually. Players are selected for the State in which they first played. The series started in 1980 and prior to this, players were selected for interstate matches based on the location of their current team.
| Contents |
History
The Conception of State of Origin Football
From its conception in 1908, Australian Rugby League has observed an interstate championship played between the states of Queensland and New South Wales. From 1908 to 1981, each team in the interstate competition drew its players form the clubs based in that state. No consideration was given to the origins of the players themselves.
While New South Wales has dominated the event throughout its history, this domination was certainly escalated in 1956 when Gaming Machines were legalised for all registered clubs in New South Wales. This was the source of an abundant amount of revenue unattainable by Rugby League clubs based in Queensland. This also made it possible for NSW clubs to spend a great deal more on player recruitment.
Effective immediately, Queensland started to lose many of its best players and while not all were necessarily selected to play for New South Wales, they certainly were not eligible to play for Queensland. Prior to 1956, Qld had won 25% of series played. From 1956-1981 this number dwindled to only 3.8% with only 1 win, in 1959.
The first recorded call for a state of origin series was made in 1900 by a journalist known as ‘The Cynic’ writing for ‘The Referee’. The Cynic suggested that star rugby union player and recent immigrant to Queensland, Stephen Spragg, should be able to play for his home state of New South Wales. A concept which, even in 1900, was not original when you consider that English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish players were required to play for their home countries.
This call was made repeatedly throughout history to no avail until the late 1970s. The man to convince was, then chairman of the Queensland Rugby League, Ron Mcauliffe. Mcauliffe was skeptical about the prospect of rewarding players, who had deserted the ailing QRL, with positions on the Qld team. He also had a lot of faith in his young, promising players, such as Wally Lewis and Mal Meninga, to drag the QRL out of its slump.
Courier Mail reporter Hugh Lun, Brisbane Broncos founder Barry Maranta and VFL (Victorian Football League) chairman Dr Alan Aylett all played a part in convincing Mcauliffe that the ‘State of Origin’ concept might work. Mcauliffe reluctantly conceded that if Queensland lost its first 2 games of the 1980 interstate series, he’d consider suggesting the concept to New South Wales Rugby League chief, Kevin Humphreys.
May 28 1980, saw Queensland down 2 nil in the interstate series and soon after, it was announced that a state of origin match would take place on July 8 at Lang Park in Brisbane. Kevin Humphries was supportive of the game and even went to the extent of ensuring the match would be used as part of the selection process for the Kangaroo squad. This ensured the players would take the game seriously. The general consensus amongst officials was there was nothing to lose, so why not?
While the New South Wales media had written off the event along with Qld’s chances of winning, the people of New South Wales saw the match as irrelevant. Nobody seemed to predict how the people of Queensland might react to the first fair interstate contest in 24 years. The usual crowd of approximately 5000 spectators was expected.
July 8 1980. 35000 Queenslanders show up at Lang Park to see Queensland convincingly beat New South Wales 20-10. State of Origin football was born.
How the State of Origin Became a Regular Event
<Under Construction>
The Series Today
The state of origin series today is one of Australia's biggest sporting events. The series is played to sell out crowds over three matches. Each year, the state hosting two of the games is rotated although, in 1990, NSW opted to host one of their games from the Olympic Park in Melbourne.
Basic Rules
The winner of the State of Origin series is the team winning at least two of the three games played. In the past, a drawn game and thus series has been possible however, as of 2004, a drawn game results in golden point extra time. A drawn series results in the previous year's winner retaining the State of Origin Shield.
Players selected for the state of origin teams must have played their first professional rugby league match for a club in that state.
Outside of this, the standard rules of Rugby League apply.
Players
Administration
Highlights
Statistics
Points:
QLD - 1162 NSW - 1171
Games Won:
QLD - 36 NSW - 36 DRAW - 2
Years Won:
QLD - 12 (80,81,82,83,84,87,88,89,91,95,98,01) NSW - 11 (85,86,90,92,93,94,96,97,00,03,04) DRAW - 2 (99,02)
Series Won (Excludes 1980 - 1981):
QLD - 10 (82,83,84,87,88,89,91,95,98,01) NSW - 11 (85,86,90,92,93,94,96,97,00,03,04) DRAW - 2 (99,02)
Match Results: 1980 - 2005
1980 Game 1 (Lang Park, July 8) QLD 20 NSW 10
1981 Game 1 (Lang Park, July 28) QLD 22 NSW 15
1982 Game 1 (Lang Park, June 1) NSW 20 QLD 16
1982 Game 2 (Lang Park, June 8) QLD 11 NSW 7
1982 Game 3 (Sydney Cricket Ground, June 22) QLD 10 NSW 5
1983 Game 1 (Lang Park, June 7) QLD 24 NSW 12
1983 Game 2 (Sydney Cricket Ground, June 21) NSW 10 QLD 6
1983 Game 3 (Lang Park, June 28) QLD 43 NSW 22
1984 Game 1 (Lang Park, May 29) QLD 29 NSW 12
1984 Game 2 (Sydney Cricket Ground, June 19) QLD 14 NSW 2
1984 Game 3 (Lang Park, July 17) NSW 22 QLD 12
1985 Game 1 (Lang Park, May 28) NSW 18 QLD 2
1985 Game 2 (Sydney Cricket Ground, June 11) NSW 21 QLD 14
1985 Game 3 (Lang Park, July 23) QLD 20 NSW 6
1986 Game 1 (Lang Park, May 27) NSW 22 QLD 16
1986 Game 2 (Sydney Cricket Ground, June 10) NSW 24 QLD 20
1986 Game 3 (Lang Park, July 1) NSW 18 QLD 16
1987 Game 1 (Lang Park, June 2) NSW 20 QLD 16
1987 Game 2 (Sydney Cricket Ground, June 16) QLD 12 NSW 6
1987 Game 3 (Lang Park, July 15) QLD 10 NSW 8
1987 Exhibition Match (Longbeach, California, USA, August 6) NSW 30 QLD 18
1988 Game 1 (Sydney Football Stadium, May 17) QLD 26 NSW 18
1988 Game 2 (Lang Park, May 31) QLD 16 NSW 6
1988 Game 3 (Sydney Football Stadium, June 21) QLD 38 NSW 22
1989 Game 1 (Lang Park, May 23) QLD 36 NSW 6
1989 Game 2 (Sydney Football Stadium, June 14) QLD 16 NSW 12
1989 Game 3 (Lang Park, June 28) QLD 36 NSW 16
1990 Game 1 (Sydney Football Stadium, May 9) NSW 8 QLD 0
1990 Game 2 (Olympic Park, Melbourne, May 30) NSW 12 QLD 6
1990 Game 3 (Lang Park, June 13) QLD 14 NSW 10
1991 Game 1 (Lang Park, May 8) QLD 6 NSW 4
1991 Game 2 (Sydney Football Stadium, May 29) NSW 14 QLD 12
1991 Game 3 (Lang Park, June 12) QLD 14 NSW 12
1992 Game 1 (Sydney Football Stadium, May 6) NSW 14 QLD 6
1992 Game 2 (Lang Park, May 20) QLD 5 NSW 4
1992 Game 3 (Sydney Football Stadium, June 3) NSW 16 QLD 4
1993 Game 1 (Lang Park, May 3) NSW 14 QLD 10
1993 Game 2 (Sydney Football Stadium, May 17) NSW 16 QLD 12
1993 Game 3 (Lang Park, May 31) QLD 24 NSW 12
1994 Game 1 (Sydney Football Stadium, May 28) QLD 16 NSW 12
1994 Game 2 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, June 8) NSW 14 QLD 0
1994 Game 3 (Lang Park, June 20) NSW 27 QLD 12
1995 Game 1 (Sydney Football Stadium, May 15) QLD 2 NSW 0
1995 Game 2 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, May 31) QLD 20 NSW 12
1995 Game 3 (Lang Park, June 12) QLD 24 NSW 16
1996 Game 1 (Lang Park, May 20) NSW 14 QLD 6
1996 Game 2 (Sydney Football Stadium, June 3) NSW 18 QLD 6
1996 Game 3 (Lang Park, June 17) NSW 15 QLD 14
1997 Game 1 (Lang Park, May 28) NSW 8 QLD 6
1997 Game 2 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, June 11) NSW 15 QLD 14
1997 Game 3 (Sydney Football Stadium, June 25) QLD 18 NSW 12
1998 Game 1 (Sydney Football Stadium, May 22) QLD 24 NSW 23
1998 Game 2 (Lang Park, June 5) NSW 26 QLD 10
1998 Game 3 (Sydney Football Stadium, June 19) QLD 19 NSW 4
1999 Game 1 (Lang Park, May 26) QLD 9 NSW 8
1999 Game 2 (Stadium Australia, June 9) NSW 12 QLD 8
1999 Game 3 (Lang Park, June 23) QLD 10 NSW 10
SERIES DRAWN - QLD retains Shield
2000 Game 1 (Stadium Australia, May 10) NSW 20 QLD 16
2000 Game 2 (Lang Park, May 24) NSW 28 QLD 10
2000 Game 3 (Stadium Australia, June 7) NSW 56 QLD 16
2001 Game 1 (Lang Park, May 6) QLD 34 NSW 16
2001 Game 2 (Stadium Australia, June 10) NSW 26 QLD 8
2001 Game 3 (QE2 Stadium, July 1) QLD 40 NSW 14
2002 Game 1 (Stadium Australia, 22 May) NSW 32 QLD 4
2002 Game 2 (QE2 Stadium, June 5) QLD 26 NSW 18
2002 Game 3 (Stadium Australia, June 26) QLD 18 NSW 18
SERIES DRAWN - QLD retains Shield
2003 Game 1 (Lang Park, 11 June) NSW 25 QLD 12
2003 Game 2 (Stadium Australia, 25 June) NSW 27 QLD 4
2003 Game 3 (Lang Park, 16 July) QLD 36 NSW 6
2004 Game 1 (Stadium Australia, 26 May) NSW 9 QLD 8 (in extra time)
2004 Game 2 (Lang Park, 16 June) QLD 22 NSW 18
2004 Game 3 (Stadium Australia, 7 July) NSW 36 QLD 14
2005 Game 1 (Lang Park, 25 May) QLD 24 NSW 20 (in extra time)
2005 Game 2 (Stadium Australia 15 June) NSW 32 QLD 22
See also
External links
- Fan's site with details of rugby league State of Origin series
- An unofficial State of Origin page
- State of Origin statistics
- The Origins of State of Origin
- Gaming Machines in NSW
|
Rugby League in Australasia |
|
Competitons |
|
National teams |
|
Federation Links |
|
NRL Teams |