2005 Rugby League State of Origin series
Encyclopedia
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
. 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.
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.
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.
in favour of Matt Bowen
led to outrage amongst Maroons fans.
After 25 years the 2005 decider was the 75th game between the two sides, with 36 wins for each side.
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.
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...
series was the 24th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
and New South Wales
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...
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
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...
Medal for Player of the series was awarded to New South Wales' fullback, Anthony Minichiello
Anthony Minichiello
Anthony Minichiello is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who, to date, has played his entire career for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League. He plays at fullback and on the Wing. Minichiello has represented New South Wales and Australia...
. The Ron McAuliffe
Ron McAuliffe
Ronald Edward McAuliffe OBE was a politician and sports administrator in Queensland, Australia. He is best remembered for his years running the Queensland Rugby League, and his instrumental role in the formation of the State of Origin competition.McAuliffe attended school at St. Joseph's College,...
Medal for Queensland player of the series was awarded to Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
. The Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler
Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales...
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
Brad Fittler
Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales...
Medal was to be awarded, with New South Wales losing the next six succeeding series after 2005.
Game I
After fifty minutes, Queensland had raced away to a 19-0 lead. However New South Wales, under new coach Ricky StuartRicky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
made a strong comeback, bringing the score to 20-19 in their favour. A field goal from Johnathan Thurston
Johnathan Thurston
Johnathan Dean Thurston is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer in the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys whom he co-captains...
saw the game go into Golden Point extra time. Brett Kimmorley
Brett Kimmorley
Brett "Noddy" Kimmorley was an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the NRL. He has previously played for five other clubs and has also represented his country and state on several occasions...
, playing halfback in place of an injured Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns
Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
threw a pass intended for Matt King, but was instead intercepted by Matt Bowen
Matt Bowen
Matthew Jeremy "Matt" Bowen is an Australian rugby league player. He has spent his whole professional career with the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League , playing in over 200 matches and holding the club's record for the player with the most NRL appearances. He appeared in the...
, who snatched a 24-20 victory for the Maroons.
Game II
Andrew Johns made his comeback for Game II with a man-of-the-match performance after having made his first NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
reappearance from injury just ten days earlier.
Game III
Queensland's decision to drop Billy SlaterBilly Slater
Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne...
in favour of Matt Bowen
Matt Bowen
Matthew Jeremy "Matt" Bowen is an Australian rugby league player. He has spent his whole professional career with the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League , playing in over 200 matches and holding the club's record for the player with the most NRL appearances. He appeared in the...
led to outrage amongst Maroons fans.
After 25 years the 2005 decider was the 75th game between the two sides, with 36 wins for each side.
The crowd of 52,496 people at Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, 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.
New South Wales squad
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Anthony Minichello |
|||||
| Wing |  Matt King |
|||||
| Centre |  Mark GasnierMark Gasnier Mark Gasnier is an Australian former rugby league player, a state and national representative centre three-quarter. He played eleven top-grade seasons with the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL, interrupted by two seasons of rugby union played with the French club Stade Français. He was a... |
|||||
| Centre | Matt Cooper Matt Cooper (rugby league footballer) Matt Cooper is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the St George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League... |
|||||
| Wing |  Luke RooneyLuke Rooney Luke Rooney is an Australian professional rugby union footballer for RC Toulonnais in the Top 14 competition as of 2012. His previous teams include Melbourne Rebels and the Penrith Panthers.-Rugby League:... |
 Timana TahuTimana Tahu Timana James Aporo Tahu is an Australian professional rugby league footballer and former rugby union player, a dual-code international, currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. He formerly played for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super 14 competition... |
||||
| Five-Eighth | Trent Barrett Trent Barrett Trent Barrett is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s... |
 Braith AnastaBraith Anasta Braith Anasta is a Greek-Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League... |
||||
| Halfback |  Brett KimmorleyBrett Kimmorley Brett "Noddy" Kimmorley was an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the NRL. He has previously played for five other clubs and has also represented his country and state on several occasions... |
 Andrew JohnsAndrew Johns Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years... |
||||
| Prop | Luke Bailey |
Steve Simpson Steve Simpson (rugby league footballer) Steve Simpson is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer. He played his whole career for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League competition. He has also been selected to represent Country Origin, New South Wales and Australia... |
Luke Bailey |
|||
| Hooker | Danny Buderus Danny Buderus Danny Buderus is an Australian professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL... (c) |
|||||
| Prop | Jason Ryles Jason Ryles Jason Ryles is an Australian rugby league player. He has played in the National Rugby League for the Sydney Roosters and the St. George Illawarra Dragons and in Europe's Super League for the Catalans Dragons. He is contracted to play for the Melbourne Storm from 2012... |
|||||
| Second Row | Nathan Hindmarsh Nathan Hindmarsh Nathan William Hindmarsh is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League and the Australian Prime Minister's XIII... |
|||||
| Second Row | Craig Fitzgibbon Craig Fitzgibbon Craig "Fitzy" Fitzgibbon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull in the European Super League and previously the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he is the son of former rugby league player and... |
|||||
| Lock | Ben Kennedy Ben Kennedy Ben Kennedy , is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s... |
|||||
| Interchange | Craig Wing Craig Wing Craig Wing is an Australian rugby union player. He currently plays rugby union in Japan. A former rugby league player for New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international utility player, Wing played for South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters.-South Sydney Rabbitohs:Craig Wing was a... |
Craig Gower Craig Gower Craig Gower is an Australian-Italian professional rugby footballer. He is a dual-code rugby international, having played rugby league for Australia, and rugby union for Italy... |
||||
| Interchange | Steve Simpson Steve Simpson (rugby league footballer) Steve Simpson is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer. He played his whole career for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League competition. He has also been selected to represent Country Origin, New South Wales and Australia... |
Steve Menzies | ||||
| Interchange | Anthony Watmough Anthony Watmough Anthony Watmough is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the National Rugby League... |
Luke Bailey |
Steve Simpson Steve Simpson (rugby league footballer) Steve Simpson is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer. He played his whole career for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League competition. He has also been selected to represent Country Origin, New South Wales and Australia... |
|||
| Interchange | Andrew Ryan |
|||||
| Coach | Ricky Stuart Ricky Stuart Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series... |
|||||
Queensland squad
| Position | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Billy Slater Billy Slater Billy Slater is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he has played his whole NRL career to date at Melbourne... |
 Matt BowenMatt Bowen Matthew Jeremy "Matt" Bowen is an Australian rugby league player. He has spent his whole professional career with the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League , playing in over 200 matches and holding the club's record for the player with the most NRL appearances. He appeared in the... |
||||
| Wing | Ty Williams Ty Williams Ty Williams is an Australian professional rugby league player for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League competition.-Cowboys:... |
|||||
| Centre |  Shaun BerriganShaun Berrigan Shaun Berrigan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Canberra Raiders of the NRL. Brother of fellow professional, Barry, Shaun has also played for the Brisbane Broncos, Hull and the New Zealand Warriors... |
|||||
| Centre | Paul Bowman |
|||||
| Wing | Matt Sing Matt Sing Matthew Charles Sing is an Australian semi-retired professional rugby league footballer for the Central Comets in the Queensland Cup. His first grade career spanned much of the 1990s and 2000s... |
|||||
| Five-Eighth | Darren Lockyer Darren Lockyer Darren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011... (c) |
|||||
| Halfback | Johnathan Thurston Johnathan Thurston Johnathan Dean Thurston is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer in the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys whom he co-captains... |
|||||
| Prop | Steve Price | Brad Thorn Brad Thorn Bradley Carnegie Thorn is a professional rugby union player. He has in the past represented Australia at rugby league, and currently represents New Zealand in union... |
Danny Nutley Danny Nutley Danny Nutley is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A Queensland State of Origin representative prop forward, he played his club football with the South Queensland Crushers, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Sydney Roosters in Australia, and with the Warrington Wolves... |
|||
| Hooker | Cameron Smith Cameron Smith Cameron Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League... |
|||||
| Prop | Petero Civoniceva Petero Civoniceva Petero Civoniceva is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League... |
|||||
| Second Row | Michael Crocker Michael Crocker Michael Crocker is an Australian professional rugby league footballer with the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the NRL... |
|||||
| Second Row | Brad Thorn Brad Thorn Bradley Carnegie Thorn is a professional rugby union player. He has in the past represented Australia at rugby league, and currently represents New Zealand in union... |
Carl Webb Carl Webb Carl Webb , is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he previously played for the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys... |
Brad Thorn Brad Thorn Bradley Carnegie Thorn is a professional rugby union player. He has in the past represented Australia at rugby league, and currently represents New Zealand in union... |
|||
| Lock | Chris Flannery |
|||||
| Interchange | Ben Ross Ben Ross Ben Ross is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League . A Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he has previously played club football for St... |
|||||
| Interchange | Carl Webb Carl Webb Carl Webb , is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he previously played for the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys... |
Dane Carlaw Dane Carlaw Dane Carlaw is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He currently plays for the Brisbane Broncos in Australia's National Rugby League after spending three years in the European Super League competition playing for French side Catalans Dragons.-Early years:While attending Padua... |
Corey Parker |
|||
| Interchange | Casey McGuire Casey McGuire Casey McGuire is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Les Catalans club of the European Super League competition. A Queensland State of Origin representative utility back, he previously played in the NRL for the Brisbane Broncos with whom he won the 2006 NRL Premiership... |
Ashley Harrison Ashley Harrison Ashley Harrison is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the NRL... |
||||
| Interchange | Matt Bowen Matt Bowen Matthew Jeremy "Matt" Bowen is an Australian rugby league player. He has spent his whole professional career with the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League , playing in over 200 matches and holding the club's record for the player with the most NRL appearances. He appeared in the... |
Tonie Carroll Tonie Carroll Tonie Carroll is retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian and New Zealand international representative utility, he played for the Brisbane Broncos of the NRL... |
||||
| Coach | Michael Hagan Michael Hagan Michael Hagan is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He currently works as assistant coach under Mal Meninga for the record-breaking Queensland rugby league team... |
|||||
External links
- State of Origin 2005 at rugbyleagueproject.org