1998 State of Origin series

Template:Short description The 1998 State of Origin series saw the 17th time that the annual three-game series between the Queensland and New South Wales representative rugby league football teams was contested entirely under 'state of origin' selection rules. The return of Super League-aligned stars to Origin following the end of the game's crippling civil war meant the stampeding Brisbane Broncos players were back - to the chagrin of the Blues. The series was notable for being the first in which no team won a game at home.

Game I

Friday, 22 May 1998

New South Wales File:New South Wales colours.svg	23–24	File:Queensland colours.svg Queensland
Rod Wishart (4 - 1t) Tim Brasher (4 - 1t) Laurie Daley (4 - 1t) Brad Fittler (4 - 1t) Steve Menzies (4 - 1t) Andrew Johns (3 - 1g,1fg)	(Report)	(8 - 4g) Darren Lockyer (4 - 1t) Kevin Walters (4 - 1t) Steve Price (4 - 1t) Allan Langer (4 - 1t) Tonie Carroll

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 36,070 Referee: Bill Harrigan Player of the Match: Allan Langer

Game I was a classic Origin encounter with each side scrambling to gain ascendancy in front of a boisterous Sydney crowd. The Maroons capitalised on mistakes from their opposition to score twice early in the second half before the mercurial Brad Fittler crossed to regain the lead for New South Wales. When Steve Menzies scored close to full-time to give the Blues a 23-18 lead it seemed that they were heading for victory.

But with barely a minute remaining and Queensland stuck deep in their own territory, their five-eighth Kevin Walters produced the play of the series as he kicked ahead for replacement back Ben Ikin to regather. The Blues tried desperately to hold on for the few final tackles, but Walters destroyed their hopes by sending centre Tonie Carroll over alongside the posts. Darren Lockyer's conversion on debut after the siren gave Queensland a miracle 24-23 victory. It was a personal triumph for Walters coming only a few months after the death of his wife Kim.

Game II

Friday, 5 June 1998

Queensland File:Queensland colours.svg	10–26	File:New South Wales colours.svg New South Wales
Wendell Sailor (4 - 1t) Matt Sing (4 - 1t) Darren Lockyer (2 - 1g)	(Report)	(8 - 2t) Paul McGregor (6 - 3g) Andrew Johns (4 - 1t) Brad Fittler (4 - 1t) Adam MacDougall (4 - 1t) Tim Brasher

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 40,447 Referee: Bill Harrigan Player of the Match: Rodney Howe

In Game II, after falling behind early to a Wendell Sailor try, the Blues took control in the volatile surroundings of Suncorp Stadium. New South Wales centre Paul McGregor, replacing Andrew Ettingshausen in the starting line-up, scored twice and Brad Fittler added a third to give the visitors a commanding 20-6 lead from which the Maroons never recovered.

Andrew Johns was superb during the Blues' onslaught while Laurie Daley set up the try that levelled the score following Sailor's third-minute opener. A Tim Brasher try shortly after the break ended any hopes of another come-from-behind Queensland win and the final 26-10 scoreline was a fair reflection of the Blues domination over their opposition.

Game III

Before the Game III return to the Sydney Football Stadium for the decider there was little warning of the problems the New South Wales team were about to encounter when they were flattened by injury and illness. Six players from the selected squad including props Paul Harragon and Rodney Howe and inspirational hooker Geoff Toovey were forced to withdraw prior to the game.

Friday, 19 June 1998

New South Wales File:New South Wales colours.svg	4–19	File:Queensland colours.svg Queensland
Ken McGuinness (4 - 1t)	(Report)	(4 - 1t) Kevin Walters (4- 1t) Ben Ikin (4- 1t) Allan Langer (4 - 2g) Darren Lockyer (2 - 1g) Robbie O'Davis (1 - 1fg) Jason Smith

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 39,952 Referee: Bill Harrigan Player of the Match: Shane Webcke

Queensland emerged full of running, tries to Walters, dummying his way over and then Ikin, giving them a 12-4 lead before Allan Langer wrapped up the series with a late try. A Jason Smith field goal rounded out the impressive Queensland 19-4 win.

New South Wales squad

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Template:Leagueicon Tim Brasher
Wing	Template:Leagueicon Rod Wishart
Centre	Template:Leagueicon Andrew Ettingshausen		Template:Leagueicon Paul McGregor		Template:Leagueicon Laurie Daley (c)
Centre	Template:Leagueicon Terry Hill
Wing	Template:Leagueicon Adam MacDougall
Five-Eighth	Template:Leagueicon Laurie Daley (c)				Template:Leagueicon Brad Fittler
Halfback	Template:Leagueicon Andrew Johns
Prop	Template:Leagueicon Rodney Howe				Template:Leagueicon Glenn Lazarus
Hooker	Template:Leagueicon Geoff Toovey				Template:Leagueicon Matthew Johns
Prop	Template:Leagueicon Paul Harragon				Template:Leagueicon Tony Butterfield
Second Row	Template:Leagueicon Dean Pay				Template:Leagueicon David Furner
Second Row	Template:Leagueicon Nik Kosef		Template:Leagueicon David Barnhill
Lock	Template:Leagueicon Brad Fittler				Template:Leagueicon Jim Dymock
Interchange	Template:Leagueicon David Barnhill		Template:Leagueicon Andrew Ettingshausen		Template:Leagueicon Dean Pay
Interchange	Template:Leagueicon Steve Menzies
Interchange	Template:Leagueicon Matthew Johns		Template:Leagueicon Nik Kosef		Template:Leagueicon Robbie Kearns
Interchange	Template:Leagueicon Ken McGuinness		Template:Leagueicon Glenn Lazarus		Template:Leagueicon Ken McGuinness
Coach	Template:Leagueicon Tommy Raudonikis

Queensland squad

Position	Game 1		Game 2		Game 3
Fullback	Template:Leagueicon Darren Lockyer
Wing	Template:Leagueicon Wendell Sailor
Centre	Template:Leagueicon Steve Renouf
Centre	Template:Leagueicon Darren Smith				Template:Leagueicon Ben Ikin
Wing	Template:Leagueicon Matt Sing				Template:Leagueicon Robbie O'Davis
Five-Eighth	Template:Leagueicon Kevin Walters
Halfback	Template:Leagueicon Allan Langer (c)
Prop	Template:Leagueicon Shane Webcke
Hooker	Template:Leagueicon Jason Hetherington				Template:Leagueicon Jamie Goddard
Prop	Template:Leagueicon Gary Larson
Second Row	Template:Leagueicon Wayne Bartrim		Template:Leagueicon Brad Thorn		Template:Leagueicon Gorden Tallis
Second Row	Template:Leagueicon Jason Smith		Template:Leagueicon Gorden Tallis		Template:Leagueicon Jason Smith
Lock	Template:Leagueicon Peter Ryan		Template:Leagueicon Wayne Bartrim		Template:Leagueicon Darren Smith
Interchange	Template:Leagueicon Ben Ikin				Template:Leagueicon Matt Sing
Interchange	Template:Leagueicon Steve Price
Interchange	Template:Leagueicon Martin Lang				Template:Leagueicon Peter Ryan
Interchange	Template:Leagueicon Tonie Carroll				Template:Leagueicon Andrew Gee
Coach	Template:Leagueicon Wayne Bennett

See also

• 1998 NRL season

Sources

• Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition, News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney