1980 Rugby League State of Origin game
Encyclopedia
The 1980 State of Origin
game between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues
was the inaugural match under the newly configured rules by which a player would represent his "state of origin", i.e. the state in which he was born or in which he started playing registered first grade rugby league football. Only a single experimental match took place in 1980 (after two matches using the traditional residential selection rules), unlike today where a three-match series is played.
and Queensland, the Blues players could only be sourced from clubs south of the border and the Maroons only from north of it. Game one was played in Brisbane and won by NSW 35-3. In game two the Maroons put up more of a fight but were defeated again, this time in Sydney, 17 - 7.
Prior to the experimental match, the State of Origin concept was derided by the Sydney Media.
In front of an over-capacity Brisbane crowd, which included State of Origin's instigator, senator Ron McAulliffe, Defence Minister Jim Killen, and journalist Hugh Lunn
, Queensland were led out by Arthur Beetson
, playing for Queensland for the first time.
After a match involving intense all-in brawling, the Maroons won the first ever state of origin game 20-10. the first points were scored by Mal Meninga's penalty kick - the first of several over the match. New South Wales' Greg Brentnall
had the honour of scoring the first Origin try. After an all-in brawl in the first half and leading 9-5 at the break, Queensland took over the game, with Chris Close named man of the match.
Alan Clarkson, a journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald
wrote of the State of Origin experiment, "I was strongly against such a match, but last night's gripping clash showed that such a fixture would be a welcome addition to the League program."
* Didn't play
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
game between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
was the inaugural match under the newly configured rules by which a player would represent his "state of origin", i.e. the state in which he was born or in which he started playing registered first grade rugby league football. Only a single experimental match took place in 1980 (after two matches using the traditional residential selection rules), unlike today where a three-match series is played.
Match summary
In the first two matches of the annual 3-match series of representative games between New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and Queensland, the Blues players could only be sourced from clubs south of the border and the Maroons only from north of it. Game one was played in Brisbane and won by NSW 35-3. In game two the Maroons put up more of a fight but were defeated again, this time in Sydney, 17 - 7.
Prior to the experimental match, the State of Origin concept was derided by the Sydney Media.
In front of an over-capacity Brisbane crowd, which included State of Origin's instigator, senator Ron McAulliffe, Defence Minister Jim Killen, and journalist Hugh Lunn
Hugh Lunn
Hugh Duncan Lunn is an Australian journalist and author.-Early journalism:Lunn served his journalism cadetship with The Courier-Mail. Upon completing his cadetship, he worked overseas for seven years. During 1967 and 1968 he covered the Vietnam War for Reuters...
, Queensland were led out by Arthur Beetson
Arthur Beetson
Arthur Henry "Artie" Beetson, OAM , was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia and Queensland from 1964 to 1981. His position was at prop. Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport. and is frequently cited as the best...
, playing for Queensland for the first time.
After a match involving intense all-in brawling, the Maroons won the first ever state of origin game 20-10. the first points were scored by Mal Meninga's penalty kick - the first of several over the match. New South Wales' Greg Brentnall
Greg Brentnall
Greg Brentnall is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An Australian international and New South Wales representative fullback and winger, he played for Canterbury-Bankstown in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, winning the 1980 grand final with...
had the honour of scoring the first Origin try. After an all-in brawl in the first half and leading 9-5 at the break, Queensland took over the game, with Chris Close named man of the match.
Alan Clarkson, a journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
wrote of the State of Origin experiment, "I was strongly against such a match, but last night's gripping clash showed that such a fixture would be a welcome addition to the League program."
New South Wales
| Position | Name | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Graham Eadie Graham Eadie Graham "Wombat" Eadie , is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s who has been named amongst the nation's finest of the 20th century... |
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia... |
| Wing | Chris Anderson | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Centre | Mick Cronin Mick Cronin (rugby league) Michael William "Mick" Cronin OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a goal-kicking centre for the Australian national team and a stalwart for the Parramatta Eels club. He played in 22 Tests and 11 World Cup matches between 1973 and 1982... |
Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
| Centre | Steve Rogers | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Wing | Greg Brentnall Greg Brentnall Greg Brentnall is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An Australian international and New South Wales representative fullback and winger, he played for Canterbury-Bankstown in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, winning the 1980 grand final with... |
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Five-Eighth | Alan Thompson Alan Thompson (rugby league) Alan Thompson is a former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. He primarily played at five-eighth.... |
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia... |
| Halfback | Tommy Raudonikis Tommy Raudonikis Tommy Raudonikis OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He played over twenty-nine Tests and World Cup games as Australia representative halfback and captained his country in two Tests of the 1973 Kangarooo tour.-Early life and club playing career:Raudonikis is the son of a... (c) |
Newtown Jets Newtown Jets The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season... |
| Prop | Gary Hambly Gary Hambly Gary Hambly is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the New South Wales Rugby League competition... |
South Sydney Rabbitohs South Sydney Rabbitohs The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital... |
| Hooker | Steve Edge Steve Edge (rugby league) Steve Edge is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. A New South Wales Blues representative hooker he played in the St... |
Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
| Prop | Craig Young Craig Young Craig Young is an Australian former representative rugby league footballer for the Australia national rugby league team, the New South Wales Blues and a stalwart player over 11 seasons from 1977 to 1988 with the St. George Dragons in the NSWRL premiership competition. He played at prop-forward... |
St. George Dragons St. George Dragons The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,... |
| Second Row | Bob Cooper Bob Cooper (rugby league) Bob Cooper is a former professional rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. Cooper primarily played in the back row for Western Suburbs Magpies, North Sydney Bears and the New South Wales State of Origin team.... |
Western Suburbs Magpies Western Suburbs Magpies The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia... |
| Second Row | Graeme Wynn Graeme Wynn Graeme Wynn is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the St. George Dragons and the Western Suburbs Magpies in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership... |
Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
| Lock | Jim Leis Jim Leis Jim Leis is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s. A New South Wales representative forward, he played in the New South Wales Rugby League competition for Western Suburbs Magpies, Canterbury-Bankstown and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.In his debut first-grade season,... |
Western Suburbs Magpies Western Suburbs Magpies The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia... |
| Interchange | Robert Stone | St. George Dragons St. George Dragons The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,... |
| Interchange | Steve Martin Steve Martin (rugby league) Steve Martin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He was a representative player at both state and international levels and played in the New South Wales Rugby League competition for Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Balmain Tigers... |
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia... |
| Coach | Ted Glossop Ted Glossop Ted Glossop was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the St. George Dragons then went on to become a first-grade coach with Cronulla-Sutherland, Canterbury-Bankstown and St. George.... |
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
Queensland
With Queenslanders playing for New South Welsh clubs now available for selection, six of the Maroons' starting thirteen were selected from Sydney clubs.| Position | Name | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Colin Scott Colin Scott (rugby league) Colin Scott is an Indigenous Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He played the game at but could also play . Scott was also a back-up goal kicker for the teams he played with.... |
Wynnum-Manly Seagulls Wynnum-Manly Seagulls The Wynnum-Manly Seagulls are an Australian rugby league football club based at Kougari Oval, which is in the Eastern Brisbane suburb of Manly West. They competed in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1951 to 1997. Since 1996 they have competed in the Queensland Cup. Their jersey is red, green and white... |
| Wing | Kerry Boustead Kerry Boustead Kerry Boustead is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. A talented representative winger for Queensland and Australia, at the time he was picked for the Australian national rugby league team he was the youngest ever player so selected... |
Eastern Suburbs Roosters |
| Centre | Mal Meninga Mal Meninga Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century... |
Souths Magpies |
| Centre | Chris Close Chris Close Christopher "Choppy" Close is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s, '80s and '90s. A robust three-quarter, he represented Australia internationally and Queensland in State of Origin, and played club football in Queensland and New South Wales... |
Redcliffe Dolphins Redcliffe Dolphins The Redcliffe Dolphins are a rugby league team from the city of Redcliffe in Queensland, Australia. The Redcliffe Dolphins were founded in 1947, accepted into the Brisbane Rugby League premiership in 1960, and since 1996 have played in the Queensland Cup.... |
| Wing | Brad Backer Brad Backer Brad Backer is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s.-Biography:Backer was originally from the Brisbane Rugby League club Easts Tigers, in which he played in the 1978 Queensland Rugby League State League Grand final, which Easts won over Fortitude Valley Diehards... |
Eastern Suburbs Tigers |
| Five-Eighth | Alan Smith Alan Smith (rugby league born 1955) Allan Smith is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s.-Biography:Originally from the Toowoomba area, Smith played in the Brisbane Rugby League for Brisbane Valleys, and represented the Queensland team in 1977 and 1979. It was the 1979 game where he scored a record 4... |
North Sydney Bears North Sydney Bears The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on... |
| Halfback | Greg Oliphant Greg Oliphant Greg Oliphant is an Australian former rugby league footballer, a state and national representative half back who made one Kangaroo tour.-Biography:... |
Balmain Tigers Balmain Tigers The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles... |
| Prop | Rod Morris Rod Morris Rod Morris is an Australian retired rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative front row forward, he played club football in the New South Wales Rugby Football League for Balmian, and in the Brisbane Rugby League for... |
Balmain Tigers Balmain Tigers The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles... |
| Hooker | John Lang John Lang (rugby league) John Lang is an Australian former rugby league football coach and player. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative hooker, he played his club football in Brisbane with the Eastern Suburbs Tigers and in Sydney with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters... |
Eastern Suburbs Tigers |
| Prop | Arthur Beetson Arthur Beetson Arthur Henry "Artie" Beetson, OAM , was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia and Queensland from 1964 to 1981. His position was at prop. Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport. and is frequently cited as the best... (c) |
Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
| Second Row | Rohan Hancock Rohan Hancock Rohan Hancock is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An Australian international and Queensland representative prop forward, he played his club football in Queensland with Toowoomba.... |
 Toowoomba ClydesdalesToowoomba Clydesdales The Toowoomba Clydesdales are a rugby league football club based in Toowoomba, Queensland, named after the Scottish horse breed. They played in the Queensland Wizard Cup since the competition began in 1996 but no longer play in this competition.... |
| Second Row | Rod Reddy Rod Reddy Rod "Rocket" Reddy is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the St. George Dragons between 1972 and 1983 and the Illawarra Steelers between 1984 and 1985... |
St. George Dragons St. George Dragons The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,... |
| Lock | Wally Lewis Wally Lewis Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time... |
 Fortitude Valley DiehardsFortitude Valley Diehards The Fortitude Valley Diehards were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley.-History:... |
| Interchange | Norm Carr Norm Carr Norm Carr is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s. A Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he played his entire club career in the Brisbane Rugby League Premiership for Souths and Wests, winning grand finals with both.-Biography:Born in Coffs Harbour, New... * |
Western Suburbs Panthers |
| Interchange | Bruce Astill Bruce Astill Bruce Astill is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s. A Queensland State of Origin representative three-quarter, he played club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership with Souths Magpies whom he captained to victory in the 1981 Grand Final.Astill first... * |
Souths Magpies |
| Coach | John McDonald John McDonald (rugby league) John McDonald is an Australian former rugby league footballer, coach and administrator. A tall three-quarter, he played club football in Queensland for Toowoomba, representing his home state 10 times and also gaining selection for the Australian test team. In 1969 McDonald moved south, playing in... |
* Didn't play
External links
- First State of Origin at eraofthebiff.com
- State of Origin 1980 at rugbyleagueproject.org